Compare and contrast the presentation of London in composed upon Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth and London by Willia

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Matthew Povey 11TA                English coursework   Folder Work

Compare and contrast the presentation of London in composed upon Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth and London by William Blake.

In both poems London by William Blake and composed upon Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth they were written over the Romantic Movement. In this period there were climatic changes and the conflict abroad but more unfortunately rapid changes due to the industrial revolution this greatly changed the way of life for the worse. One very abrupt and to the point the other a hidden message through praise and sarcasm.  

William Blake's poem, 'London', was written in 1791. His poem describes the horrid and dirty scenes that are to be seen in London. 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'.

The 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.

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Wordsworth is written in 1802 and describes more of the architecture and the buildings that he can see from the distance it can look rich and wealthy from the outside but this is just a mask of the grime London in the streets and the decaying horrible society that London has been moulded into. Wordsworth’s poem is less straight forward and you have to dig deep to find the hidden meaning which is found as after a while of all the praise it turns into sarcasm he also write his poem as a Sonnet. Sonnets are usually to do ...

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