London By WILLIAM BLAKE 1757–1827 Michael Houle-Craig “To see the world in a grain of sand, and to see heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hands, and eternity in an hour.” -- William Blake

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgd5jt_william-blake-london_creation

Blake’s History Blake was born in London England (1757) Born into a working class family Family had strong nonconformist beliefs Served a 5 year apprenticeship, to be an engraver Entered the Royal Academy Schools as an engraver at 22 years of age Blake married in 1782, to Catherine Boucher He opened a print shop in 1784 1787 his brother (Robert) past away from tuberculosis In 1787 Blake also discovered his own method of engraving called "relief etching“, which was a starting point for a huge career opportunity. Blake lived through the industrial revolution of London (1812-1820) William Blake died in the year of 1827

Meaning This poem by Blake is the after affects of the industrial revolution in London England (1812-1820). It shows that misery in the streets and the dreary world of London England

First Stanza: Structure: ABAB Four line stanza. First and third lines rhyme, as well as the second and forth.   Techniques: Alliteration -(“ch” sounds) Meaning: Dirty streets, distress and misery reflected in the people.

Second Stanza: Structure: CDCD Four line stanza again, same as last. First and third lines rhyme, as well as the second and forth.   Techniques: Diction -(“every”) there no one person that is not negatively affected by the industrialization. Meaning: Everyone is affected by the change in society.

Third Stanza: Structure: EFEF Four line stanza once again First and third lines rhyme, as well as the second and forth.   Techniques: Paradox -(destruction and religion in the same stanza) Symbolism -(“Chimmney-sweeper’s” society trying to clean itself up), (“black’ning Church” symbolizes loss of innocence) Meaning: The mess in the streets of London England. The Chimmney-sweepers cleaning up the mess of the past generation. The Churches were one of the worst for using the children to clean the chimneys.

Fourth Stanza: Structure: GHGH Four line stanza. First and third lines rhyme, as well as the second and forth.   Techniques: Symbolism -(plague symbolizes the curse set upon London) Paradox -(Marriage and hearse) Meaning: The deeds of the past generation will affect the next generation and how the next generation will have to work hard to fix the messed up London.

Techniques Alliteration Imagery Diction Paradox Symbolism “ch”, “s”, “t” sounds Imagery “Blood down the palace walls” (3rd stanza) Diction “Charter’d” (1st stanza) and “every” (2nd stanza) Paradox Usage of the destruction and religion ideas in the 3rd stanza. Symbolism Repeats “every” in the second stanza in this poem, symbolizing that there is no one individual that does not suffer from the effects of the revolution.

Sources Cited http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgd5jt_william-blake-london_creation http://thecloisters.org/toah/hd/blke/hd_blke.htm Blake’s Poetry and Designs, Norton Critical Edition, edited by Mart Lynn Johnson and John E. Grant http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/blke/hd_blke.htm