"The Chimney Sweeper" By William Blake
This poem is about a child who mother died and his father sold him to work as a chimney sweeper. He and
other young children are worked hard and some die because of the labor. Tom and the narrator believe one day things will get better because an angel told Tom in lines 18-19 "if he'd be a good boy, He'd have God for a father, and never want joy." This poem takes place in a time before child labor laws. The poem is narrated in first person by the young boy. The boy has no relationship with his parents.
"Mother and Son" By Langston Hughes
This poem is about a mother telling her son not to give up on life and to keep going no matter what because she has been through a lot. She is telling him it's not going to be easy. I think the stairs symbolize life, "crystal stair" meaning an easy life. Preparing him for his life and letting him know it will not be smooth or easy. I think this poem takes place in the twenties. The poem is narrated in first person by the mother. The son has a relationship with his mother but not his father.
"For My Daughter" By Weldon Kees
This poem is about a man who doesn't want to have a daughter because he believes her innocence will bring on death or other harmful things i.e. War in lines 3-9. She might be hated because of her beauty in lines 10-11. She might die because of the man she marries lines 11-12. This poem has a very bitter and sad tone. The poem narrated my a man. The man never states if he in fact has children.
These a good summaries of the three poems, along with some analysis of each. I like that you identify the speakers, and note the time period. Is there anything that connects all these poems? Anything about children and parents? providing and protecting children?
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