“The Chimney Sweeper” by William Blake (1789)

“The Chimney Sweeper” appeared in two parts: The first part appeared in 1789 in Songs of Innocence, and the second part appeared in 1784 in Songs of Experience. The poem incorporates themes of child labor, a harsh English reality in the 18th and 19th centuries. During this time, boys of four and five years old were typically sold into the trade because of their small size, which allowed them to easily clean chimneys. Employers oppressed the children and kept them poorly clothed and fed. Most of the children died from becoming stuck in the chimneys or from lung damage. Blake’s poem criticizes the hypocrisy of the Church; while Church teachings contradict how society treats these children, the Church also does little to change the situation.

“Sonnet: On Being Cautioned Against Walking on an Headland Overlooking the Sea, Because it was Frequented by a Lunatic” by Charlotte Smith (1797)

Also known as “Sonnet LXX,” Charlotte Smith’s poem is an example of an early Romantic poem. The poem relies on imagery of the sea and of “madness” to express deep melancholy. (In the Western literary and philosophical tradition, the concept of “madness” has long been associated with artistic creativity and even genius—virtues that the Romantic poets revered.