William Wordworths London and William Blakes Upon...

Compare and contrast London and Upon Westminster Bridge. Show how the two poets express differing views of London with detailed analysis of the texts and using background research. Refer to styles, techniques and effects of the poetry. Give your own responses. Both William Wordworths London and William Blakes Upon Westminster Bridge were written at the turn of the 19th century in Georgian times to illustrate the authors views of London. During this period the industrial revolution was in full swing and the population was growing at alarming rates. The population increase was due to advancements in medicine, which allowed people to have more children. Both poems have been carefully structured to bring out certain†¦show more content†¦For example in four This City now doth like a garment wear he allows the personifications to perform human actions such as wearing clothes; this gives the effect that the city is alive and beautiful and not just an assortment of inanimate buildings and objects. He continues this simile by giving the river a will. Blake conveys his feelings for London is a nonfigurative style. He uses the buildings and people of London to symbolise the institutions which he believes they are associated with. For example in verse 10, Every blackning Church appals he uses the image of the charge to criticise religious establishments. Similarly he gives in verse 11 and 12, And the hapless Soldiers sigh, Runs in blood down Palace walls, he uses the image of the soldiers sigh running in blood down the Palace walls as an attack against the monarchy and government for literally sentencing young men to death by making them fight in foreign wars. I have also observed that many of the words in Blakes poem have multiple meaning, such as in the first verse he mentions Londons Charterd streets; this can be interpreted to mean the strict control over which the state and church have over society. On the other hand it can be interpreted to mean immoral. Looking at the rest of the poem I believe it is meant to be taken in the context of immoral as later on he touches on prostitution and other corrupt activities going on in the streets of London.