The Chimney-Sweeper (Innocence): Structure & Language Techniques

Structure:

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each containing four lines. This structure is known as a quatrain.
The rhyme scheme is AABB, which enhances the musicality of the poem and reflects its origins in song.

Language Techniques:

Repetition: The word ‘weep’ is repeated to underline the misery of the chimney sweepers.
Metaphor/Symbolism: The “coffins of black” symbolise the chimneys that put the sweeps’ lives at risk.
Alliteration: The phrase “little lamb” uses alliteration of the ‘l’ sound to create a soft, comforting tone.
Simile: The phrase “they are gone to praise God and his Priest and King, who make up a heaven of our misery” compares the melancholic state of the chimney sweepers to heaven, illustrating Blake’s critique of society.

Contrast:

The poem contrasts the disturbing realities of the chimney sweeper’s life with their innocent perceptions of their situation.

Paradox:

The poem reflects the paradox of the innocence and experience dichotomy, portraying how innocence is exploited and abused, but also how it remains resilient and hopeful.