The Chimney sweeper by William Blake:

Poem: "The Chimney Sweeper" by William Blake (from Songs of Experience)

A little black thing among the snow,
Crying “Weep! Weep! Weep! Weep!” in notes of woe!
“Where are thy father and mother? say!”
“They are both gone up to the church to pray.”

Because I was happy upon the heath,
And smil'd among the winter’s snow,
They clothed me in the clothes of death,
And taught me to sing the notes of woe.

And because I am happy and dance and sing,
They think they have done me no injury,
And are gone to praise God and his priest and king,
Who make up a heaven of our misery.

Poem overview

• Opening scene: The speaker, a young chimney sweeper, is described as a “little black thing” amidst the snow, symbolizing innocence corrupted by poverty.

• Parent-child separation: The child reveals that their parents have died, further highlighting social and emotional neglect.

• Child’s suffering: The child reflects on how they were robbed of joy and innocence and forced to accept suffering.

• Religious hypocrisy: The final stanza criticizes the religion and the authorities that perpetuate the child’s misery under the guise of righteousness, pointing out the contradiction between piety and injustice.

Key quotes

• “A little black thing among the snow, / Crying ‘Weep! Weep! Weep! Weep!’ in notes of woe!”

• “They clothed me in the clothes of death, / And taught me to sing the notes of woe.”

• “Who make up a heaven of our misery.”

Underlying meanings and themes

• Child labor and innocence lost: The poem critiques the exploitation of children, particularly through child labor, and the loss of their innocence.

• Religious hypocrisy: It critiques the way religious and political systems exploit the poor, masking this exploitation as divine will.

• Injustice and suffering: The poem underscores the social injustice and suffering experienced by the poor, particularly the marginalized children in Blake’s society.

• Corruption of purity: The imagery of the child “clothed in the clothes of death” speaks to the corrupting influence of society’s neglect of innocence.

• Social critique: Blake critiques the state, the church, and society for fostering an environment that condemns the poor to suffering while claiming righteousness.

Key quotes

• “And because I am happy and dance and sing, / They think they have done me no injury.”

• “Who make up a heaven of our misery.”

Poetic techniques

• Rhyme scheme: The poem follows an AABB rhyme scheme, creating a rhythmic, almost nursery rhyme-like quality, which contrasts with the dark subject matter.

• Alliteration: The repeated use of “weep” and “woe” enhances the emotional weight of the child’s suffering and the loss of innocence.

• Imagery: The image of the "little black thing among the snow" symbolizes the innocence of the child, contrasted with the harsh, cold environment and the oppression they face.

• Symbolism: The child’s “clothes of death” symbolize the loss of innocence and the cruel fate of child labor.

• Irony: The juxtaposition of the child’s joy with the religious praise of those who perpetuate their misery highlights the moral hypocrisy of the time.

Key quotes

• “Crying ‘Weep! Weep! Weep! Weep!’ in notes of woe!”

• “They think they have done me no injury.”

Literary devices

• Metaphor: The "clothes of death" metaphorically represent the soul-crushing reality of child labor and the loss of innocence.

• Allusion: There is an allusion to religious authority figures ("God and his priest and king"), who represent institutions that justify inequality and suffering.

• Repetition: The repetition of "Weep! Weep!" emphasizes the child’s pain and despair, highlighting their powerless situation.

• Juxtaposition: The contrast between the child’s happiness in the snow and the adults' religious devotion emphasizes the gap between the innocent child and the adult world of exploitation.

• Irony: The religious figures are described as “praising God,” yet their actions contribute to the suffering of the child, exposing the hypocrisy of religion in justifying social ills.

Key quotes

• “They think they have done me no injury.”

• “And are gone to praise God and his priest and king.”

Structure

• Form: The poem follows a narrative structure with a clear progression from the child’s suffering to the religious commentary in the final lines.

• Stanza division: The poem is composed of four stanzas, each contributing to the unfolding narrative and thematic critique.

• Rhyme and rhythm: The steady, regular rhyme and rhythm contribute to the feeling of inevitability in the child’s suffering and the societal complicity in it.

• Tone: The tone shifts from sorrowful lamentation in the first few stanzas to a more critical, ironic tone in the last stanza, where Blake critiques religious and political hypocrisy.

• Pacing: The pacing is controlled, with the rhythm mirroring the mechanical nature of the child’s life and the oppressive social systems at play.