Blake utilises metaphor in the poem London to assist in the conveyance of the poem's purpose to the reader. Metaphor is a key technique used in the poem as it assists in intensifying emotions in the reader, and allows the reader to more readily engage with the content of the poem. "Mind forged manacles" is an excerpt from the poem with powerful implications as it shows the mental oppression of the lower class citizens of London at the time. Manacles are invariably associated with things of a physical nature, yet in this metaphor Blake describes them as non-physical manacles of the mind, a very significant aspect of the poem as the mind is the freest part of an individual. This powerful metaphor insinuates that if the mind cannot be free then what else can? Which ultimately portrays the manifestation of oppression in all areas of

Blake exploits the use of many well known poetic devices such as metaphor, oxymoron, symbolism, and repetition to better convey the poem's purpose; the oppression of the lower class by the aristocracy. Blake utilises these techniques in conjunction with each other throughout the poem to achieve the desired effect; the clear portrayal of the poem's purpose. By using these techniques Blake conceives a poem with purpose, which has both depth and meaning.

London's lower class citizens. "Runs in blood down palace walls" is another metaphor from the poem which conveys the oppression of the lower class by the aristocracy to the reader. This metaphor is made in reference to the war with France, which alludes to the fact that the soldiers, primarily made up of lower class males, were forced to give their lives for the state or the royal family. The blood on the palace walls is a metaphorical representation of the oppression of the lower class, as it signifies the blood shed of the soldiers in the name of the wealthy. This therefore portrays the subjugation of the lower class of London, thus conveying the poem's purpose to the reader.

Blake uses symbolism as a powerful and effective device in portraying the poem's purpose to the reader. Through symbolism the reader is given insight into the failure and hypocrisy of the church, emphasised through the misery of the chimney sweep. "How the chimneysweeper's cry; every blackening church appals" exemplifies the churches failure to do anything about child labour and the oppression of the lower class by the aristocracy. The main reason for the churches failure to do anything about the impoverished and oppressed lower class was due to the fact that much of the

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Approximate Word count = 1152
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)