The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence) : Literary devices
The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence) is a notable literary work by William Blake. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence).
Literary devices
Symbols
Chimney Sweeper: As a child, the chimney sweeper represents innocence and vulnerability. He was taken into a harsh and corrupt world. Because of the loss of innocence that can result from societal exploitation.
Black Coffins: The image of “black coffins” symbolizes the chimney sweeper’s work’s ugly and often fatal nature. It reflects the physical and emotional picture of these children.
“Crying ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep!”: The repeated cry of ” ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep!” is not just a description of the chimney sweeper’s work but also a symbol of child labor. It reflects their inability to express their suffering and unhappiness openly.
Angel: The angel in the poem symbolizes hope, salvation, and a way out of the misery of the chimney sweepers.
Tom Dacre’s Hair: Tom Dacre’s hair is a powerful symbol of youthful innocence. After making him involved in the chimney gang, his hair was shaved. This hair-shaving represents a loss of innocence and child abuse in industrialized London.