Differences between: London by Blake and London (1802) by Wordsorth |
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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. |
London (1802) by William Wordsworth Milton! thou should'st 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 thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay. |
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. - Both Poems are certainly critical, but Wordsworth is being satirical, while Blake is more cynical. Not much satire in Blake's words. London could be considered a major theme of both poems but for completely contrasting reasons; "London" by Blake theme is more about the people of London and the conditions of the urban poor and their physical and spiritual misery. "London 1802" by Wordsworth however, is a more positive view of London and is more concerned with the buildings and view of London. William Wordsworth said: « There was no doubt
that this poor man was mad, but there is something in the madness of
this man which interests me more than the sanity of Lord Byron and
Walter Scott. »
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