Question 1: Briefly summarize what William Blake describes about London in the poem.

Answer: Blake depicts London as a place of suffering, oppression, and despair, highlighting social issues and personal anguish.

Question 2: Identify two key themes present in the poem.

Answer: Themes include social injustice and the loss of innocence.

Question 1: Quote: 'Marks of weakness, marks of woe' — what language devices are present, and what mood or tone do they create?

Answer: The phrase uses repetition and alliteration ('marks of') to emphasize suffering and hardship, creating a somber and oppressive mood that underscores the pervasive despair in London.

Question 2: Quote: 'Every black'ning church appalls' — analyze the imagery and its significance.

Answer: The imagery of a 'black'ning church' uses visual and metaphorical language to critique religion's failure to address social injustice, suggesting corruption or moral decay, which intensifies Blake's critique of societal institutions.

Question 3: Identify and explain the use of personification in the line: 'the mind-forged manacles.'

Answer: Personification is used here to describe mental constraints as 'manacles,' suggesting that societal oppression and internal fear are self-imposed, highlighting Blake's message about psychological control.

Question 4: How does Blake use imagery to depict the city of London? Provide an example and analyze its effect.

Answer: Blake describes 'the Chimney-sweepers' cry' and 'the hapless soldier's sigh,' employing vivid auditory imagery to evoke the suffering of the oppressed classes, making the reader feel the pervasive hardship within the city.

Question 1: Discuss how Blake's depiction of London reflects his views on social and political issues of his time.

Answer: Blake presents London as a symbol of societal corruption and oppression, reflecting his criticism of the industrial revolution, social inequality, and the failure of institutions. His vivid imagery and tone suggest a call for awareness and change.

Question 2: Compare Blake's portrayal of London with another poem from the Power and Conflict anthology, such as 'Ozymandias,' focusing on themes of power and decay.

Answer: Both poems depict the transient nature of power—Blake shows societal oppression as a corrupt force, while Shelley’s 'Ozymandias' illustrates the inevitable decay of imperial power. Blake’s imagery emphasizes internal societal suffering, whereas Shelley’s emphasizes physical ruins and hubris.

Question 1: Quote: 'In every cry of every Man, / In every Infant's cry of fear, / In every voice, in every ban, / The mind-forged manacles.' — analyze the significance of the repetition and word choice.

Answer: The repetition of 'in every' emphasizes universality and collective suffering, while 'mind-forged manacles' suggests internal psychological constraints. This reinforces Blake’s message that societal oppression is both external and internal, affecting all individuals.

Question 1: Create an outline for a paragraph/essay that discusses Blake's use of imagery and language devices to depict the social issues in London.

Answer: Introduction to Blake's critique; analysis of key imagery (e.g., 'black'ning church', 'marks of woe'); discussion of language devices (repetition, personification); conclusion on the overall impact of his portrayal.