London William Blake JC

Back to Poetry In your MOCK and final EXAM for Literature you will write about poems in your anthology You will compare the poems All the poems are linked by the theme of POWER and CONFLICT

Location, Location, Location. Where is this. Have you visited. Why Location, Location, Location! Where is this? Have you visited? Why? Impressions of the place? Why is it an important place?

Time Travel What was life like back in the 1700s in London? What ideas do the pictures of the time give you?

What does this picture say about London in 18th century? Hogarth’s ‘Gin Alley’

What does this picture say about London in 18th century? Poverty Lawlessness Immoral behaviour Drunkenness ?

What does this picture say about London in 18th century? Hogarth’s ‘Gin Alley’

London c1800 The skeleton man shows ………. ………………………… …………………………. about life in London.

Using the information we have deduced from the two paintings, write a paragraph describing what London and London life was like during the 18th century. Consider: Poverty Illness/disease Employment Crime Death People’s behaviour

1st Reading Read the poem once and consider: What might the poem be about? What impressions are given of London? What emotions / atmosphere do you get when reading the poem?

London: Link the Images Find a quotation that you could link the image to from the poem. What ideas / associations / inferences might you make about the image? How might these ideas relate to how the image is used in the poem and whaty it might mean.

William Blake William Blake illustrated some of his poems – what impressions do the illustrations create?

Context – William Blake Blake lived in London – so was well placed to comment on what was happening in 18th century London. Blake lost faith in religion – due to the Church refusing to help the children that suffered (homeless/poor/forced to work). Industrial revolution taking place in England – pollution / dangerous and exhausting work. French revolution (1789) – French citizens with low social status (poor) rising up against the powerful aristocracy (rich). The key events that link to ‘London’ – refer back to these AO3 LO: To explore Blake’s use of language and links to social context.

Context – William Blake Blake lived in London – so was well placed to comment on what was happening in 18th century London. Blake lost faith in religion – due to the Church refusing to help the children that suffered (homeless/poor/forced to work). Industrial revolution taking place in England – pollution / dangerous and exhausting work. French revolution (1789) – French citizens with low social status (poor) rising up against the powerful aristocracy (rich). The key events that link to ‘London’ – refer back to these AO3 Can you link any of the context ideas to the poem?

Line Word/phrase Explanation 1 charter 4 woe 7 ban 8 forg’d manacles 10 appals 11 hapless 14 harlot 16 blights hearse

Match the definitions / explanations to the words from the poem. Prostitute Very upsetting or distressing A carriage used to carry a coffin to a funeral To restrict something a thing that spoils or damages something sorrow Made by hand from metal Confined / mapped out / owned by someone Two metal bands joined by a chain used to fasten a person’s ankle – like handcuffs Unfortunate Match the definitions / explanations to the words from the poem.

Line Word/phrase Explanation 1 charter Confined / mapped out / owned by someone 4 woe sorrow 7 ban To restrict something 8 forg’d Made by hand from metal manacles Two metal bands joined by a chain used to fasten a person’s ankle – like handcuffs 10 appals Very upsetting or distressing 11 hapless Unfortunate 14 harlot prostitute 16 blights a thing that spoils or damages something hearse A carriage used to carry a coffin to a funeral

LO: To explore Blake’s use of language and links to social context. Observing – what connotations are contained in the word “wander”? What does the word chartered imply? What does the word “flow” imply? I wander thro' each charter'd street, Near where the charter'd Thames does flow.  And mark in every face I meet Marks of weakness, marks of woe. Where is there conflict? Consider the social context (industrial revolution) and the content in this chapter. No exceptions – possibly a hyperbole? What do these words tell us about life in London? LO: To explore Blake’s use of language and links to social context.

Repetition of “every” = applies to all In every cry of every Man, In every Infants cry of fear, In every voice: in every ban, The mind-forg'd manacles I hear Ban = imposed by those in power / restriction and conflict between those in power restricting freedom Freedom of thought being taken away? / The restrictions put in place by 18th century/industrial revolution “mind-set” (the chartered streets/river) LO: To explore Blake’s use of language and links to social context.

LO: To explore Blake’s use of language and links to social context. Repetition of child labour between stanzas. Reinforces poet’s personal view? Chimney sweeps were usually children (orphans) in the care of the church. How the Chimney-sweepers cry Every black’ning Church appalls, And the hapless Soldier’s sigh Runs in blood down Palace walls Powerful institutions, “black’ning” = soot covered from the orphans? / churches becoming “evil” (less pure) for not protecting children (“appalls”) Soldiers abandoned by their country they have served / used to love. The soldier’s blood is a stain on the institution. Who is to blame? Link to power/conflict? Why does the soldier sigh?

Curse is symbolic of her life – she feels cursed to suffer But most thro' midnight streets I hear How the youthful Harlots curse Blasts the new-born Infants tear And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse Young prostitutes are “attacking” (shouting at) new born babies for crying Images of death and disease linked to marriage. Uses oxymoron of marriage (giving life) and funeral (death) - pessimistic The existence of a young prostitute (who may have had a child) ruins the concept of marriage LO: To explore Blake’s use of language and links to social context.

Power and Conflict What ideas are there in the poem about power and conflict? Who has power? Who is powerless? Who is the conflict between? Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo0GMqqEuus

Power and Conflict Powerful in ‘London’ Powerless in ‘London’ The church because it is “black’ning” suggesting it is a force for evil, not good. It “appalls” the poet. The palace because … Common people because their faces show “weakness” and “woe” – they are miserable and can’t stand up to those in power. Men because … The children and babies because … The chimney sweep … The child prostitute …

Main focus: POWER and CONFLICT Questions: (Find quotes to support your answers) Who has power, according to the narrator? What is the importance of the use of the word “chartered”? What is the significance of the soldier? Why is the oxymoron “marriage hearse” used? Challenge yourself How does the rigid structure of the poem show power/conflict? LO: To explore Blake’s use of language and links to social context.