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London by William Blake - english literature

ScoliJD

for those who have studied 'London', what language techniques are there in this poem and what do they show?

Reply 1

Fox Corner

I've moved this into the English forum for you :h:

Reply 2

Lit teacher

Original post by ScoliJD

for those who have studied 'London', what language techniques are there in this poem and what do they show?

Look at imagery, especially metaphors. He is putting complicated ideas into clear and simple pictures.
'mind-forg'd manacles' - manacles are like handcuffs, keeping people as prisoners or slaves. These manacles only exist in people's minds though, keeping their thoughts and ideas trapped.
The hapless soldier's sigh runs in blood down palace walls - The palace represents the ruling classes, and especially the king. They are kept in power through unfortunate soldiers who die to protect them.
'Marriage hearse' - vividly links marriage to death. Possibly a reference to the problem of diseases such as syphilis, which could be caught from a 'youthful harlot' and passed on in the marriage bed, killing the partner.

London is a political poem, listing the things that Blake hated most about the country. These metaphors sum up his beliefs in a series of single images.

Look also at repetition for emphasis.