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Manacle — AQA GCSE English Literature Definition

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English Literature
Key terms
Manacle

GCSE English Literature · key term

Manacle

Definition

A metal restraint used to bind a person’s hands. Blake uses manacles metaphorically for psychological imprisonment.

Used by AQA

How each exam board covers it

AQA GCSE English Literature · 8702

Paper 2

The stanza culminates in “The mind-forged manacles I hear:” in line 8. Manacles are metal restraints for the hands; “forged” suggests their manufacture through force and heat. Blake transfers this physical image into the mind.
Revise: London

AQA English Literature past papers

Related key terms

Anaphora
Chartered
Iambic tetrameter
Juxtaposition
Oppression

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