The Chimney Sweeper By: William Blake

1. The Chimney SweeperBy: William Blake Robert Houlihan Jesse Hermacinski Etienne Robinson

2. William Blake • William Blake was married to the same women for most of his life. He never traveled and he lived outside of London for three years. William Blake’s work was found as weird and people thought he was crazy. One of his most famous statements were, “ I must create a system, or be enslaved by another mans work.” William Blake lived from 1757- 1827.

3. Rhyme Scheme • When my mother died I was very young, AAnd my father sold me while yet my tongue ACould scarcely cry " 'weep! 'weep! 'weep! 'weep!“ BSo your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep. B • There's little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head, CThat curl'dllke a lamb's back. was shav'd: so I said C"Hush. Tom! never mind it, for when your head's bare DYou know that the soot cannot spoil your white hair." D • And so he was quiet & that very night, EAs Tom was a-sleeping, he had such a sight! EThat thousands of sweepers, Dick, Joe, Ned or Jack. FWere all of them lock'd up in coffins of black. F • And by came an Angel who had a bright key, GAnd he open'd the coffins & set them all free; GThen down a green plain leaping, laughing, they run, HAnd wash in a river. and shine in the Sun. H • Then naked & white, all their bags left behind, IThey rise upon clouds and sport in the wind; JAnd the Angel told Tom, if he'd be a good boy, KHe'd have God for his father & never want joy. L • And so Tom awoke; and we rose in the dark. MAnd got with our bags & our brushes to work. NTho' the morning was cold, Tom was happy & warm; O So if all do their duty they need not fear harm. P

4. The Chimney Sweeper • Rhythm, Rhyme and Consonance ₋That thousands of sweepers, Dick , Joe, Ned, and Jack were all of them looked up in black. • Imagery ₋ And the Angel told Tom, if he’d be a good boy, he’d have God for his father and never want joy.

5. Resources • Book