THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER

The Chimney Sweeper

Outline is attached Appendix section

The Chimney Sweeper

Introduction

In 1789 the masterpiece of William Blake “The Chimney Sweeper” a poem of a sequel of “Songs of Innocence” appeared. The scarcely "'weep!'weep! 'weep! 'weep!" in the first stanza's last line attempt to describe that the child is actually saying “Sweep! sweep!,” which was the street cry of chimney sweeper. The poem reflects that the kids have a very constructive viewpoint on the world. They do not fear from death and draw the best of their lives. (Blake, 2009)

This is pretty much opposite to its fellow poem written in 1794 in "Songs of Experience". In The Chimney Sweeper, the kid holds his parents responsible for his current situation of misery. Tom is poor in position and he also charges "God & his Priest & King". This opinion is dissimilar from the view of its sister poem as in The Chimney Sweeper clear influence of society is visible and has an experienced viewpoint.

William in fact employs satire in the innocence poem, rather of it being the so called "protectors of the poor" church, it is a companion chimney sweeper that jollies up little Tommy Dacre. William here is attempting to stress that there is innocence and good witnessed in the life, that if the kids can with imagination exceed their social limits then kids "need not fear harm"

Theme of the poem

The theme of the poem depicts the maltreatment of society with a boy. It revolves around Tom Dacre a chimney sweeper who has been sold by his father. The poem reflects the cruelty of the society of that time. But the kid Tom was very optimistic but blames his parents for his present condition. (Blake, 1995)

Analysis of the Poem

In contrast with the poem in Songs of Innocence, The Chimney Sweepers in ...