English Literature / Unit 12 ENL 1109 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Two Chimney Sweepers
Captions available
The idea
Both books contain "The Chimney Sweeper." In Innocence, a sold child sweep consoles himself with a dream of heaven and duty. In Experience, a sweep says his parents have gone to church to praise God and the king, "who make up a heaven of our misery."
In practice
Consolation in one; accusation in the other.
Where people slip
The innocent poem's comfort is itself ironic.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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