Starter quiz
- What century does the year 1792 belong to?
- 16th century
- 17th century
- 18th century ✓
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- What is meant by the term 'authority'?
- the lack of power or right to give orders
- the power or right to give orders ✓
- challenging those have the power or right to give orders
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- Which groups of people do you think would have authority from the list below?
- factory workers
- the church ✓
- government ✓
- soliders
- monarchy ✓
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- What is the definition of 'corrupt'?
- the power or right to give orders
- immoral or dishonest ✓
- a situation in which people are ruled or governed in a fair way
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- Which of the below is an example of corruption?
- those in power giving unfair advantage to certain employees ✓
- stealing food from a shop
- wealthy people not giving to charity
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- What was the French Revolution?
- when the French monarchy resigned voluntarily
- when the French monarchy had absolute power
- when the people of France overthrew the monarchy ✓
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Exit quiz
- What did William Blake think about the impact of the Industrial Revolution?
- He thought it was an exciting time for advancement.
- He disapproved of the impact . ✓
- He was indifferent to it and was more interested in the French Revolution.
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- Starting with the first, order the events of the poem 'London' in chronological order.
- 1⇔the speaker narrates his walk through the streets of London
- 2⇔the speaker informs us that everybody is suffering because of their oppression
- 3⇔the speaker condemns those in positions of authority
- 4⇔the speaker highlights the lack of hope individuals due to disease
- What problems faced the people of London as described by Blake in 'London'?
- poverty ✓
- disease ✓
- a war
- the church ✓
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- Which verb does not accurately reflect Blake's intention in writing 'London' when used in the following sentence: 'In 'London' Blake __________ those in positions of authority.'?
- criticises
- praises ✓
- condemns
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- Which of the following quotations from ‘London’ shows that Blake felt people in authority were ignoring the suffering of others?
- “In every voice, in every ban,/ The mind-forg’d manacles I hear”
- “...the hapless Soldier’s sigh/ Runs in blood down Palace walls.” ✓
- "I wander thro' each charter'd street,/ ...where the charter'd Thames does flow"
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- Complete the sentence: William Blake was a ______ and was inspired by the French Revolution
- 'radical' ✓
Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Blake’s poem ‘London’ is a condemnation of the inequality and oppression that pervaded society in 18th century London.
- 'London' is taken from Blake's‘ Songs of Innocence and Experience’, which investigates how society corrupts innocence.
- Blake was critical of social inequality created by institutions: the Church, Government and the Monarchy.
- In the poem, Blake highlights the effects of the inaction of greedy and selfish leaders on the vulnerable.
- Blake was a radical, inspired by the French Revolution to warn about the restrictions on freedom and imagination.
Common misconception
Students often think that, because society was very religious in the 18th century, that Blake must have been a devout Christian too.
Blake was extremely opposed to mass worship and hated the fact that religion was allied with the Government - he felt this gave institutions the ability to control and oppress people.
Keywords
Oppression - a situation in which people are ruled or governed in an unfair way
Authority - the power or right to give orders
Corrupt - immoral or dishonest
Industrialisation - the process of transforming an economy from one which relies on traditional farming methods, to one which relies on factories and machinery
Radical - someone who believes there should be extreme social and/or political change
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