in william blake's poem " the chimney sweeper," the metaphor"coffins of black represent (A) innocence (B)chimneya (C)daffodils (D)the tiger
I'll be glad to check your answer.
http://www.poetry-online.org/blake_the_chimney_sweeper.htm
Chimney
Innocence
To determine the meaning of the metaphor "coffins of black" in William Blake's poem "The Chimney Sweeper," we need to analyze the context and symbols used in the poem:
1. Read the poem: Start by reading the entire poem "The Chimney Sweeper" by William Blake. Pay attention to the overall theme and message conveyed in the poem.
2. Identify the metaphor: Locate the specific line or stanza where the metaphor "coffins of black" is used. In "The Chimney Sweeper," the metaphor can be found in the following lines:
"And so Tom awoke, and we rose in the dark,
And got with our bags and our brushes to work.
Though the morning was cold, Tom was happy and warm;
So if all do their duty, they need not fear harm."
3. Consider the symbolism: "Coffins of black" is a metaphor used to represent something, so we need to interpret what this metaphorical imagery might signify. In the poem, the chimney sweepers are young children who are forced to work in harsh conditions, risking their lives by climbing up dark, narrow chimneys. This metaphor suggests that the dark and confining chimneys are symbolic of a kind of death or entrapment.
4. Evaluate the options provided: Based on our analysis, we can now assess the options given: (A) innocence, (B) chimneys, (C) daffodils, (D) the tiger.
(A) Innocence: The metaphor "coffins of black" does not directly represent innocence. It represents the dark and limiting conditions of the chimney sweeps' work, which contrasts with the potential loss of innocence that the children experience.
(B) Chimneys: The chimneys are the literal place where the chimney sweeps work and climb through, not the metaphorical representation.
(C) Daffodils: Daffodils do not seem to fit the context or symbolism of the poem, so it is unlikely to be the correct answer.
(D) The tiger: While "The Tiger" is another famous poem by William Blake, it is not related to "The Chimney Sweeper." Therefore, it is not relevant to the interpretation of the metaphor in question.
Considering the options, the correct answer is (B) chimneys, as they directly relate to the poem's context and symbolism of the chimney sweeps working in dark and confining spaces.