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The Chimney Sweeper (Songs of Innocence) : Literary devices

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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

 

“The Chimney Sweeper” In William Blake’s “The Chimney Sweeper” from “Songs of Innocence,” there are several literary devices employed to convey the themes and emotions of the poem. Here are some key literary devices used:

Imagery: Imagery is used extensively in the poem to create vivid mental pictures for the reader. For example, the images of black coffins, soot-covered bodies, and the dream of the angel and bright key.

Symbolism: Chimney Sweepers, Black Coffins, Angel and Key.

Alliteration: The poem employs alliteration, the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, to create rhythm and emphasis. For example, in the line “So your chimneys I sweep,” the repetition of the “s” sound adds musicality to the poem.

Repetition: Repetition is used throughout the poem to emphasize key ideas and emotions. The repetition of ” ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep! ‘weep!” in the first stanza emphasizes the child’s inability to express his emotions fully.

Irony: The poem uses irony to emphasize the disparity between the innocence of the young sweepers and the cruel reality of their lives. 

Enjambment: The continuance of a phrase beyond the end of a line or stanza creates a flowing and uninterrupted rhythm in the poem. It reproduces the relentless and continuous labor of the chimney sweepers.

Metaphor: The dream of the angel and the bright key are metaphors for hope and liberation. 

Contrast: The poem employs stark contrasts between innocence and experience, childhood and adulthood, and hope and despair. 

Childlike Language: Using simple, childlike language and diction strengthens the speaker’s innocence and perspective. 

Background: In the late 18th century, child labor was prevalent in various industries, including chimney sweeping. Young children, often as young as five or six, were employed to clean chimneys because of their small size, which allowed them to navigate the narrow and dirty passages