Compare the ‘Charge of Light Brigade’ with ‘London.’
In the poem ‘London,’ the title itself leads us to believe that it will be patriotic as it is about the
capital. I think Blake’s intention in writing this poem is to make people think about the society they
lived in and realise that they can make a change.
The first line of the poem, ‘I wander through’ each chartered street,’ ‘wander,’ being a verb connotes
aimlessness, freedom and passiveness, which could reflect how he is powerless. This is juxtaposed
to ‘chartered,’ as it is a metaphor for the prison-like situation. ‘Chartered,’ is repeated to show that
the people have no power and they do not seem to be able to change their thinking so that they can
make a change. Blake Shows these ideas by making everything in the poem negative. He used
repetition to suggest that everything is bleak. Even the the metre if this poem reinforces the idea.
Moving on to the poem, ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’ I think the writer’s intention in writing
this poem is that the soldiers would be remembered as it suggests that the soldier’s lives were cut
short, but also sounds like an epitaph for them. Positive language such as ‘honour,’ and ‘glory,’ has
been used to make it clear that he thinks they should be remembered for ever as heroes.
The poet suggests his admiration for the soldiers by writing this poem about them which suggests
he feels their achievement should be celebrated. Words like ‘noble,’ and ‘hero,’ are clearly positive.
He reflects on their sense of patriotism, which was considered very important at the time. He shows
these ideas using onomatopoeia and rhythm to suggest the sound of the battle, which seems
terrifying. The word, ‘cannon,’ is repeated showing that they were surrounded. The valley is
personified and also called, ‘Hell.’ The last line of the fourth stanza, ‘Not the six hundred,’ shows
that they gave their lives for the country.
In the poem ‘London,’ the title itself leads us to believe that it will be patriotic as it is about the
capital. I think Blake’s intention in writing this poem is to make people think about the society they
lived in and realise that they can make a change.
The first line of the poem, ‘I wander through’ each chartered street,’ ‘wander,’ being a verb connotes
aimlessness, freedom and passiveness, which could reflect how he is powerless. This is juxtaposed
to ‘chartered,’ as it is a metaphor for the prison-like situation. ‘Chartered,’ is repeated to show that
the people have no power and they do not seem to be able to change their thinking so that they can
make a change. Blake Shows these ideas by making everything in the poem negative. He used
repetition to suggest that everything is bleak. Even the the metre if this poem reinforces the idea.
Moving on to the poem, ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’ I think the writer’s intention in writing
this poem is that the soldiers would be remembered as it suggests that the soldier’s lives were cut
short, but also sounds like an epitaph for them. Positive language such as ‘honour,’ and ‘glory,’ has
been used to make it clear that he thinks they should be remembered for ever as heroes.
The poet suggests his admiration for the soldiers by writing this poem about them which suggests
he feels their achievement should be celebrated. Words like ‘noble,’ and ‘hero,’ are clearly positive.
He reflects on their sense of patriotism, which was considered very important at the time. He shows
these ideas using onomatopoeia and rhythm to suggest the sound of the battle, which seems
terrifying. The word, ‘cannon,’ is repeated showing that they were surrounded. The valley is
personified and also called, ‘Hell.’ The last line of the fourth stanza, ‘Not the six hundred,’ shows
that they gave their lives for the country.
