The Chimney-Sweeper Experience

Question 1

‘A little black thing among the snow.’

Answer 1

• A little black thing’ = Dehumanising.
• ‘black’ Child is no longer pure, tarnished by religion, society –> Corruption.
• ‘the snow’ = white = purity, the child is desperately seeking a way back to innocence.

Question 2

‘Crying ‘weep, weep’ in notes of woe!’

Answer 2

• Similar to Innocence version.
• Release of emotion
• Notes, Minor key, solemn/sinister. The childhood experience.

Question 3

‘Where are thy father and mother?
They are both gone up to the church to pray.’

Answer 3

• Lack of nurture.
• Neglect. Forced to pray to the mythical.
• Criticism of religion: Hypocritical/Performative.

Question 4

‘I was happy upon the heath,
and smiled among the winter’s snow,’

Answer 4

• Voicelessness, percieved happiness.
• ‘Heath’ Child was happy in nature.
• The child has literally been led astray.

Question 5

‘They clothed me in clothes of death,
and taught me to sing notes of woe.’

Answer 5

• Notes = minor key is solemn / sinister, reflecting the miserable childhood experience.
• Notes = screams and cries
• Children are taught to suffer in the most vital part of life.
• ‘clothed me’ - Manipulation of innocence.

Question 6

I am happy and dance and sing,-
They think they have done me no injury.

Answer 6

• Explotation is set up to ruin the happiness of childhood.
• ‘done me no injury’ -> Organised religion absolves their guilt of children’s suffering.
• Children are conditioned to act fine so no change is made.

Question 7

‘And are gone to praise God and his priest and king,
Who make up a heaven of our misery.’

Answer 7

• ‘God and his priest and king’ futile titles that man has given themselves; the list highlights the absurdity of action.
• ‘our misery’ -> Heaven thrives off of the exploitation of the misery of humanity
• ‘Our’ collective. Everyone is suffering.