Compare and contrast Blake and Wordsworth’s view of London Essay

The poets Blake and Wordsworth both wrote poems ab give away Englands capital city, London. The poets themselves each came from disparate backgrounds which may convey influenced their view of London. Wordsworth was born and brought up in the Lake District and spent the majority of his life there, which may take on led him to concentrate on the natural features of London. In contrast Blake was more aware of the industry and scantness of the capital City. He had lived any his life in London, receiving little formal schooling and even witnessing the remainder of his brother from consumption.Wordsworths poem Composed upon Westminster Bridge presents a smooth and relaxed view looking crossways the water and the city. He writes about what he sees and views London as a majestic royal palace. Wordsworth reflects upon his offspring with deep felt emotion, seeing it as a spiritual place of peace. Dull would be the mortal who could pass by, a sight so touching in its majesty. He descr ibes a supererogatory morning when the city seems to be asleep and is in awe of the tranquillity neer saw I, never felt, a alleviate so deep. Wordsworth is therefore commenting on the natural watcher that he sees alternatively than the daily life behind this scene.In contrast Blakes poem is entitled London. talk directly about the city itself it is the account of a per give-and-take walking down the street adage what he sees. He is more concerned with the mass who make up the City. Instead of seeing beauty he sees pain in the emotions of the people he meets. In every cry of every objet dart. Blake concentrates on the oppression and need of the city. He blames the church service and authorities for their escape of attention and care for the people of London. Every blackening Church appals. The banknote of the poem shows a lack of awareness some unspoiled inside while pain goes on outside, and the hapless soldiers sigh runs in kindred down Palace walls.In keeping with t his pessimistic view, Blakes poem is structured in a methodical and measured tone. It is written to a steady beat in four stanzas. This has the feel of a walking pace as he wanders around the city viewing its misery. Blake uses repetition to emphasise his item in every cry, in every voice. It is a formal bleak approach endowment the bare facts as he sees them.Wordsworths poem is altogether more flamboyant. As a amative poet he writes this poem in the form of a sonnet. This style is mainly used in fill out poetry. This structure emphasises the way Wordsworth concentrates on the physical aspects Wordsworth views around him. One line flows into another in an inner way. It is descriptive and reflective but does not attempt to look beyond the outward appearance all bright and glittering in the smokeless air.Wordsworth as a rich man, the son of a lawyer, views London on face value. He looks down upon the city from his lofty position unaware of the need below. His tone is in effect( p) of grandeur earth has not anything to show more fair. He feels travel in his spirit and in harmony with his environment. Wordsworths tone is full of wonder, focusing on the princely buildings and seeing the city itself as a living being full of emotion.Blake expresses his thoughts of frustration and sadness. He describes chartered streets and chartered Thames, which emphasises how everything has been taken over and oppressed. He comes from a lower middle class background the son of a hosier and the tone of this poem expresses his awareness of the poverty around him marks of weakness, marks of woes. This sadness turns to enmity as the poem proceeds, criticising the Church and even the corruption of spousals. And blights with plagues the marriage hearse. There is a hopelessness and despondency expressed within this poem.Blake refers to mind-forged manacles, the metaphorical chains in which the peoples minds are held. This is typical of the minus images used throughout. The o ne beat rhythm and child-like tone emphasises the steady march towards an inescapable fate. This language underlines the lack of control which people have, their lives grinding out a pre-set pattern. Everything is owned each chartered street. Even the Church is blackening, sinful, cruel, with a lack of purity and care. The oxymoron marriage hearse shows the conflict within society the hypocrisy of marriage whilst poverty encourages prostitution to flourish the youthful harlots utter. The words are severe and shocking, exaggerating the problem to gain our attention blasts the new-born infants tear.The language used by Wordsworth is full of splendour never did the sunshine more beautifully steep. He paints pictures with his words, using the images of the shining sun, the gliding river the beauty of the morning. He extends a simile of the city by personifying it as captive in sleep. The city now doth like a garment where the beauty of the morning, silent, bare. Wordsworth creates a feeling of awe and wonder at the beauty of creation. He uses the metaphor of the city like a mighty heart lying still.The sounds evoked by Wordsworth poem are very peaceful and calm the river glideth, the morning silent. In contrast Blake uses sharp sounds which are onomatopoeic in nature blasts, curse, cry. He uses a strong heavy rhythm emotive of the oppression felt with crying force and mark in every face I meet, marks of weakness, marks of woe. The tone of Wordsworths poem is soft and lilting a sight so touching, a calm so deep. This is set against the harsh cry of Blakes London.The approach used by these deuce writers promotes a different response from the reader. Wordsworths flowery imagery encourages a warm view of London. He is optimistic in his approach, concentrating as he does upon the immediate sights and sounds of a peaceful morning scene. Blake however conjures up a feeling of misery for the plight of the people of London locked in a prison of poverty which he blam es on the establishment who have no care for their situation. Blake concentrates on social injustice, perhaps borne out of his own upbringing, whilst Wordsworth seems unaware of anything but the natural beauty of the environment and not its inhabitants. Two seemingly different views of one city seen from varying perspectives.