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.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 that the soot cannot spoil your white hair.”And so he was quiet, & that very night,
As Tom was a-sleeping he had such a sight!
That thousands of sweepers, Dick, Joe, Ned, & Jack,
Were all of them locked up in coffins of black;And by came an Angel who had a bright key,
And he opened the coffins & set them all free;
Then down a green plain, leaping, laughing they run,
And wash in a river and shine in the Sun.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 dark
And got with our bags & our brushes to work.
Though the morning was cold, Tom was happy & warm;
So if all do their duty, they need not fear harm.
Summary of The Chimney Sweeper
- The Poem’s Context: William Blake’s “The Chimney Sweeper” is a poignant exploration of childhood innocence lost amid the harsh realities of 18th and 19th‑century England. Published in his Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1789 and 1794), the poem does not merely describe the plight of child chimney sweeps but offers a complex commentary on societal structures, religious hope, and the power of dreams.
- What Happens in the Poem: The poem unfolds through the voice of a young chimney sweep who, after his mother’s death, was sold into labor by his father. He recounts comforting a fellow sweep, Tom Dacre, whose head is shaved. Tom then experiences a dream where an angel frees all chimney sweep boys from their coffins, allowing them to play and find joy. Upon waking, they return to their work, finding solace and motivation in the belief that diligent work will be rewarded.
- Central Idea: Innocence, Experience, and Hope: At its heart, the poem grapples with the tension between innocence and experience. The young boys are stripped of their childhood, forced into dangerous and degrading work. However, the dream offers a temporary escape and a vision of hope. The final stanza reveals a troubling ambiguity and the boys return to their grim reality, yet find comfort in the belief that duty and obedience will bring future reward.
Analysis of The Chimney Sweeper
The Power of Voice and Perspective
The poem is told from the first‑person perspective of a young chimney sweep. This is crucial because it allows Blake to present a child’s eye view of a deeply disturbing situation. Consider the opening lines: “When my mother died I was very young, / And my father sold me while yet my tongue / Could scarcely cry ‘weep! weep! weep! weep!’.” The simplicity of the language and the repetition of “weep” emphasize the child’s vulnerability and helplessness. The fact that he can barely speak highlights the powerlessness he feels. This isn’t a detached, analytical observation; it’s a direct expression of personal experience, making the poem all the more impactful.
Dreams and Visions as Escape
The dream sequence is the poem’s central imaginative moment. “And so he was quiet, & that very night, / As Tom was a‑sleeping he had such a sight!” The dream isn’t just a fantasy; it’s a powerful expression of the boys’ subconscious desires. The image of the chimney sweeps locked in coffins is a stark metaphor for their imprisonment and premature death. The angel, with a bright key, represents hope and liberation. Notice the contrast between the darkness and confinement of the coffins and the freedom and joy of the green plain. The river and sun symbolize purification and renewal. The dream sequence provides a temporary respite from the boys’ harsh reality, offering a vision of a world where they can be free, innocent, and happy.
Ambiguity and Social Commentary
The final stanza is perhaps the most controversial and thought‑provoking part of the poem. “And so Tom awoke; and we rose in the dark / And got with our bags & our brushes to work.” After experiencing such a vivid and hopeful dream, the boys simply return to their work, accepting their fate. The line “Though the morning was cold, Tom was happy & warm” is particularly ambiguous. Is Tom genuinely happy, or has he been conditioned to accept his lot in life? The final line, “So if all do their duty, they need not fear harm,” suggests that obedience and hard work will be rewarded. However, it can also be interpreted as a cynical commentary on the social structures that perpetuate this cycle of exploitation. Blake seems to question whether a reliance on religious promises and societal expectations is enough to compensate for the injustices faced by these children.
Literary Devices in “The Chimney Sweeper”
- Symbolism: The “coffins of black” are a powerful symbol of the boys’ confinement, oppression, and premature death. The bright key represents hope and liberation. The green plain symbolizes freedom and renewal.
- Imagery: Blake employs vivid imagery throughout the poem to create a sense of atmosphere and evoke emotional responses. Examples include the soot that the boys sleep in, the lamb’s back that Tom’s head is compared to, and the river and sun in the dream sequence.
- Repetition: The repetition of “weep” in the opening lines emphasizes the child’s helplessness and grief.
- Alliteration: Used to add rhythm and emphasize certain phrases, such as “sport in the wind.”
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows a simple AABB rhyme scheme, creating a sense of musicality and flow.
Poetic Devices in “The Chimney Sweeper”
- Form and Structure: The poem consists of six quatrains (four‑line stanzas). This regular structure provides a sense of order and control, even as the poem explores themes of chaos and injustice.
- Narrative Voice: As mentioned earlier, the use of a first‑person narrator is crucial to the poem’s effectiveness. It allows Blake to present a personal and emotionally resonant account of the boys’ experiences.
- Use of Contrast: Blake effectively uses contrast to highlight the poem’s central themes. The contrast between innocence and experience, hope and despair, and freedom and confinement is particularly striking.
Quotes for Further Consideration
Here are some key lines from the poem that can be used to illustrate its themes and literary techniques:
“When my mother died I was very young, / And my father sold me while yet my tongue / Could scarcely cry ‘weep! weep! weep! weep!’”
“And by came an Angel who had a bright key, / And he opened the coffins & set them all free.”
“Though the morning was cold, Tom was happy & warm; / So if all do their duty, they need not fear harm.”
In conclusion, “The Chimney Sweeper” is a complex and thought‑provoking poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Through its vivid imagery, compelling narrative, and ambiguous ending, Blake offers a powerful critique of social injustice and a poignant exploration of the human condition. It invites us to question our assumptions, challenge the status quo, and strive for a more just and equitable world.