Wordsworth’s sonnet is fourteen lines long, each consisting of iambic pentameters, ten syllables to a line. This structure shows it as a sonnet, which are always considered as love poems, hence showing his love for London. It also allows there to be a constant flowing rhythm throughout. However there is a slight rhythm change from line eight in the rhyming structure, as rather than rhyming couplets that are written, the rhymes are placed every other line, up until the end. London, by Blake is a poem rather than a sonnet, composed of four stanzas, each containing four lines. This effect breaks up the poem and helps to give a very plodding, interrupted tone. The rhymes however are consistent, every other line rhymes. This can represent the regimented, predictable nature, reflected in the industry and mechanisation. The contrast to the flowing poem of Wordsworth is evident and makes obvious that the poet’s views differ, regarding London.
The language also differs between each writer, along with the views and messages they are trying to advertise. Wordsworth use of words is used effectively, instead of relying on techniques to display his love of London. He uses a lot of rich majestic language such as ‘glittering’, ‘splendour’, ‘beauty’ and ‘majesty’ itself. This language shows the poem to be very emotional. It also gives a reference to ‘God’, which immediately gives the poem a more heavenly and important meaning. This isn’t to say Wordsworth does not use any devices to help deliver his thoughts to the reader. He uses personification a lot throughout the poem, ‘in his first splendour,’ is a good illustration of this. It also mentions that it ‘houses seem asleep And all that mighty heart is lying still!’ which suggest this image that London isn’t an industrial and mechanical city, but is in fact a living breathing creature. The heart can also imply that London is the heart of Britain. The God reference also helps to portray the idea of natural creation. The poet also uses a simile to show that the ‘city now doth’ is like a garment.
‘London’ however uses many more techniques, such as repetition, to emphasise the point he is trying to make, rather than to underline his views. He also uses metaphors, ‘every blackening church appals’, which other than the literal meaning of grime and soot, is referring to a protest against the church, and voicing his view that Blake believes that it is not helping society when they should be. Examples of alliteration and onomatopoeias are present (such as ‘hapless soldier’s sigh’). All the techniques and devices help to give the impression of mechanisms to help give the idea of industry. However, Blake also uses his choice of words to reflect upon his unaffectionate attitude towards the city. He uses lots of morbid and gothic type language (typical of the romantic era) to show in his opinion that London isn’t such a fantastic place to live and be inside. References to ‘plagues’ and ‘cry’s of fear’ ‘blackening’ and ‘woe’, demonstrate this.
