Saturday, November 27, 2010 | By: Furqon Abdi

Socioanalysis of Chimney Sweeper

Socioanalysis of Chimney Sweeper

Sociology of literature (socioliterature) is a science that examines the literature related to its relationship with human life (society). sociology of literature is divided into four categories, namely: the sociology of literature, sociology reader of literature, sociology of the author and sociology of production-consumption. however, among the four categories, sociology of literature is most often used to analyze a work of literature by academics.


Poem
The Chimney Sweeper
By William Blake

When my mother died I was very young
And my father sold me while yet my tongue
Could scarcely cry “weep weep!weep weep!”
So your chimney I sweep and in soot I sleep

There’s little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head
That curl’d like a lamb’s back was shav’d, so I said
Hush Tom, never mind it, for when your head’s bare
You know that the soot cannot spoil your white head

And so he was quite, and that very night
As Tom was asleeping he had such a sight
That thousand of sweeper, Dick, Joe, Ned and Jack
Were all of them lock’d up in coffins of black

And by came an Angel who had a bright key
And he open’d the coffins and set them all free
The down a green plain, leaping laughing they run
And wash in the river and shine in the sun

Then naked and white, all their bags left behind
They rise upon clouds and sport in the mind
And the angel told Tom if he’d be a good boy
He’d have god for his father never want joy

And so Tom awoke and rose in the dark
And got with our bags & our brushes to work
Tho’ the morning was cold, Tom was happy & warm
So if all do their duty, they need no fear harm


Biography of william blake
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 colored 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.
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).
Blake is frequently referred to as a mystic, but this is not really accurate. He deliberately wrote in the style of the Hebrew prophets and apocalyptic writers. He envisioned his works as expressions of prophecy, following in the footsteps (or, more precisely strapping on the sandals) of Elijah and Milton. In fact, he clearly believed himself to be the living embodiment of the spirit of Milton.
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.
William Blake died on August 12, 1827, and is buried in an unmarked grave at Bunhill Fields, London.
Analysis
Intrinsic Elements
a. figure of speech
- Simile
The Chimney Sweeper poems mentioned above using simile as seen in the second row of the second stanza:
That curl’d like a lamb’s back was shav’d, so I said,
In that line, William tried to give an picture of Tom Dacre with his slightly wavy hair, like a newly shorn sheep. Using word like is a hallmark of the simile.
- Metaphor
there are also metaphorical figure of speech that can be seen in the word black coffins on the fourth line of the third stanza:
all of Them were the resource lock’d-up in coffins of black
black coffin by William is a manifestation of lack of freedom of the sweeper which should still get care of his parents. They are always locked in endless suffering.
- Hyperbola
This figure of speech is seen in the first line of the third stanza:
and so he was quiet and That very night
describes the situation that night which was very late. Very night can be defined as the situation is already very late at night to look so dark.
Also in the second line of the fifth stanza:
They rise upon clouds and sport in the wind
William tries to portray that in the dream they look so free, not the slightest thought of the shackles of work that binds them every day.Such depictions are found to be too much because it happens in a dream, where all things are very likely to happen.
- Antithesis
Written in the third row last stanza poem above:
Tho’ The morning was cold, Tom was happy and warm
William define the situation that was very cold in morning with a feeling Tom is happy and delighted after dream. Although it was very cold Tom still felt warm, like when he was basking in the sun in his dream.

b. Imagery
There are various kinds imagery in this poem by William Blake, including visual imagery, as seen in black coffins words, bright key, green plain, naked & white, too dark. Another is auditory imagery as in the word weep-weep, quiet. Tactile imagery in the word cold, warm.

c. Rhyme (poem)
Poetry The Chimney Sweeper uses AA-BB rhyme as seen in each of four lines of each stanza.
When my mother I was very young Died
And my father sold me while yet my tongue
Could scarcely cry, weep Äúweep! Weep weep!, Äù
So your first Chimney sweep and in soot I sleep

d. Symbol
There are some symbols used in this poem like black coffins as a symbol of suffering. Chimneys as a symbol that it is a time of industrial revolution in England. Naked and white symbolizes that the workers are children who are still very small and consists of white children.
2. Extrinsic Elements
In poetry, “the Chimney Sweeper”  by William Blake, written that it is a form view of a William who is a England poet who lived in pre-industrial revolution of the 18th century. in the poem William tried to give a state of England people during the romantic literature. Where slavery was still a strong culture in the middle of the community who are trapped in poverty. Exploitation of children is rampant. Slavery at that time was not only dominated by black slave or negro people, but has started to spread to the white citizens.
it was very sad for those who do not have specific expertise in the work force they have to work as a laborer. It is clear that labor is the most rugged job level just above slaves. More tragic fate suffered by their children. With the conditions of deprivation parents who work as laborers in part be a very cruel towards their own children.Told in the poem, many parents are sacrificing their children for their own pleasure. As if no matter the suffering experienced by children far exceeds the ability of the child.
As soon as they are suffering workers who sweep the chimney, and even implies that the freedom and pleasure only they could get in their dreams. The dream that gave them strength to continue to survive.
Social classes by Marx tried to be removed because it proved only to give pleasure for a handful of parties, the same thing that are also trying to be disclosed by William. He tried to tell the England people that the enactment of social class does not give a positive development for the nation. With a system of social classes would further exacerbate the nation's welfare state. Those religious leaders actually looks off the hands of the suffering of his people. Position as religious leaders when it is proven to provide social security, but not to his followers. Religion as an opiate is very visible in the depiction of the poem.

0 comments:

Post a Comment