Blake’s Poem begins with a sense of irony, as by implying the streets and river are ‘charter’d’ as if the city and river have rights, but the people of London don't. He talks of the ‘marks’ that he sees in everybody that he sees in their gestures and in the walks.
In the second stanza Blake uses the repetition of the word ‘every’ emphasises to the reader that it involves everybody. He continues to say that in every voice he hears the ‘mind-forg’d manacles’ this could be a main reason for Blake's proposed dislike of London are the 'mind-forged manacles' which are imagined iron handcuffs which Blake believes are symbols of restrictions made by the mind of authority.
In the third stanza he speaks of the ‘chimney-sweeper’s cry’ he is highlighting the exploitation of the children which has connotations of the Romantic Movement in which they fought for child’s rights. He writes that the ‘black’ning church appalls’ This metaphor reflects Blake’s distaste for London. 'And the hapless soldiers cry/ Runs in blood down palace walls'. This is implying that the King does not care for the soldiers just as the church does not care for the children. The latter of the two metaphors shows how the King can replace his soldiers with ease so doesn't care about them even though they fight and die for him. This metaphor could also suggest the evil of war.
The last two stanzas’ of the poem is more of a study of people who suffer to create London's success; people like the 'hapless soldier', 'harlot' and the 'new born infant'. Blake is implying that the city is ashamed of these people, as he describes the government and church as being 'blackening'. This is in deep contrast to the purity that the church and monarchy are seen to have. He condemns the government and royal family by saying 'Runs in blood down palace walls'. This emphasises the hypocrisy of London’s most revered. The 'Youthful harlot' plays a very large part in the final stanza of the poem. The youthfulness of the prostitute reflects the life for the poor in London at the time. The 'Harlot's curse' is the sexually transmitted diseases which she has and will spread. The 'new-born infants tear' is the crying of, either the prostitute's illegitimate child who is not properly cared for, or the child which has no parents due to the diseases which have killed them, caused by the prostitutes. This child is also likely to be affected by the disease. The 'marriage hearse' shows how marriages have been split up and killed by these plagues.
William Wordsworth’s Poem begins with an objective statement ‘earth has not anything to show more fair’. He writes that this city seems to wear the ‘beauty’ of the ‘morning’ like a ‘garment’. All throughout the poem there are images of ‘beauty’, ‘majesty’ and ‘splendour’. This is a constant reminder of London’s grandeur. In line six he links the ‘ships’, the ‘towers’ buildings to the ‘open fields’. In line nine he speaks of how the sun ‘never did more beautifully steep’. It is in the last three lines that Wordsworth allows the poem to come alive, using personification to describe London in ‘his’ splendour and describing how the river glides at ‘his’ own will. Even the fact that he has given the river a ‘will’ makes London seem more alive The climatic line of the poem is when he describes London’s ‘mighty heart’ is lying still this is an excellent metaphor as it gives the poem life, make it seem as though London’s pulse is throbbing.
Blake’s poem is set in the cramped back alleys of London, which are associated with restriction and oppression. It is in the middle of the day, when the factories are alive, and the people are living their pointless lives, therefore Blake will be seeing London at the height of activity. Blake conveys his feelings towards London, by using words like 'woe', 'blood', 'and plagues ‘and hapless’. These words give the reader a feeling of suffering, oppression and corruption, which help create a dark and negative mood. Wordsworth’s poem is set in the dawn of day when everyone is asleep and London is peaceful and tranquil. The poet’s love of nature is evident in this poem and it shows London to be a beautiful place. This is an optimistic poem; it is almost surreal and dreamlike. It makes the reader feel as if they are in some sort of fantasy. This helps to create a whimsical and happy mood.
It is the tone and mood of Wordsworth’s poem that distinguishes it from Blake’s because although they both write about London their views are very different. Personally I would have to say that I prefer William Blake’s Poem ‘London’ as I feel that it is more effective in describing London because at the time this poem was written London was actually like that. We must also remember that William Blake actually grew up in London so he might be more able to give an adequate description of London. It could be that Wordsworth’s love of nature might actually make him gloss over the less desirable parts of London.
There are many more contrasts than comparisons in the two poems and this is obvious as they have different views of London. I find this amazing as the poems were written around the same era, the beginning of the 19th Century.