Describe the Conditions of the Chimney Sweepers in the Poem “The Chimney Sweeper.”

Answer

Describe the conditions of the chimney sweepers in the poem “The Chimney Sweeper” .

The poem “The Chimney Sweeper” was written by the visionary English poet William Blake ( 1757-1827) in the late 18th century, during the peak hour of the Industrial Revolution in England. The poem explains the strenuous life and exploits of young chimney Sweepers. They are forced to work in factories and industries. This is a viral poem about poverty and child labour. 

Harsh Reality: The poem describes the harsh reality of the chimney sweeper’s life. Their fathers sell them in labour. They are forced to work long hours in dangerous and painful conditions. They have to clean away the soot accumulated in the chimney’s inner walls.

When my mother died, I was very young,

And my father sold me while yet my tongue.

Cleaning Conditions in Chimneys: The children climb narrow chimneys. The Chimney is blocked and covered in soot and dirt. Their heads are clean-shaven to eliminate the risk of their hair catching fire. They are at risk of suffocation, falling or being burned alive. They do this hard, inhuman work only for a day’s meal or for a tiny place to sleep. 

Could scarcely cry ” ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep!

So your chimneys I sweep & in soot, I sleep.

The poem “Chimney Sweeper” depicts the hard life and exploits of young chimney sweepers in England during the Industrial Revolution. It emphasises the dangerous and unsanitary conditions in which these boys work.