Compare the way William Wordsworth and William Blake describe London in there poems

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Charlotte Cheshire

Compare the way William Wordsworth and William Blake describe London in there poems

Both these poems were written at around the turn of the 19th century, in Georgian times, to illustrate the authors’ views on the City of London and both poems use their structure to emphasise the words in them.

William Blake’s ‘London’ is written in four, four line stanzas. Each line of each verse has the same number of syllables; this creates an almost mechanical effect. Each verse of the Blake poem attacks a different aspect of London. It is clear that Blake found London a very corrupt and immoral place.

Westminster Bridge was written by William Wordsworth, Wordsworth gives an idealistic view of London which I think makes the poem more favourable in addition, it is a sonnet and most sonnets were written as love poems that praise things.

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Both poets use different symbolism to convey their ideas to the reader. Wordsworth shows his feelings for London in a figurative way. He personifies the sun, river and the city. He allows them to perform human functions such as wearing clothes. He continues this simile giving the river ‘a will’, something which is unique to people. He says ‘The City now doth like a garment wear the beauty of the morning’ This gives the impression that the city is alive, not just an inanimate collection of buildings.

William Blake’s poem conveys his feelings in a more abstract  style, when ...

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