The Chimney-Sweeper (Innocence): Poet & Context

The Chimney-Sweeper (Innocence): Poet & Context

Poet & Context: “The Chimney-Sweeper” (Innocence) by William Blake

William Blake

• William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker, known for his extreme and controversial views.
• Rarely acknowledged during his lifetime, Blake’s work is now considered vital in the history of both poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age.
• His prophetic poems have been recognised as part of the Romantic literary canon, and his visual artistry highly valued by the Victorian Pre-Raphaelites.

Context: Child Labour

• Child labour was prevalent during Blake’s time, especially in large cities.
• Blake criticised societal norms that failed to protect children from exploitation.

Context: The Industrial Revolution

• The poem was published in the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, a time of extreme change and social unrest.
• The wealth created by industrialisation led to stark divisions in society, which is reflected in Blake’s work.

Context: Innocence & Experience

• Blake’s collection ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’ explores the two contrasting states of the human soul.
• ‘The Chimney-Sweeper’ in ‘Songs of Innocence’ portrays an innocent and optimistic view of life, despite the bleak circumstances.

Influence of French & American Revolutions

• Blake was deeply inspired by the ideals of freedom and equality espoused by the French and American Revolutions.
• He was troubled by the gap between these revolutionary ideals and the realities he saw in British society.
• This disquiet is often reflected in his poems, including ‘The Chimney-Sweeper’.