Where the
Where the chartered Thames does flow
Blood
Blood runs down in palace walls
What is significant about the structure in London
Rhymes in abab which is almost like a child’s rhyme so it is so memorable even children can remember it- conveying his political message
What is the marriage hearse
Oxymoron
Blights with plagues
Blights with plagues the marriage hearse
What is the significance of the chartered Thames
Almost ironic saying that a natural thing such as the river can be owned by people who think they are powerful, however they cannot control it showing how natures power is more powerful. Also complaining about how everything is owned by the rich not by the people
What is the significance of blood runs down in palace walls
Political message showing he thinks if London continues like this it will have a rebellion
Like in France. In addition it is him attacking the monarchy and saying if the rich and powerful don’t change they will all die defending themselves from the people
What is the significance of blights and plagues a marriage hearse
This is the final message of the poem and shows how he believes in equality for women. He was a feminist in this patriarchal society and believed women as equals, teaching his wife how to read so she could work in his engraving business as an equal. The marriage hearse - oxymoron shows how men are killing their marriages by spreading stds from prostitution and how that leads to the disablement of their children and eventual death of their wives attacking men for viewing women as lesser than them
What does London compare well with
Checking out me history- both explore ideas around how identity is controlled and confined, London focuses on class and government but checking out me history around the education system
