Week One

I think my favorite poem from week one was William Blake's "The Chimney Sweeper." I found that the poem was especially effective through its use of irony in getting its message across. An outrightly sad poem is less likely to grab one's attention. Instead, Blake turns things around, discussing some of the drearier aspects of being a chimney sweeper and pointing out the "positive" aspects of them. Rather than simply depressing the reader, this poem about a very sad topic becomes intriguing and leaves a solid impression on the reader, causing one to really think about the horrible fate of children made to do such a terrible and dangerous job.