Comparison of Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth and London by William Blake

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Comparison of Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth and London by William Blake Throughout the coursework I will refer to William Wordsworth as Wordsworth and William Blake as Blake. The poems of Wordsworth and Blake are both about London however, Wordsworth’s poem was written when he came to visit London whereas Blake lived in London. Wordsworth’s poem is about the finery of London one can see this as he writes in line 1; “Earth has not anything to show more fair:” Whereas in Blake’s poem he does not write about the praise of London although he loved London we are told he sees that London has its bad points. In Wordsworth’s poems there is an absence of people whereas in Blake’s poem it talks about people a lot of the time. In Wordsworth’s poem he refers to London as a person this is a personification. We see him referring to London as a person when he says at the end of the poem although there are other references to this; “And all that mighty heart is lying still!” In Wordsworth’s poem he is not saying that London is more beautiful then other cities he says that it is as nice as other cities. When Wordsworth says; “Dull would he be of soul,” This shows that he thinks some people are insensitive. As well when Wordsworth says; “This City now doth, like a garment, wear,” This is a simile he talks about London as if it is a person. When Blake’s writes his poem he sheds light on the problems of London although he is a major fan of London. Most of the people at this time could not read and so Blake thought that if he wrote a poem people who could read wo... ... middle of paper ... ...horical the soilders are standing by the palace and sighing thinking about th rich people who don’t suffer in war hence the words “Runs in the blood”. In line 15 the word; “…Harlot…” is showing that it is pitiful. The harlot is cursing because if she becomes pregnant it is like a millstone around her neck. In line 17 the word “hearse” is used as a car to take the bride to the wedding hall here it would be sad because the harlot would only be getting married because she became pregnant it was not a wanted child. Nowadays we use a hearse a car to carry a coffin, now to hear the word hearse is sad whereas then it was a happy thought. Perhaps when it says in line 16; “…Infants tear,” It is saying that the cry is because maybe the father is already married.

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