Question

the chimney sweeper
when my mother died i was very young,
and my father sold me while yet my tongue
could scarcely cry “’weep! ’weep! ’weep! ’weep!”
so your chimneys i sweep & in soot i sleep.

5 there’s little tom dacre, who cried when his head
that curl’d like a lamb’s back, was shav’d, so i said,
“hush, tom! never mind it, for when your head’s bare,
you know that the soot cannot spoil your white hair.”

and so he was quiet, & that very night,
10 as tom was a - sleeping he had such a sight!
that thousands of sweepers, dick, joe, ned, & jack,
were all of them lock’d up in coffins of black;

and by came an angel who had a bright key,
and he open’d the coffins & set them all free;
15 then down a green plain, leaping, laughing they run,
and wash in a river and shine in the sun.

then naked & white, all their bags left behind,
they rise upon clouds, and sport in the wind.
and the angel told tom, if he’d be a good boy,
20 he’d have god for his father & never want joy.

and so tom awoke; and we rose in the dark
and got with our bags & our brushes to work.
tho’ the morning was cold, tom was happy & warm;
so if all do their duty, they need not fear harm.

3 ‘weep! ’weep!: the child’s attempt
to say “sweep! sweep!” — a chimney
sweeper’s street cry.

understand historical
background
annotate: mark details in lines
1 - 12 that relate to the historical
context of the poem.
infer: what can you infer
from these details about social
conditions in late 18th - century
britain?

18 sport: play or frolic.
20 want: lack.

essential question:
what stirs your
imagination?

review your notes and
add your thoughts to your
response log.

collaborative discussion
which image from the poems best conveys innocence? discuss
your ideas with a partner.

Explanation:

For the "Infer" question (about social conditions in late 18th - century Britain):

1. From the line "my father sold me while yet my tongue / Could scarcely cry", we can infer that child labor was prevalent, and children were sold into such work at a very young age.
2. The line "So your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep" shows that the working conditions for chimney sweepers (children) were harsh and unhygienic, as they had to sleep in soot - filled environments.
3. The mention of "little Tom Dacre" having his head shaved (and the narrator's attempt to comfort him about his white hair not being spoiled by soot) implies that these children had little control over their own bodies and were subjected to practices for the sake of their work, further indicating the exploitation of child labor. Overall, these details suggest that in late 18th - century Britain, child labor was common, children were exploited (sold, forced into dangerous and dirty work), and their living and working conditions were extremely poor.

1. The image of the sweepers "naked & white, all their bags left behind, / They rise upon clouds, and sport in the wind" conveys innocence. The children are depicted as pure (white, naked - a symbol of innocence), free from the burdens of their work (bags left behind), and playing (sport) in a carefree, almost heavenly setting.
2. Another candidate could be little Tom Dacre when he was comforted about his shaved head. His vulnerability (crying about his shaved head) and the narrator's gentle attempt to comfort him (telling him his white hair won't be spoiled) show a child's innocent reaction to a situation and the innocent way of consoling, highlighting the innocence of childhood in the midst of harsh circumstances.

Answer:

In late 18th - century Britain, child labor was prevalent. Children (like the chimney sweepers) were exploited: sold at a very young age, forced into harsh and unhygienic working conditions (sleeping in soot, working as chimney sweepers), and had little control over their own lives (e.g., Tom Dacre's head was shaved for work). Their living and working conditions were extremely poor.

For the "Collaborative Discussion" question (which image best conveys innocence):