The Chimney Sweeper

1] After reading both poems from The Chimney Sweeper from the Songs of Innocence and The Chimney Sweeper from the Songs of Experience, I agree that Blake's poems appealed to the imagination of the reader. Since the poems were from two completely opposite points of view, I had different perspectives about them. At the very start of the Songs of Innocence, I developed an emotional sense for the little boys at work. The poem seems to have the effect on people have sympathy for the two boys. However, when the boy dreams about Heaven, as the reader I gained an uplifting emotion that the boys would live a better life one day. The other poem, Songs of Experience, doesn't have the same effect on me, but relates to the Songs of Innocence. Unlike Songs of Innocence, this poem doesn't get uplifting at any point. It describes the horrible life this boy has to live in which he is forced to live there and do things he doesn't want to. Both poems are about young boys who are deprived of important needs, however the Songs of Innocence leaves the reader with a sense of hope for the boys, when the Songs of Innocence leaves you feeling bad for the young boy.

2] I think the purpose of this document was to show the reader that even though these characters were fictional, child labor is a real problem that children face in their lives. It gave me a sense of the tragic lives that young children, such as these boys in the poems, have to deal with and face everyday. It helped me to envision it in my mind as a real image of what goes on during child labor. It brought me as the reader, a sense of sadness because it showed how real it is. However, I thought it was a good idea to add the Parliament document because it helped me, and probably the other readers, to imagine what children go through.