Compare the ways in which William Wordsworth and Williams Blake Essay

Compare the ways in which William Blake and Williams Wordsworth describe capital of the United Kingdom and its effects on them in their poetrys self-possessed upon Westminster Bridge and London twain Composed and London are pre 1914 romantic poetry still differ on how they are influenced by romance. Romanticism was a fairly new type of poetry and was developed in the 18th century and mappingd mostly in late 18th and early nineteenth centuries ideas of romanticism include the celebration of the lower class, an idyllic world, the importance of nature, combine opposed to organised religion and freedom of expression. Blake was k without delayn as the father of romanticism and his writing is both dark (when talking some society) but beautiful (when talking about nature). Wordsworth on the other(a) hand saw romantic ideas and beauty e precisewhere (including society).Life in the 18th century was all about change and revolution some people were being more open on their interprets of organised religion and other areas of society thus influencing romanticism.Composed is a rime about Wordsworths tyrannical appreciation of London Wordsworth grew up in Yorkshire a land full of nature and beautiful countryside the romantic idea of an idyllic world. This could be why Wordsworth can see the beauty and romantic watchs in London because he has grown on seeing so umpteen around him. Blake however grew up in London itself therefore allowing him to see its dimness and allowing him to experience a structured and strict society.Wordsworth was an enthusiastic romantic who wrote the poem Composed from what he saw standing Upon Westminster Bridge. Wordsworth expresses his own private view points on London we see this as he writes in first person Wordsworth also never refers to other people suggesting that he wants London to be his own and no one elses. Wordsworth sees freedom and innocence within the metropolis this can be seen when he writes that the city is fair us ing fair suggests that Wordsworth sees an acquitted beauty in London. Also Wordsworth uses a colon after the word fair meaning that the city isnt just beautiful but has other elements also.Fair is also used often in love poems, showing Wordsworths love of the city. Wordsworths love of the city is also seen when he uses personification such as The River glideth at his own sweet will. The use of personification identifies that Wordsworth classes the River as an equal or even higher and also shows how personal the city is to him. Differing to Wordsworth sitting and watching the city go by Blake is walking the streets at night a m when evil is allegedly revealed, Blake choosing this time to write suggests that the poem will be negative and also dark. Blake reveals Londons late night deceptions in his poem London. Blake appears to see nothing in London except deception, oppression, death and depression. This is shown multiple times such as And the hapless soldiers suspirationRuns in blood down the palace walls.The soldiers sigh being the oppression and depression, the blood down palace walls being the death and deception.Wordsworth seems to be the opposition to these negative views, shown in his explicit positive imagery neer did the sun more beautifully steep.This quotation basically means that the sun has never looked as beautiful as it does now, sunshine symbolises a mellifluous start and purity. Therefore suggesting the city is pure as the rays of the sun are shining on it. Purity is also suggested when Wordsworth writes that the air is smokeless even in the industrial city, London. The frequent use of positive imagery throughout the poem creates ideas that Wordsworth has seen London as a cathartic experience and has been enlightened by the city. with out the poem it would appear that Wordsworth wants the lecturer to feel at peace with London and shows his calm and blissful visit to the city seen in Wordsworths use of language touching, silent and asleep .All of these words give a harmonious and peaceful atmosphere this implies that Wordsworth feels at one with the city.Wordsworth was influenced by many contrary things whilst writing Composed one of these influences may have been that Wordsworth was on his way to visit his daughter in France, this may have given Wordsworth positive emotions and allowing him to see London as a stepping stone on the way to see his daughter freehand him hope. Hope is indicated as Wordsworth writes in the morning, a time for fresh starts and new beginnings, Wordsworth then goes on to say that the morning is silent and bare suggesting that anything can happen.All poets have reasons for writing a per civic poem Composed is no exception to this Wordsworth writes the poem to show people that romantic ideas and hope can be found anywhere and that London is the give awayt of this. Both the language and punctuation in the poem shows hope and freedom. The dissolve of the poem can also liberately be defined from the quote This City now doth like a garment, wearThe beauty of the morning silent bare,This quotation shows both honesty and innocence by the words silent bare both of these words suggests that the city is not hiding anything and possesses no hidden deception. Innocence is shown as the city doth like a garment, wear they beauty of the morning As the morning is new and innocent and is around the city reflecting its innocence back upon the city.The poem London by Blake however has a completely different purpose and is written to show that society does not express hope, romantic ideas and is in fact vitiate and full of deception. Blake uses the poem to show how society manipulates nature and faith as shown in the quotation Every blackening church appalsThis represents how religion has been manipulated by society and is now evil unlike faith that is true and honourable. The romantic view of organised religion is that it toys with people to make them believe that they believe in God, taking away their freedom and the purity of faith and religion. Blake has always lived in London and craves freedom and an escape from what he perceives a political and oppressed society.The differences between the purposes can be clearly defined and explained, as it is not entirely the views of the poets that make their poems it is also, their positions in life and London their state of mind experiences and previous encounters with the city and the time of day.Wordsworth uses the structure of Composed to further replicate freedom in London as the poem is a sonnet (representing society and London what most believe as ruled and structured) however uses punctuation to break up the rules and structure to enforce freedom and constant flow of life, suggested by Wordsworths use of only one full stop. However significant usage of the semi-colon, colon and comma in varied places rather than just at the end of a line thus creating fluency relating to the river in the city which is fre e and powerful.Wordsworths use of enjambments is also an indication to this much like in the lines Open unto the fields, and to the skyAll bright and glittering in the smokeless air.The enjambments allow the reader to think about the true meaning of the line and language, encouraging them to visualise the scene.Wordsworth uses positive language when talking about London, he also uses straight previous imagery of London opposed to hidden deceptions (like in Blakes London), and this reflects honesty onto the city. Wordsworth writes of freedom in London this creates hope for the people of London giving them something to admire and aspire for. This is shown in the quotation The river glideth at his own sweet willglideth indicates peace and harmony as gliding is a constant non self-asserting pace also suggesting freedom and nature, much like a bird gliding through the air creating hope and showing Wordsworths admiration for the River.Although Wordsworth writes about London in a posit ive way parts of his language suggest that he knows there are parts of London that are not as romantic and peaceful as he sees now. Shown in the quote And all that mighty heart is lying still this last line indicates that Wordsworth believes the city can be aggressive by referring to it as mighty heart (mighty heart also suggests a busyness as the heart is centre of everything) however sees the city at peace so writes that the city is lying still.Blake also uses the river as a symbol of freedom, however Blake suggests that the rivers freedom is corrupted and restricted still the river maintains a glimmer of hope being the cities only freedom (according to Blakes London). We can see Blakes views on the river in the line hire Thames does flowFirst it can be suggested that Blake respects the river as he refers to it by its name Thames instead of just handicraft it river (like in Composed) this suggests that Blake still sees hope in the river and partly wants to be like the river.How ever childbeds can also be seen in the word chartered suggesting that someone set Thames out that way and that it can not do anything but follow the set out path. There is not only restriction but also freedom within this quote as the river flows this shows freedom and hope.Generally Blakes language is very morbid and negative, which suggests constrainment leading to the Blakes view on politics. Blake is very critical of London is the poem the complete opposite to Composed however just like Composed, London is made personal as Blake writes in first person and refers to some of his senses sight and sound. And mark in every face I meetAnd through the midnight streets I hearboth of these quotations show Blake using his senses, showing that Blake takes in everything that is happening around him.Industrialisation versus romanticism is a key theme throughout the poem Blake is very traditional and romantic and does not fit into London because of this. Through his poem Blake suggests that the industrialisation that has consumed the city only creates depression, oppression and distinctively destroys happiness and honesty. This is made sheer by the chimney sweepers cry symbolising the depression of the people of London by the cry however showing that they are trying to clean up the state of society as they are cleaning the dark, dismal and black ashes in the city.Blake does not just blame the city itself Blake also blames the people deep down the city people who influence industrialisation. During the fourth stanza Blake suggests that the actions that people are making now will create problems for the adjacent generation. Youthful harlots abomination symbolises the sins of the youth creating a curse a word this is often used in association with witches. These sins cause the newborn infants tear which further exemplifies future problems the next generation will have to deal with and fix due to mistakes made by the youth of the time.The curse in stanza four is also shown by the plagues and the man and wife hearse which indicates death. In the case of the marriage hearse this creates a link between eternity and death destroying aspects of hope and proving the impurity of the city.Blake uses imagery, alliteration and language choice to illustrate his impersonation of London using these skills he opens the open up to his reader inviting them to have their own interpretations.The differences are very apparent between the poems and there are clear divides of attitude the state of mind of the poets and how society affects them. Romanticism and industrialisation are key elements in both poems however are showed in immensely different ways. Blake remains negative due to the changes that have taken away romanticism Wordsworth however keeps positive indicating clear elements of hope.