Important Short Questions and Answer : London by Samuel Johnson

 

Important Short Questions and Answer : London by Samuel Johnson

Essential Short Questions and Answers for Exam Preparation

1. Who is the author of the poem 'London'?
The author of the poem 'London' is Samuel Johnson.

2. In which year was 'London' first published?
'London' was first published in 1738.

3. What type of poem is 'London'?
'London' is a verse satire and an imitation of Juvenal’s Third Satire.

4. Who is Thales in the poem?
Thales is the primary speaker and the poet’s friend who decides to leave London for a peaceful life in Wales.

5. Why is Thales leaving London?
Thales is leaving London because of its corruption, crime, poverty, and the neglect of honest merit.

6. Where is Thales moving to?
He is moving to Cambria (Wales).

7. What does 'Cambria' refer to?
'Cambria' is the classical name for Wales.

8. What is the 'Strand' mentioned in the poem?
The Strand is a famous and busy street in London, often contrasted with the peaceful countryside.

9. Who is 'Eliza' mentioned in the poem?
'Eliza' refers to Queen Elizabeth I.

10. Why do the poet and Thales kneel at Greenwich?
They kneel at Greenwich to honor it as the birthplace of Queen Elizabeth I, representing England's past glory.

11. What does the poet mean by "Slow rises worth, by poverty deprest"?
It means that talented and worthy people find it extremely difficult to succeed if they are poor.

12. Who is 'Orgilio' in the poem?
Orgilio is a fictional character representing the wealthy, corrupt elite who benefit even from disasters.

13. What is 'Tyburn'?
Tyburn was a village in Middlesex famous for being the site of public executions (hangings).

14. Which foreign nation does Johnson primarily attack in the poem?
Johnson primarily attacks the French influence on London.

15. What does the term "Common Shore" signify?
It signifies a sewer, where all the moral filth of Paris and Rome flows into London.

16. Who was King Alfred the Great?
He was an ancient English king whose reign is described as a "Golden Age" of justice and safety.

17. What is a "Wherry"?
A wherry is a small rowboat used for carrying passengers on the River Thames.

18. What does "H—y" refer to?
It refers to Lord Hervey, a courtier whom Johnson disliked and satirized.

19. What does the "Gazetteer" represent?
The Gazetteer was a pro-government newspaper that the poet found boring and full of propaganda.

20. Why does Thales despise the "silken Courtiers"?
He despises them for their superficiality, flattery, and lack of real moral values.

21. What is the "Silver Flood"?
It refers to the River Thames, specifically its appearance at Greenwich.

22. What does "Excise" refer to?
It refers to internal taxes on goods, which were seen as oppressive by the people of that time.

23. What does "Hibernia" refer to?
'Hibernia' is the classical name for Ireland.

24. Who are the "Laureat Tribe"?
They are the court poets who write flattering verses for the rich and powerful in exchange for money.

25. What is the "Dread of Spain"?
It refers to the British navy during the time of Elizabeth I, which was feared by the Spanish Empire.

26. What does "Blockhead’s insult" mean?
It refers to the mockery of the poor by wealthy but foolish people, which hurts more than fate itself.

27. What is "St. David" associated with?
St. David is the patron saint of Wales, where Thales is seeking refuge.

28. What does "perjury" mean in the poem?
Perjury means giving false testimony or lying under oath, a common vice in London's legal system.

29. What is the significance of the "Falling Houses"?
They symbolize the physical and moral decay of the city of London.

30. Why is the "Groom" mentioned in the poem?
The groom is mentioned to show that even the lowest servants of the rich are corrupt and demand bribes.

31. What does the poet think of "Masquerades"?
He sees them as immoral and frivolous parties that corrupt the youth.

32. What is "Supple Gaul"?
It is a derogatory term for the French, implying they are overly flexible and deceptive flatterers.

33. What does "Rustic Tongue" symbolize?
It symbolizes the honest, blunt, and unrefined speech of a true Englishman.

34. Why is "Poverty" called "hated" in London?
Because in London, being poor is treated as a crime or a source of ridicule rather than a misfortune.

35. What does the poet mean by "Counterfeited Tear"?
It refers to the fake emotions or "crocodile tears" shed by flatterers to win sympathy.

36. Who was King Edward III?
A heroic English king whom Johnson invokes to contrast with the weak leaders of his own time.

37. What are "Brambles" used as a metaphor for?
They represent the restless and angry state of mind of an arrogant person looking for a fight.

38. What does the "shining Train" refer to?
It refers to the group of servants and followers accompanying a wealthy person.

39. What is a "Dagger" symbolic of in the poem?
It symbolizes the hidden and sudden dangers of crime in the city.

40. Why does Thales mention the "Wilds of Kent"?
He suggests Kent as a place where the narrator might eventually seek peace after being exhausted by London.

41. What does "Marlb’rough hoarded" refer to?
It refers to the Duke of Marlborough, who was famous for accumulating great wealth.

42. What does "Villiers spent" refer to?
It refers to George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, known for his extravagant spending and bankruptcy.

43. What is the "Cambrian Shade"?
It is the peaceful and quiet life Thales expects to find in Wales.

44. What does "Angry Numbers" mean?
"Numbers" is another word for poetry or verses; "Angry Numbers" means satirical and critical poetry.

45. What does the "Wheel" refer to in the poem?
The 'Wheel' was a brutal form of torture and execution used in continental Europe, contrasted with English hangings.

46. Why does Thales call the London crowd "affrighted"?
Because they are constantly in fear of disasters like fire or sudden violence.

47. What does "self-approving day" mean?
It refers to a day spent with a clear conscience, knowing one has acted honestly.

48. What is the central theme of 'London'?
The central theme is the moral and physical decay of the city versus the purity and peace of the countryside.

49. How does the poem end?
The poem ends with Thales departing in a boat and promising to help the narrator write more satires in the future.

50. Why is Samuel Johnson's 'London' still relevant?
It is relevant because it discusses universal issues like political corruption, social inequality, and the struggle for integrity.

Prepared for PKG English Study Centre | Visit www.pkgways.in