William Blake – THE Chimney Sweeper
             Thesis Statement: In The Chimney Sweeper, William Blake presents a situation where Innocence is shattered as a result of Experience.
             A. Born November 28, 1757, in London, where he lived most of his life.
             B. Largely self-taught, he was, however, widely read, and his poetry shows the influence of the German writer Jakob Boehme
             C. He was brought up in a poor household, and lived that way for most of his life.
             D. His intellectual and psychological growth was dominated by the influence of his brother Robert, who died at the age of 20.
             A. Songs of Experience is the second part of Songs of Innocence and of Experience: Showing the two different sides of the human soul.
             B. Expresses the idea that one can never live a truly innocent life.
             C. Songs of Experience discuss subjects which are a bit more sophisticated and complicated than the Songs of Innocence.
             1. Blake continues to express himself using simplistic simple language and ideas.
             D. Even though the poetry reveals situations in which love is harsh, life is unfair, or creatures are cruel, they do not tell the reader how to think or feel.
             1. In the beginning of the poem, a child is stumbling upon in the snow, dirty and dusty from his occupation.
             a. He is placed in contrast with the snow around him.
             2. He is asked about his parents, and responds that since he had always seemed so content and happy, even in the face of his work, his parents only burdened him with more because his superficial expressions seemed to be able to handle it.
             3. The child goes on further to comment about his external appearance always being happy, and because of this, his parents feel no hesitation, nor any regret, at having given the young boy the sort of life he lives.
             1. The theme of the poem is simple: Do not take things as they a
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