in Williams Blake's poem the chimney sweeper the metaphor coffins of black represents?
a) innocence
b)chimneys
c)daffodils
d)the tiger
In William Blake's poem "The Chimney Sweeper," the metaphor "coffins of black" represents a) innocence.
To arrive at this answer, it is important to analyze the poem and consider the context in which the metaphor is used. "The Chimney Sweeper" is a poem that describes the miserable and harsh conditions experienced by child chimney sweepers during the Industrial Revolution. These young children were forced to work in dangerous and unhealthy environments, sweeping chimneys covered in soot and ash.
The metaphor "coffins of black" is used in the following lines of the poem:
"And because I am happy and dance and sing,
They think they have done me no injury,
And are gone to praise God and his Priest and King,
Who make up a heaven of our misery."
Here, the metaphor suggests that the soot and dirt covering the chimney sweepers' bodies resemble coffins, symbolizing a loss of innocence. The blackness of the soot not only represents physical grime but also serves as a metaphor for the corruption and harshness of the world. It implies that the children have been prematurely robbed of their innocence and childhood due to their painful and dangerous work.
Understanding metaphors requires close analysis of the text and considering the broader themes and messages conveyed by the author. In this case, identifying the metaphor and reflecting on its significance helps reveal its connection to the concept of innocence, making option a) the correct answer.