Chimney Sweeper, London & Sick Rose ppt.pptx

William Blake Poems on Chimney Sweeper, London & Sick Rose ppt.pptx

1. The Chimney S weeper

2. The Chimney Sweeper" was published in 1794. It is the companion to  a poem of the same name  that appears in the earlier  Innocence   collection. It works as a kind of update on the plight of chimney sweeper a young boy’s horrible work of cleaning chimneys. Unlike in the first poem, this sweep can take no solace in organized religion—he is too  experienced  for that. He is so covered in soot i.e. that society has oppressed and exploited the natural joyfulness of his youth . ‘ When my mother died…’  ended with the speakers describing how Tom turned to religion and knew that if he did his duty there was nothing to fear. He’d “have God for his father & never want joy”. Now, those thoughts are gone . It is a dark poem that sought to expose the  horrors  of child labor .   The Chimney Sweeper: When my mother died I was very young

3. In the first lines of  ‘The Chimney Sweeper,’  the  speaker  describes a small “black thing among the snow”. This is of course the child who has lost both his parents. The child describes how he’s had everything taken away from him because of his desire to play in the fields. Now , as he tries to find happiness in his life, those who are in a place to help him think he’s fine. His singing and dancing make everything think they’ve done nothing wrong by allowing child labor to continue. Those at the top use these unseen children to create their worlds. 

4. A little black thing among the snow , Crying "weep! 'weep!" in notes of woe ! "Where are thy father and mother? say ?“ " They are both gone up to the church to pray .   It begins by describing something in the snow… a young child It describes the child as a “thing” is disturbing, and it’s supposed to be. Blake made it quite obvious that he’s going to make a political statement about the treatment of children.  The child cries out, both of his parents have “gone up the church to pray”. There is no one to care for him. No parents to provide for him or an organization that cares what happens to him. There are many who might say they care but then do nothing to prove it. The use of a  perfect rhyme  scheme in these lines, in addition to assonance, “notes” and “woe” and alliteration “weep! weep!” make his words all the more disturbing.  Detailed Discussion Stanza 1

5. 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.  The child thinks back to his earlier days and how happy he used to be. All of this was taken from him. “ They,” the church, “clothed” the child in “death” and forced him to ‘sing the notes of woe”. He was taught the darkest parts of life during a very important time period in his life. He should’ve been free to be happy and joyful in nature but instead, he’s a chimney sweeper.  Detailed Discussion Stanza 2

6. 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.”  The final lines imply that people who might help him , think he’s okay because he “dance[s] and sing[s]”. They don’t know that these things are done only to get by, in order to find some comfort somewhere. They think that they’ve done him “no injury”. The child speaker places the blame for his circumstances at the feet of “God and his Priest and King”. The Church, and more broadly organized religion, is at fault for his “misery”.  Detailed Discussion Stanza 3

7. The poet explores troubling themes of childhood, suffering, and organized religion. The theme of suffering is in the last lines as the speaker (young child), describes the way that those with power turn to God but turn their backs on him. Their religion allows them to ignore this child and all those like him. The poem suggests that the Church also took from the child his youth and happiness while absolving the guilty of their guilt and sins.  There is an intense amount of suffering in this short poem. The child’s  voice  comes through loud and clear making that suffering even more real He speaks about his lost happiness and how he places the blame squarely at the feet of the Church.  Themes

8. ‘ It is a short three- stanza  poem that is separated into sets of four lines. These lines follow a  rhyme scheme  of AABB, CACA EFEF. This perfect sing-song-like pattern contrasts starkly against the  subject matter  The child, who is telling his story, is in a very bad way. His childish voice comes through in tandem with the horrors he’s had to suffer.  The use of   meter   is not entirely consistent. Throughout , the majority of the beats are either iambic or anapaestic. The first is made up of one unstressed and one stressed syllable while the second is made up of two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed. In general, the majority of the lines are written in iambic  tetrameter . A reader should also take note of the double stresses that appear. Such as with “weep! weep!” in stanza one.  Structure and Form

9. Literary devices such as alliteration ,  assonance , and  imagery are used apart from others. Alliteration: For example, “happy” and “hearth” in stanza two as well as “praise” and “Priest” in stanza three. Assonance ( repetition  of vowel sounds), such as “notes” and “woe” in stanza one, line two. Another good example is “snow” and “clothes” in lines two and three of the second stanza. This poem uses imagery quite powerfully in the first lines. Blake is able to tap into various senses, while also appealing to a reader’s emotions. They should feel empathy for this young child who is in the first line only a “little black thing”. Literary Devices

10. William Blake analyzed the  horrors  and sorrows of his city as he meandered through the streets. Surrounded by dejected Londoners, he saw evidence that the British government had too much power and little interest in helping those they were supposed to serve. To endure 19th-century England was to be thrust into a restrictive world. Citizens followed an oppressive societal protocol and those who broke the law suffered under penalty of death. The  speaker  of Blake’s poem does not mince words when it comes to ascribing blame to the government . Through their eyes — aided by the poet’s use of vivid  imagery  — the reader is given a damningly hellish image of the streets of London. One that conveys that colossal sadness and indignation that the sight stirs within those who witnessed it.

11. ‘London’  by  William Blake  is a dark and dreary poem in which the speaker describes the difficulties of life in London through the structure of a walk . The speaker travels to the River Thames and looks around him. He takes note of the resigned faces of his fellow Londoners. The speaker also hears and feels the sorrow in the streets; this is the focus of the final three  stanzas . There is a true pain in the hearts of men, women, and children. The most prominent of those suffering in London’s streets are the prostitutes. ‘London ’  ends with a fantastical image of a carriage that shuttles love and death together around the city.  London Poem Introduction

12. I wander thro’ each charter’d street, Near where the charter’d Thames does flow. And mark in every face I meet Marks of weakness, marks of woe . Here, the speaker provides the  setting  and tone.   It reveals that the speaker is walking down a street.   Words “ wander[s ] down each chartered street”. gives some insight into the speaker as well.   He appears to be not quite sure of himself,  and a bit misguided, if not entirely lost. The word “chartered ” suggests that the streets he walks are controlled and rigid. He is not walking in a free, open field, but a confined, rigid, mapped-out area. Notices that people’s faces wear the marks of weariness. Describes faces having “weakness” and “ woe” and it sets up the tone as melancholy in poem and poet’s voice Detailed Discussion Stanza 1

13. In every cry of every Man, In every Infants cry of fear, In every voice: in every ban, The mind- forg’d manacles I hear It g ives some insight into the speaker’s melancholy feelings toward the people he watches pass him by. From the cry of the newborn infant to the cry of the full-grown man, he hears the “mind forg’d manacles”. Insight into despairing view of mankind. “ manacles” are shackles/chains that keeps a person imprisoned. Chains are “mind forg’d ”… reveals metaphorical  chains created by the people’s ideas. The word “ban” reveals these manacles are placed by society. A ban is a restriction given by law. W ords such as “ Charterd ” “ban” and “manacles” reveal that society  metaphorically  imprisons people.   Suddenly , it becomes apparent that the thoughts, pressures, and ideals of society are under scrutiny here. Detailed Discussion Stanza 2

14. How the Chimney-sweepers cry Every blackning Church appalls , And the hapless Soldiers sigh Runs in blood down Palace walls Here, it digs even deeper into reasons for his feelings toward humanity. Shackles worn by the people and inflicted by society… some disastrous results… Begins with Chimney sweeper, the poorest in  society & whose life expectancy was threatened by his line of work. He was consistently dirty and sick… lowest class were forced into this work to provide for their families. Then, the speaker criticizes the church, calling it “ blackning ” and claiming that even the church “ appalls ” at the Chimney sweeper. Often, the chimney sweepers were just children. They were small enough to fit down the chimneys and were often orphaned children, the church was responsible It explains why the poet ties the chimney sweepers with the “ blackning church ”. Detailed Discussion Stanza 3

15. Turns his attention to the “hapless soldier”… poor victims of a corrupt government. Criticises society, pointed out the misfortunes of the poor and the hypocrisy of the church & Govt. He described war the “blood that runs down the palace walls .” (where royalty would have lived .) Accuses the higher-up in his society of spilling the blood of soldiers to keep their comfort of living in a palace.

16. But most thro’ midnight streets I hear How the youthful Harlots curse Blasts the new-born Infants tear And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse It reveals how the corruptness of society attacks innocence. Hears “ youthful Harlot’s curse …” the level of poverty and corruption,how a young girl was forced to prostitution. Reveals the object of the Harlot’s cursing. She curses at the tears of a new-born baby. This is the ultimate attack upon innocence. Does not reveal whether the harlot is the mother of the baby or not, implies instead of comforting a crying infant, she curses it. Reveals the hardened heart of the harlot/society at large.While the innocent shed tears, perverted attack them . Detailed Discussion Stanza 4

17. The last line  reveals the speaker’s thoughts on marriage as well . The Harlot has “blighted” the “marriage hearse”. Deranged marriage by having sold her body before marriage The fact that he calls it a “marriage hearse” reveals that he views marriage as death. Overall , the poem has criticized society, the church, prostitution, and even marriage. The innocent baby shedding tears represents those who are innocent in the world are few and scoffed. Infants and are not left to be innocent for long. Their innocence is “blasted”  by the cry of the perverted.  

18. ‘It is a four- stanza  poem that is separated into sets of four lines, known as  quatrains . They follow a  rhyme scheme  of ABAB throughout. The first stanza explores the sights of London while the following three focus on sounds the speaker can hear. Close readers might notice that the third stanza of the poem is an  acrostic , spelling out the word “HEAR” with each first letter of the first word in every line. Some of the lines of  ‘London’  make use of a metrical pattern known as iambic  tetrameter . this can be seen perfectly in the first three lines of the poem. But , that changes in line four when the speaker is confronted with the people. The normal walking  rhythm  of the first lines is interrupted, a way of referring back to the content in  ‘London.’  Structure and Form

19. Enjambment , occurs when the poet cuts off a line before the conclusion of a sentence or phrase. For example, the  transition  between lines three and four of the first stanza as well as line four of the second stanza and line one of the third stanza . Caesurae  are pauses in the middle of lines, either due to a break in the  meter  or the use of punctuation. For example, line four of the first stanza. It reads: “ Marks of weakness, marks of woe.” Another good example is line three of the second stanza: “ In every  voice : in every ban.”  Metaphors   create great examples of imagery. There are numerous examples to be found, especially in stanzas two and three . Assonance :   Assonance  is the  repetition  of vowel sounds in the same line. For example, the sound of /e/ in “In every voice: in every ban”. Consonance :   Consonance  is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line. For example, the sound of /s/ in “Marks of weakness, marks of woe”. Literary Devices

20. Alliteration :   Alliteration  is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line in quick succession. For example, the sound of /s/ in “And the hapless Soldiers sigh”. Enjambment :  It is defined as a thought in  verse  that does not come to an end at a  line break ; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example, “But most thro’ midnight streets I hear How the youthful Harlots curse Blasts the new-born Infants tear And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse .” Imagery :   Imagery  is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, “I wander thro’ each charter’d street”, “How the Chimney-sweepers cry” and “Runs in blood down Palace walls.” Symbolism :   Symbolism  means to use symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from the literal meanings. Here, “soldier’s sigh” symbolizes the state of frustration, “chimney sweeper” is the  symbol  of death,  darkness  and destruction and “harlot’s curse” symbolizes the prostitute’s pathetic life experiences. Metaphor :  It is a  figure of speech  in which an implied  comparison  is made between the  objects  different in nature. For example, “The mind- forg’d manacles I hear” is a  metaphor  for the hardships of the people working in industries, which is equal to working in prison. Anaphora :  It refers to the repetition of a word or expression in the first part of some verses. The below lines express the sorrow of the citizens suppressed under the upper class. Literary Devices

21. In   ‘London,’  Blake engages with themes of urban life, childhood, and corruption. The latter relates to both childhood and the broader nature of life in the city. It’s clear from the first lines of the poem that Blake has a widely negative view of what it’s like to live and work in London. He is surrounded by misery, mostly due to the way the adult world destroys the innocence of childhood. These children are in distress throughout their lives, forced to deal with the sins of their family members and the darkness of the urban streets. The speaker hears pain everywhere he goes in the city, something that he knows isn’t necessary. The world could be happier and freer but humanity’s darker side has made that impossible in the city. Themes Themes

22. O Rose thou art sick. The invisible worm, That flies in the night In the howling storm : Here, the speaker begins by addressing the rose. Capitalized the word “Rose” to give it more agency and relate it more to an animate being. Makes sense when one considers the larger metaphor the lines are alluding to. He tells the rose that it is “sick.” It is very broad term, and it is unclear at first how or why a rose would be sick. The next lines provide answer .  There is one main reason for the “sickness,” the “invisible worm.” Invisible worm that “flies in the night.” to hurt the rose, is what’s important in Blake’s poem. The worm comes to the rose at night in the middle of “the howling storm.” A sense of danger & dread adds to one’s knowledge that the worm is not going to do anything good to the rose.  Detailed Discussion Stanza 1

23. The howling storm is an interesting image at this point in the piece. I t is clear Blake wants the reader to know that the worm is able to make it through dangerous conditions. It can find the rose whenever it wants to. Perhaps this has something to do with its invisibility. Detailed Discussion Stanza 1

24. Has found out thy bed  Of crimson joy:  And his dark secret love  Does thy life destroy . In the second stanza of  ‘The Sick Rose,’  the speaker goes detail by detail, increasing the tension. First , he states that the worm found the rose’s bed. This refers to the natural dirt flower bed, represented by the rose.   The bed is described as being “of crimson joy.” The redness of the rose and the bed both speak to the passion and at the same time, anger and even blood. All three of these connect to the larger metaphor, the loss of purity/beauty/piousness in society   Detailed Discussion Stanza 2

25. The rose is afflicted with the worm’s “dark secret love” and has its life destroyed. Again , these lines could refer to the actual death of a real rose that is eaten by a worm. But , the  extended metaphor  is more important. The worm, which clearly represents impurity, destroys purity of rose/ values in society. In the past and in the present, the loss of purity doomed society’s prospects for the rest of life . This is the death and sickness the speaker is referring to.  Detailed Discussion Stanza 2

26. It has a regular  rhyme scheme , with the second and fourth lines of both stanzas rhyming together. The poem, then, follows a pattern of: ABCB  DEFE Blake chose to make use of a complicated metrical pattern that is most closely associated with anapaestic  dimeter . This means that, if the  meter  is perfect, each line should have five beats. The first two syllables are unstressed and the third is stressed. Although the poem can be categorized with this meter in mind, there is only one line, the seventh, which is perfectly structured as anapaestic dimeter.  The other lines vary somewhat from this base form. The stresses, more often than not, shift places in the lines. For example, the first two syllables of the poem are stressed, creating a  spondee . While in the second line, the first two syllables form an  iamb . The first is unstressed and the second is stressed. Another interesting example is the fourth line. The line begins with two unstressed syllables and is then followed by one stressed, one unstressed, and one final stressed syllable.  Meter

27. The most prominent is the rose itself. As soon as the poem begins the speaker informs the rose that it is sick . The reason for its sickness is the worm which is in the process of destroying the rose’s life. This makes sense if one only reads from a simple nature  perspective . But a reader should really take into consideration the evil nature of the worm and the way it enters into the roses “bed” and uses “his dark secret love.” The worm takes the roses life/purity, therefore ruining her life.  Images and Symbols

28. Rose The rose is a representation of innocence, which, in the real world, becomes corrupted (this is a common theme throughout Blake's  Songs of Innocence and Experience ). Altogether , the rose seems to represent unspoiled beauty and loveliness . The speaker hears pain everywhere he goes in the city, something that he knows isn’t necessary. The world could be happier and freer but humanity’s darker side has made that impossible in the city. Worm The   symbolism  of the worm is open to interpretation. It's certainly no ordinary worm, described in line 2 as "invisible," and in line 3 as capable of flight . Being   figurative —as simply saying that the worm moves very quickly and without being spotted since it's underground. On that note, worms carry a long history of symbolism in poetry, religion, and mythology.  Linked with death and decay and that association is certainly in play here . connote sneakiness/ symbol of dark, destructive forces/slimy members of society or the basest impulses of society Blake's poetry is steeped in Christianity… the worm relates to the serpent in the biblical Book of Genesis, who tempts Eve to eat the fruit from the forbidden tree—and thus causes the Fall of mankind. Same devilish desire for destruction Symbols

29. Alliteration appears in the poem's final two lines: And his dark secret love Does thy life destroy. Here , alliteration links different words together: "love" with "life" and "dark" with "does" and "destroy .” Assonance :   Assonance  is the  repetition  of vowel sounds in the same line such as the sound of /o/ in “O Rose thou art sick”. Allegory :  It is a  figure of speech  in which abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of  characters , figures, and events. The speaker has used allegoric expression at the beginning of the poem when he informs rose about her sickness such as; “O Rose thou art sick.” Apostrophe :  An apostrophe is a device used to call somebody or something from afar. Here, the poet has used an apostrophe to call the rose a thing of misery “O Rose thou art sick” expressing sorrow and sadness by calling the star directly . Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

30. Consonance :   Consonance  is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line. For example, the sound of /r/ in “And his dark secret love.” Enjambment :  It is defined as a thought in  verse  that does not come to an end at a  line break ; instead, it continues in the next line. For example: “Has found out thy bed Of crimson joy: And his dark secret love Does thy life destroy .” Imagery :   Imagery  is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, “O Rose thou art sick”, “The invisible worm/That flies in the night” and “Has found out thy bed.” Metaphor :  It is a figure of speech in which an implied  comparison  is made between the  objects  that are different in nature. For example, “O Rose thou art sick.” Here, sickness is the  metaphor  of something deeper than a flower. Symbolism :   Symbolism  is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from the literal meanings. “Bed” symbolizes the ground and “crimson joy” is the  symbol  of the beauty of that rose. Poetic Devices & Figurative Language