William Blake

1
William Blake

• the chimney sweeper

2
Bio

• William Blake was born on November 28, 1757 in
  London, the third of five children. His father
  James was a hosier, and could only afford to give
  William enough schooling to learn the basics of
  reading and writing,
• Blake married Catherine Boucher at age 25, and
  she worked with him on most of his artistic
  creations. Together they published a book of
  Blake's poems and drawings called Songs of
  Innocence.
• William Blake died on August 12, 1827, and is
  buried in an unmarked grave at Bunhill Fields,
  London.

3
The Chimney Sweeper

• 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.Theres
  little Tom Dacre, who cried when his headThat
  curled like a lambs back was shav'd, so I
  said.Hush Tom never mind it, for when your
  head's bare,You know that the soot cannot spoil
  your white hair

4
Poem

• And so he was quiet. that very night.As Tom
  was a sleeping he had such a sightThat thousands
  of sweepers Dick, Joe, Ned, JackWere all of
  them lock'd up in coffins of black,And by came
  an Angel who had a bright keyAnd he open'd the
  coffins set them all free.Then down a green
  plain leaping laughing they runAnd wash in a
  river and shine in the Sun.

5
Poem

• Then naked white, all their bags left
  behind.They rise upon clouds, and sport in the
  wind.And the Angel told Tom, if he'd be a good
  boy,He'd have God for his father never want
  joy.And so Tom awoke and we rose in the
  darkAnd got with our bags our brushes to
  work.Tho' the morning was cold, Tom was happy
  warmSo if all do their duty, they need not fear
  harm

6
Paraphrase

• I was young when my mother died before I could
  cry my father sold me to a chimney sweeper. Tom
  was dreaming about thousands of sweepers Dick,
  Ned, Joe, and jack were locked up in a chimney.
  Then comes an angle and sets them free where they
  go to a river and swim naked. The angle tells Tom
  if he behaves hed have God for a dad and would
  never need joy. The next morning they all got up
  and went to work happy with no sign of fear.

7
Analysis

• Diction Then naked white- describes the people
  becoming almost like angles.
• They rise upon clouds-the angles are going to
  heaven.

8
Analysis

• Tone Mood Very dark and vivid

9
Analysis

• Rhetorical Situation the little by is talking to
  audience to realize the unhealthy working

10
Analysis

• Figurative Language simile his headThat
  curled like a lambs back was shav'd
• Metaphor

11
Analysis

• Imagery The mistreatment and awful working
  conditions of children

12
Analysis

• Sound weep, weep, weep, weep laughing

13

• This poem is very sad. At the beginning he lost
  his brother and his dad sold him to a chimney
  sweeper. Tom never gave up on life though. I
  couldnt imagine having to go through what tom
  had to.