In a London Drawing room

"In a London Drawingroom" by George Eliot

Context

George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, a Victorian novelist known for her realist fiction. "In a London Drawingroom" offers a critical view of urban life and its lack of vitality. The poem reflects Eliot's observations of the monotonous and oppressive atmosphere of London during the Industrial Revolution.

The Poem

The sky is cloudy, yellowed by the smoke.

← Imagery

For view there are the houses opposite

Cutting the sky with one long line of wall

Like solid fog: far as the eye can stretch

Monotony of surface & of form

← Alliteration

Without a break to hang a guess upon.

No bird can make a shadow as it flies,

← Imagery

For all is shadow, as in ways o'erhung

By thickest canvass, where the golden rays

Are clothed in hemp. No figure lingering

Pauses to feed the hunger of the eye

Or rest a little on the lap of life.

All hurry on & look upon the ground,

← Metaphor

Or glance unmarking at the passers by.

The wheels are hurrying too, cabs, carriages

All closed, in multiplied identity.

The world seems one huge prison-house & court

← Simile

Where men are punished at the slightest cost

With lowest rate of colour, warmth & joy.

5 quotes + analysis to achieve a grade 9

1. Imagery: "The sky is cloudy, yellowed by the smoke"

• Analysis: This imagery creates a grim urban scene, emphasising the environmental degradation caused by industrialisation. The "yellowed" sky suggests a sickly, unnatural atmosphere, highlighting the negative impact of urbanisation.

2. Alliteration: "Monotony of surface & of form"

• Analysis: The repetition of the 'm' sound in "monotony" and "surface" reinforces the dullness and repetitiveness of the urban landscape. This emphasises the lack of variety and vitality in the city, contributing to a sense of boredom and oppression.

3. Imagery: "No bird can make a shadow as it flies"

• Analysis: The absence of birds symbolises the lack of nature and vitality in the city. This imagery underscores the artificiality and lifelessness of urban life, where even the simplest natural elements are missing.

4. Simile: "The world seems one huge prison-house"

• Analysis: This simile likens the urban environment to a prison, suggesting entrapment and punishment. It highlights the oppressive nature of the city and the lack of freedom for its inhabitants.

5. Metaphor: "All hurry on & look upon the ground"

• Analysis: This metaphor suggests that the inhabitants of the city are disengaged and disconnected from their surroundings. It emphasises the dehumanising effects of urban life, where people are absorbed in their own concerns and oblivious to others.

Form & Structure Points

• Free Verse: Lacks a strict rhyme scheme, reflecting the uncontrolled urban sprawl.
• Imagery: Vivid descriptions create a sense of entrapment and desolation.
• Simile and Metaphor: Enhance the critique of urban life by comparing it to prisons and fog, emphasising oppression and monotony.

Example Paragraph for a Grade 9 Answer:

In "In a London Drawingroom," Eliot critiques urban life through imagery and similes. "The sky is cloudy, yellowed by the smoke" creates a grim urban scene, highlighting the effects of pollution and environmental degradation. The simile "Like solid fog" compares the unbroken line of houses to fog, emphasising the monotonous and oppressive nature of the cityscape. This imagery underscores the poem's critical view of urbanisation and its negative impact on the environment and human spirit...