Pre-Writing Guidance

• Introduce the poem's context: Blake composed "London" in 1794 as part of Songs of Experience, a collection that critiques the social and moral failures of his time.
• Identify at least three literary devices and link each to a specific passage in the poem.
• Analyze how each device strengthens Blake's critique of institutional power.
• Conclude by reflecting on the poem's relevance: does Blake's criticism of power structures resonate beyond 18th-century London?

Suggested Textual Evidence to Consider

• "mind-forged manacles" (line 8)
• "the Chimney-sweeper's cry / Every black'ning Church appalls" (lines 9–10)
• "the hapless Soldier's sigh / Runs in blood down Palace walls" (lines 11–12)
• "the youthful Harlot's curse" (line 14)

Assessment Focus

Argumentation, close reading, use of textual evidence, and analytical writing.

In your essay, be sure to

• Identify and analyze at least three poetic or literary devices Blake uses (e.g., anaphora, diction, imagery, symbolism).
• Explain how each device reinforces Blake's main argument regarding oppression and social injustice.
• Consider the historical and social context of late 18th-century London and how it influences the poem's meaning.
• Conclude with a reflection on the relevance of Blake's critique in broader or contemporary contexts.

Scoring Focus

Strength of claim, quality of textual evidence, depth of analysis, and coherence of argument.