Chimney sweep

the world and human spirit. Among these poems, the two versions of “The Chimney Sweeper” explore the issue of child labor in the 18th century of England from children’s perspective. By comparing the two poems, readers will find that although the former belongs to the “happy songs” that “every child may joy to hear” (“Introduction” 19-20), and the latter is a “note of woe” (“Sweeper” 8), they both in essence narrate exploitation and misery in one way or another. The contrary states of…

As a result of burning coal, rather than wood, the need for regular cleaning greatly increased. The coal leaves soot deposits within the walls of the fireplaces and chimneys, resulting in these repeated cleanings. If chimneys did not remain clean from soot, the coal residue would cause the chimney to pollute the home with the fumes. Due to the narrow chimneys and the small space within these fireplaces, the job of the sweeping chimneys was left to young boys, who were usually orphans struggling…

unaware of the kind of injustices posed to him because of his innocence due to the young age. The Songs of Experience seems to echo the ordeal of the chimney sweeper…

“How do the selected poems present the idea of infancy or childhood?” - Infant Joy - Infant Sorrow - Prayer Before Birth* - One Upon a Time* - You’re - Piano* Childhood, is the part of life where humans remain innocent and pure, and are distant from corrupted society. ‘Infant joy’ by William Blake, and ‘You’re’ by Sylvia Plath all portray an optimistic view on infancy and childhood. Blake presents infancy in an affirmative tone, whereas Plath conveys positivity in a more obscure way resulting…

Blake used these poems to prove something he believed in. He believed that true innocence is not possible without experience. William Blake employs a variety of poetic devices such as theme, tone, and rhyme scheme to connect each poem with innocence. Throughout both Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, Blake repeatedly addresses the destruction of childlike innocence and the components of innocence. Blake feels that the society these children were raised in was using people…

repetition throughout most of his poems. These similarities help connect the contrasting poems, allowing “Songs of Innocence and Experience” to have a flow unlike many other poetry collections. Much like “The Tyger” and “The Lamb” in “The Chimney Sweeper” Blake uses rhyme and repetition to convey a satirical message. The two poems are contradictory of each other; the first poem takes an innocent approach to a deadly trade. The second poem takes a satirical message, and is different than the…

"The Fireplace Sweeper" involves six quatrains, each after the AABB rhyme conspire, with two rhyming couplets for every quatrain. The main stanza presents the speaker, a young man who has been constrained by conditions into the unsafe control of stack sweeper. The second stanza presents Tom Dacre, a kindred stack clear who goes about as a thwart to the speaker. Tom is vexed about his present situation, so the speaker solaces him until the point that he nods off. The following three stanzas…

of its gaiety as it is shewn before the guiltless soul, and thereafter—as an adult would see the world for all its inhumane and callous customs as it appears to the mindful soul. Through parallel prophetic pieces in Innocence and Experience counting, “Introduction”, “Chimney Sweeper”, and “Holy Thursday,” Blake merges these contrary states of the human soul and man would be able to view the world in all of its ‘pleasant glee’ and ‘merry and happy cheer’, while not failing to overlook the…

“The Chimney Sweeper” from “Songs of Innocence” by William Blake features the difficult situation that common people were going through. The title of this poem shows that it is happening during The Romantic Period in the 1800’s whenever the kids were forced to do backbreaking labor. In the late 1700’s, prices increased sharply and work became scarce (“Chimney Sweeper Background” 541 ). The poem presents how a child was sold and what his life was after that day that will scar him for the rest of…

death and innocence in William Blake’s “The Chimney Sweeper” poems “The Chimney Sweeper” is a title of two poems by William Blake, the first one was published in the collection of poems Songs of Innocence in 1789, the second one in Songs of Experience in 1794. Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience contain several titles which are contrasting with each other and Blake presents innocence and experience of the poems of chimney sweepers as a perfect example of it. As both these poems depict the…