2. William Blake was born on November 28, 1757 in London, the third of
five children. His father James was a hosier, and could only afford to
give William enough schooling to learn the basics of reading and
writing, though for a short time he was able to attend a drawing
school run by Henry Par.
William worked in his father's shop until his talent for drawing became
so obvious that he was apprenticed to engraver James Basire at age
14. He finished his apprenticeship at age 21, and set out to make his
living as an engraver.
Blake married Catherine Boucher at age 25, and she worked with him
on most of his artistic creations. Together they published a book of
Blake's poems and drawings called Songs of Innocence.
Blake engraved the words and pictures on copper plates (a method he
claimed he received in a dream), and Catherine coloured the plates
and bound the books. Songs of Innocence sold slowly during Blake's
lifetime, indeed Blake struggled close to poverty for much of his life.
More successful was a series of copperplate engravings Blake did to
illustrate the Book of Job for a new edition of the Old Testament.
3. Blake did not have a head for business, and he turned down
publisher's requests to focus on his own subjects. In his choice of
subject Blake was often guided by his gentle, mystical views of
Christianity. Songs of Experience (1794) was followed by Milton
(1804-1808), and Jerusalem (1804-1820).
In 1800 Blake gained a patron in William Hayley, who commissioned
him to illustrate his Life of Cowper, and to create busts of famous
poets for his house in Felpham, Suurey.
While at Felpham, Blake was involved in a bizarre episode which
could have proven disastrous; he was accused by a drunken soldier
of cursing the king, and on this testimony he was brought to trial for
treason. The cae against Blake proved flimsy, and he was cleared of
the charges.
Blake poured his whole being into his work. The lack of public
recognition sent him into a severe depression which lasted from
1810-1817, and even his close friends thought him insane.
Unlike painters like Gainsborough, Blake worked on a small scale;
most of his engravings are little more than inches in height, yet the
detailed rendering is superb and exact. Blake's work received far
more public acclaim after his death, and an excerpt from his poem
Milton was set to music, becoming a sort of unofficial Christian
anthem of English nationalism in the 20th century.
William Blake died on August 12, 1827, and is buried in an unmarked
grave at Bunhill Fields, London.
4. Alliteration
the letter S is repeated and used through the whole poem
for example : “so your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep” (line 4)
“as Tom was a sleeping he had such a sight” (line 10)
Simile
“That curl’d like a lambs back” (line 6)
Metaphor
“As Tom was a sleeping”…
Parable
“And the Angle told Tom if he’d be a good boy,
He’d have God for his father & never want joy.” (lines 19-20)
5. TRAGIC & PESSIMISTIC
Terrible situation for children that lived at the
end of French revolution.
Bring sadness and melancholy.
OPTIMISTIC & LIGHT HEARTED
“Tho the morning was cold, Tom was happy &
warm; so if all do their duty, they need not fear
harm.
after having a great dream about the Angel, Tom
become more lively.
6. SOCIAL INJUSTICE
Profession as a chimney sweeper is consider unimportant.
Nobody pay attention and worry about chimney sweeper.
INNOCENT OF THE CHILDREN
Know nothings about the cruel world
Being sold by the parents to become the slaves of
industrial
DEVELOPMENT
Sometimes brings badness
Humans being exploited by their own technologies
7. Differentbetween the rich and poor people
-Poor people has to struggle to keep on living
where as the rich people just being selfish
Morality of parents in bringing their children
to face the world.
-Some parents even willing to sell their
children just because for the money
