Question 1: What does Blake suggest about the state of London in the opening lines? How does he convey this impression?

Answer: Blake portrays London as a place of suffering and corruption, emphasizing the suffering of its inhabitants through imagery of 'marks of weakness, marks of woe'.

Question 2: Describe the tone and mood created by Blake in the stanza describing the 'chartered streets'.

Answer: The tone is bleak and oppressive, creating a mood of despair and entrapment, highlighting the control and loss of freedom in the city.

Question 1: Quote explosion: 'Runs in blood down Palace walls'. What does this imagery suggest, and how does it reflect the poem's themes?

Answer: The imagery suggests violence and bloodshed associated with authority and power, symbolizing oppression and the suffering inflicted by those in control, reinforcing themes of conflict and societal corruption.

Question 2: Identify and explain the use of personification in the line 'The mind-forged manacles'.

Answer: The 'mind-forged manacles' personify mental constraints, suggesting that oppression is reinforced by internal thoughts and beliefs, not just external forces.

Question 1: How does Blake portray the theme of power and authority in the poem? Use specific examples.

Answer: Blake depicts power as oppressive and corrupt, shown through references to the 'chartered Thames' and 'marks of weakness', suggesting authority controls and damages society.

Question 2: Compare the depiction of societal conflict in 'London' with that in a poem like 'Ozymandias'. How do both poems explore the theme of power?

Answer: Both poems critique the fleeting nature of power. 'London' shows societal suffering caused by corrupt authority, while 'Ozymandias' highlights the inevitable decline of even the greatest rulers, emphasizing the impermanence of power and hubris.

Question 1: Analyze the quote: 'Every black'ning church appalls'. What is Blake suggesting about religion and society?

Answer: The phrase 'black'ning church' uses imagery to criticize the corruption or moral decline of religious institutions, suggesting they are complicit in societal suffering and neglect.

Question 1: Outline key points for comparing how Blake and Shelley/Ozymandias depict the corrupting influence of power.

Answer: Both poems explore the destructive nature of power—Blake highlights societal oppression and moral decay, while Shelley/Ozymandias depict the arrogance and eventual downfall of rulers, emphasizing the transient nature of authority.