London I wander through each chartered street, Near where the chartered Thames does flow, And mark

in every face I meet, Marks of weakness, marks of woe. In every cry of every man, In every infant's cry of fear, In every voice, in every ban, The mind-forged manacles I hear: How the chimney-sweeper's cry Every blackening church appals, And the hapless soldier's sigh Runs in blood down palace-walls. But most, through midnight streets I hear How the youthful harlot's curse Blasts the new-born infant's tear, And blights with plagues the marriage-hearse William Blake 1. How does Blake present London? What themes and issues does he explore in relation to the church, the law, the political establishment and their effects on the city? Give evidence from the text to support your answer. (5 marks) 2. What attitude does Blake appear to have in response to these issues? What personal and philosophical values underpin his thinking? Give evidence from the text to support your answer. (5 marks) 3. What aspects of 18th century society might be symbolised by the chimney sweeper, the harlot and the soldier and how are these conveyed in the poem? Think about the age, gender, class and role of these individuals. (5 marks) 4. What significance might there be in the choice of title and the repeated reference to the river Thames, the streets and the minds of the city dwellers? How is a sense of intrinsic misery conveyed? (5 marks) 5. Consider the aural impact of this poem. How are alliteration, assonance and the sounds of words utilised by Blake? Explore the impact they have on mood and meaning. (5 marks) 25 MARKS

The Tyger Tyger! Tyger! burning bright In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry? In what distant deeps or skies Burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand dare sieze the fire? And what shoulder, & what art. Could twist the sinews of thy heart? And when thy heart began to beat, What dread hand? & what dread feet? What the hammer? what the chain? In what furnace was thy brain? What the anvil? what dread grasp Dare its deadly terrors clasp? When the stars threw down their spears, And watered heaven with their tears, Did he smile his work to see? Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

1. What is the subject of the poem? How does this fit in with what you know about Blake? Give evidence from the text to support your opinions. (5 marks) 2. What is the effect of the use of questioning in the poem? Why are the questions left unanswered? (5 marks) 3. How is the poem structured? (look at how many verses, the rhyme scheme, the rhythm, repetition etc) How does this impact our reading and understanding of the poem and convey Blakes mood and theme(s)? (5 marks) 4. What is the central metaphor of the poem and what deeper truths or themes might it be expressing? Explain its effect on the reader. (5 marks) 5. How representative is The Tyger of Blakes view of mankind and Gods relationship with Humanity? (5 marks) 25 MARKS