William Blake's "London"

This section explores William Blake's poem "London", written in 1794 by the romantic poet and radicalist.

Context: Blake was concerned about oppressed people in society and used his poetry to critique social injustice.

The poem describes the misery and despair witnessed in London, pointing to people in power (monarchs, government) as the source of problems. It conveys feelings of anger and hopelessness.

"London" compares well with poems like "Ozymandias", "My Last Duchess", and "Checking Out Me History".

Key literary techniques analyzed include:

1. Metaphor: "Mind-forg'd manacles" creates an image of metal chains, suggesting control and indoctrination. This represents the brainwashing and constant control exerted by those with wealth and authority.

2. Metaphor: "Palace walls / With blood" implies that the government has blood on their hands, having caused pain and suffering to the people. It symbolizes the sacrifice of ordinary citizens for king and country.

3. Repetition and structure: The rigidity of the poem reflects the controlling nature of people in power. The repetition reinforces the endless misery of oppressed people within society.

Quote: "In every cry of every Man, / In every Infant's cry of fear, / In every voice, in every ban, / The mind-forg'd manacles I hear"

This powerful stanza emphasizes the pervasive nature of oppression in London society.

Carol Ann Duffy's "War Photographer"

This section examines Carol Ann Duffy's poem "War Photographer", inspired by her friends who were war photographers.

Context: Duffy was interested in the difficulties that war photographers experience and used this poem to explore their emotional struggles.

The poem refers to the famous "Napalm Girl" photograph of a nine-year-old girl running naked and in extreme pain after being badly burned by a bomb. This powerful image won a prize and was widely published.

"War Photographer" compares well with poems like "Remains", "Poppies", "Bayonet Charge", and "Exposure".

Key literary techniques analyzed include:

1. Metaphor: "Spools of suffering set out in ordered rows" creates an image reminiscent of headstones in a cemetery. The fragility of the spools represents the vulnerability of the people captured on film.

2. Imagery: "Blood stained into foreign dust" emphasizes how war leaves a lasting mark on the photographer and highlights the theme of death and the fragility of life.

3. Structure: The regular six-line stanzas, each ending with a rhyming couplet, emphasize the photographer's determination to find order in chaos and tragedy.

Quote: "A hundred agonies in black-and-white / From which his editor will pick out five or six / For Sunday's supplement"

This line highlights the contrast between the photographer's experiences and the limited exposure given to the public, emphasizing the disconnect between war zones and comfortable civilian life.