What are some similarities and dissimilarites of the two poems?
Tones and atmospheres of the two poems?

I just listed some things that I can think of..

Similarities:
Both poems are written by the English Romantic poets.
Both poems deal with politically corrupted London.


Dissimilarities:
"London" is a sonnet, but "London, 1802" has 4 quatrains.

Please help. Thank you.



James

Let's take a look at the poems:

London
by William Blake


I wandered through each chartered street,
Near where the chartered Thames does flow,
A mark in every face I meet,
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.

In every cry of every man,
In every infant's cry of fear,
In every voice, in every ban,
The mind-forged manacles I hear:

How the chimney-sweeper's cry
Every blackening church appals,
And the hapless soldier's sigh
Runs in blood down palace-walls.

But most, through midnight streets I hear
How the youthful harlot's curse
Blasts the new-born infant's tear,
And blights with plagues the marriage-hearse

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London, 1802
-- William Wordsworth

Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour:
England hath need of thee: she is a fen
Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen,
Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower,
Have forfeited their ancient English dower
Of inward happiness. We are selfish men;
Oh! raise us up, return to us again;
And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.
Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart:
Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:
Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,
So didst thou travel on life's common way,
In cheerful godliness; and yet the heart
The lowliest duties on herself did lay.

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KP, the theme of London seems to be the only similarity. Wordsworth's poem deals with the artistic state of the city, while Blake's deals with the harsh realities of the common man/woman of the time. Blake's assessment is certainly more bleak and hopeless than that of Wordsworth.

Les



Post Edited (04-16-05 13:58)

What is the tone of each poem?
I'm thinking "London" and "London 1802" are both sarcastic, cynical, and critical. What do you think?
Thanks for your help.



James

Kp, I think both are certainly critical, but Wordsworth is being satirical, while Blake is more cynical. Not much satire in Blake's words, he's just relating the less than optimistic state of affairs.


Les

Do you see any other similarities or dissimilarities in the two poems. What about their emphasis on freedom and nature?
Thanks again for your help.



James

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Both poems are critical - both poems reflect concern for contemporry political and social events. But they are very different. Blake concerned - bitter, and cynical -Wordsworth more detached - less committed?

Blaske was the son of a working class hosier - Wordwsworth the son of a Cumberland solictor!

gill

And Shakespeare the son of an illiterate glove maker. That matters somehow?