Examine the ways in which the two poets, Wordsworth and Blake, present contrasting views of London in their poems

GCSE: English Literature

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Each poem is written in the different narrative voices of a tourist and a resident of London. By reading each poem it is easy to distinguish which poem is written in the life of each different narrative. Poem one, written by Wordsworth, has the narrative voice of a tourist. We can tell this because all of the things throughout the whole poem that he mentions are good and none of the bad points are mentioned at all; “…Never did the sun more beautifully steep.” The quote uses positive adjectives, which is suggesting purity, freshness and cleanliness to the city of London. Wordsworth gives his opinion of London in his poem and he gives a message to the reader explaining its beauty and peace. Poem two, written by Blake, has the narrative voice of the London resident, we can tell this because the types of description used throughout the whole poem is very different; “How the chimney-sweepers cry, every blackening church appalls”. This line is effective because it uses words, which could have two different meanings when read, for example ’Blackening church’. He doesn’t particularly like London and thinks that it is a dirty and dangerous place to be in, although it could also mean a church that is being darkened because of the pollution from transport or a fire that could be happening in the church.
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