London by William Blake - teaching resource

London by William Blake – AQA Power and Conflict & WJEC Eduqas GCSE Poetry Teaching Resource

This comprehensive two-lesson mini-unit explores William Blake’s poem London, featured in both the AQA GCSE English Literature Power and Conflict poetry anthology and the WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Literature poetry anthology. Designed to develop students’ analytical and comparative skills, this resource provides an in-depth study of the poem’s context, language, imagery, themes, and structure, alongside guidance on comparing it effectively with other anthology poems.

The teaching pack includes a 51-slide fully editable PowerPoint presentation and three accompanying worksheets with engaging and exam-focused activities.

Lesson One:

• Context: Introduction to William Blake, Romanticism, and the social and historical background of late 18th-century London

• First Reading: Guided reading with glossary, comprehension, and discussion questions (answers included)

• Language & Imagery: Detailed analysis of Blake’s powerful imagery, symbolism, and vocabulary, supported by model responses

• Essay Writing: An extended essay question to assess initial understanding, with a sample answer provided

Lesson Two:

• Themes: Exploring key themes including power, poverty, class division, social injustice, capitalism, and personal freedom

• Structure & Form: Analysing Blake’s use of form, rhythm, rhyme, and stanza organisation

• Exam Focus: Comparing London with Excerpt from The Prelude by William Wordsworth and Checking Out Me History by John Agard, with strategies and model answers for writing effective comparative essays

Fully editable and easy to adapt, this resource is ideal for classroom teaching, homework, intervention, and revision, supporting students preparing for both the AQA and WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Literature exams.

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