In the 1800s, chimney sweeping was an arduous and filthy job as the sweeper had to climb in and up the chimney to get rid of the collected soot. Because the crawl space was so tight, the job was given to small, orphaned children at the young age of four or five. Not only did chimney sweeping leave the children covered head to toe in soot, but it was also a dangerous job. The children often got burned, bruised, and sometimes became stuck in the chimney and suffocated. Additionally, chimney sweeps usually developed cancerous rashes on their bodies from being unprotected to the carcinogens in the soot.

How did William Blake draw upon these societal events for the poem "The Chimney Sweeper"?


William Blake discussed the medical issue of carcinogens causing cancer to the young children.

"The Chimney Sweeper" drew upon the details about the orphaned children being covered in black soot.

William Blake wrote about the angel who came to set the young children free from their chimney sweeping jobs.

"The Chimney Sweeper" drew upon the injuries that the sweepers succumbed to on a daily basis.