Audio vs. Visual Reading of Blake's "London": A Comparative Analysis

Introduction: Two Ways of Encountering Blake's Poem

Jon Stallworthy's reading of William Blake's "London" emphasizes the poem's meter and rhythm. Stallworthy's reading stresses the raw sounds of syllables and draws attention to key words, phrases, and images. Viewing the poem on the printed page has its own merits: the eye perceives patterns in Blake's arrangement of words — such as the repetition of "mark" in the first stanza — that may be more immediately noticeable in print, since each instance of the word carries a different meaning. Stallworthy also imparts his own tone into the reading; the quality of his voice, its timbre, his enunciation, and his pronunciation all affect the listening experience. Listening to a poem being read aloud and reading it on the printed page are two entirely different experiences. The listening enhances the poem's musical qualities; however, it can also blur many details, including figures of speech, poetic devices, and purposeful patterns.

What Stallworthy's Audio Reading Contributes

Stallworthy's reading offers insight into the way Blake's poems should be heard. Because both poet and reader are British, Stallworthy is likely to understand the rhythm and rhyme schemes Blake intended for "London." Stallworthy also enunciates well — in words like "where," for instance, he aspirates the "h." The fact that Blake's poem addresses English society further helps Stallworthy convey an appropriate emotional tone, grounded in a shared cultural and historical background. Historical knowledge and context can enhance both the reader's and the listener's understanding of Blake's verse. The somber tone of the poem emerges especially well in Stallworthy's voice as he reads.

Rhythm and Meter in the Spoken Version

The audio version of "London" encourages a rhythmic understanding of the poem. Stallworthy reads it almost strictly in iambs, stressing every second syllable. Yet in the second stanza, he shifts to stress every third syllable rather than every second one. Stallworthy also tends to stress the last syllable of each line and achieves his rhythm without becoming monotonous. A visual reading of the printed poem is likely to be looser before one hears Stallworthy's interpretation. Internalizing Stallworthy's voice improves the ability to read Blake's poem with proper rhythm when returning to the page.

What the Printed Page Reveals

A visual reading offers an appreciation for several elements Blake purposefully incorporates into his poem. For example, Blake capitalizes words such as "Palace," "Soldier," "Infant," and "Marriage." This capitalization is for emphasis rather than grammatical correctness, and it connotes the importance of those words. Listening to Stallworthy read the poem cannot convey this capitalization. Similarly, only a visual reading can signal Blake's punctuation. Stallworthy reads rhythmically but not necessarily in keeping with the punctuation marks. One notable instance in which Stallworthy follows his own rhythm despite the punctuation occurs at the last line of the second stanza. Blake inserts a period after the word "hear," whereas Stallworthy deliberately pauses and lingers, as though hesitating before welcoming the beginning of the following stanza. The effect enhances the tone and rhythm of the poem — though it is experienced quite differently when reading from print.