"London"

"How the Chimney-sweeper's cry
Every blackning Church appalls,
And the hapless Soldier's sigh
Runs in blood down Palace walls."

Author: William Blake
Publication Date: 1794
Form: 4 quatrains in 4 ABAB formats
Theme: City and Country

This poem focuses mainly on industrialization in the late 18th century - that is, the transition from country to city. The speaker wanders through the streets of London and notices the four problems of industrialization: market, marriage, state, and church.

Lots of double meaning:
e.g. "How the Chimney-sweeper's cry/Every blackning church appalls"(ll.9-10).
Appall: the cry appalls the church but also means drapes, so it covers the church as well. (by cover, it could also mean hiding the truth).



Winnie Jaing - TA: Amanda Waldo - Discussion 1H (I think)