Exploring imagery in 'London' by William Blake
I can describe some of the key imagery used in the poem.
Exploring imagery in 'London' by William Blake
I can describe some of the key imagery used in the poem.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Imagery refers to the use of language that evokes vivid mental pictures in the reader's mind.
- In the poem 'London', William Blake uses sensory language to paint a vivid image.
- Sounds are important in the poem, such as the "infant's cry of fear" and the "chimney-sweeper's cry".
- The use of negative sounds in the poem creates a noisy and unpleasant impression of the city.
- Different kinds of language have different effects.
Keywords
Imagery - the use of vivid and sensory language that appeals to the reader's senses, creating vivid mental pictures and enhancing the emotional impact of the poem
Atmosphere - the feeling or mood created in a section or whole of a text
Visual - relating to the sense of sight
Aural - relating to the sense of hearing
Common misconception
Pupils may find identifying examples of imagery/language challenging.
Pupils could use the modelled examples and further discuss the imagery and language used in those examples.
To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Exploring imagery in 'London' by William Blake, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Exploring imagery in 'London' by William Blake, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 english lessons from the Poetry of place unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
the use of vivid and sensory language
relating to the sense of sight
relating to the sense of hearing
a plant disease or form of decay
metal restrains of shackles
deep distress or sorrow