The Poems of William Blake

In what way is this poem representative of the poet’s work?

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. 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. 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.” William Blake 1. In what way is this poem representative of the poet’s work? 2. What is the theme of the poem? 3. What key concepts and elements are interplayed in the poem? 4. What stylistic devices does the poet use to get his message across? Comment and exemplify.

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What on the surface appears to be a condescending moral to lazy boys is in fact a sharp criticism of a culture that would perpetuate the inhuman conditions of chimney sweeping on children. Blake often wrote about the unfairness and abuses of Victorian Society.