Question 1: Briefly describe the overall structure of 'London'. How many stanzas does it have, and what is their length?

Answer: The poem consists of four quatrains, each with four lines, creating a regular, rhythmic structure.

Question 2: How does Blake’s use of a regular quatrain form influence the tone or mood of the poem?

Answer: It creates a rhythmic, almost singsong quality that contrasts with the dark themes, emphasizing the pervasive despair.

Question 1: Look at the line: 'In every cry of every Man, In every Infant’s cry of fear,' How does the repetition and placement in the stanza affect its impact?

Answer: The repetition of 'every' emphasizes universality of suffering, and placing it within the stanza heightens the sense of relentless oppression.

Question 2: Identify the stanza where Blake shifts from describing external suffering to internal despair. How does the structure support this shift?

Answer: The third stanza shifts inward, focusing on 'The mind-forged manacles,' with the structure emphasizing a turning point from external to internal oppression.

Question 1: Quote: 'Runs in blood down Palace walls.' Analyze the metaphor and its placement within the poem's structure.

Answer: The metaphor suggests violence and bloodshed associated with power. Its placement at the end of the second stanza emphasizes the destructive impact of corrupt authority, reinforcing the poem's critique.

Question 2: Quote: 'Every black’ning Church appalls,' and analyze its significance and structural placement.

Answer: The image of a 'black’ning Church' symbolizes corruption and moral decay. Positioned near the end, it underscores the failure of religious institutions, contributing to the overall tone of societal decay.

Question 1: Discuss how the regular quatrain form contrasts with the poem’s themes of chaos and suffering.

Answer: The regular form contrasts with the chaotic, oppressive themes, perhaps highlighting how societal suffering is systemic and persistent.

Question 2: How does the structural choice of consistent stanza length reinforce Blake’s message about societal oppression?

Answer: It emphasizes the unchanging, inescapable nature of the oppression, creating a sense of suffocation and entrapment.

Question 1: Identify key structural differences between 'London' and 'Ozymandias' that reflect their themes of power and decay.

Answer: London uses regular quatrains to depict ongoing societal issues, while Ozymandias employs a sonnet form to emphasize the impermanence of power.

Question 2: Outline points for comparing how the structure in 'London' and 'Ozymandias' influences the reader’s perception of authority.

Answer: In 'London', the regular stanza structure creates a sense of relentless, systemic oppression, whereas in 'Ozymandias', the fractured structure underscores the fleeting nature of human achievement and the inevitable decay of power.

Question 1: Using your understanding of the poem’s structure, write a brief outline of your essay explaining how structure influences meaning.

Answer: Introduction: overview of poem and focus on structure. Paragraphs: 1) Regular quatrains and their rhythmic impact; 2) Repetition and placement of key lines emphasizing oppression; 3) Shift in focus to internal despair; 4) How the structure reinforces themes of systemic and internal decay. Conclusion: restate how Blake’s structural choices effectively communicate societal despair.