The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence)
Poetry
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William Blake
The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence) Poem
The Chimney Sweeper
By William Blake
When my mother died I was very young,
And my father sold me while yet my tongue
Could scarcely cry " 'weep! 'weep! 'weep! 'weep!"
So your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep.
There's little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head
That curled like a lamb's back, was shaved, so I said,
"Hush, Tom! never mind it, for when your head's bare,
You know tha...
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The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence) Key Info
Writer: William Blake (1757-1827)
Title of the Author: English poet and painter
Full Title: The Chimney Sweeper: When my mother died, I was very young
Original Title: The Chimney Sweeper: When my mother died, I was very young
Published Date: 1789, Songs of Innocence.
Tone: Sorrowful
Genre: Romantic Poetry
Rhyme Scheme: AABB. This Poem is made up of six quatrains, or four-line...
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The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence) Summary
"The Chimney Sweeper" is a poem by William Blake. It was published in the Songs of Innocence collection in 1789. A little chimney sweep boy is the subject of this poem. The poem depicts the little boy's experience working as a chimney sweeper and his miserable life.
The poet introduces an important image in the first stanza. It is about a lonely little boy whose mother has died. His father then so...
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The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence) Symbols
Symbols
Chimney Sweeper: As a child, the chimney sweeper represents innocence and vulnerability. He was taken into a harsh and corrupt world. Because of the loss of innocence that can result from societal exploitation.
Black Coffins: The image of "black coffins" symbolizes the chimney sweeper's work's ugly and often fatal nature. It reflects the physical and emotional picture of these children.
"C...
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The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence) Literary Devices
"The Chimney Sweeper" In William Blake's "The Chimney Sweeper" from "Songs of Innocence," there are several literary devices employed to convey the themes and emotions of the poem. Here are some key literary devices used:
Imagery: Imagery is used extensively in the poem to create vivid mental pictures for the reader. For example, the images of black coffins, soot-covered bodies, and the dre...
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The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence) Quotes
When my mother died I was very young,
And my father sold me while yet my tongue
Could scarcely cry "weep! weep! weep! weep!"
So your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep.
Exp:These lines are narrated by the speaker introducing himself. He claims that his father sold him and now he is working as a sweeper.
There's little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head
That curled like a lamb's back, was s...
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The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence) Themes
Innocence of Childhood: The primary aspect of innocence in this poem is the innocence of childhood itself. The poem revolves around the lives of young chimney sweepers who were forcefully thrown to work. These children are represented by the poem's speaker and Tom Dacre.
Contrast with Adult World: Blake emphasizes the stark contrast between the world of innocence inhabited by the child swee...
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The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence) Characters
There are four characters in " The Chimney Sweeper" in Songs of Innocence. They are The Narrator, Tom, Tom Dacre, The Angel.
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