Reference no: EM133294719

Families are forcing their children into child labor without any concerns for their wellbeing, happiness, and childhood innocence; at least this seems to be the case in the written poems "OUT, OUT--" by Robert Frost and "The Chimney Sweeper" Songs of Experience by William Blake. Frost's work tells the story of a small boy who dies at the end as a result of working a "man's job" that is far too dangerous for a child to have to do using a saw cutting wood for work, but is being forced to do so anyways as he wishes he did not have to and wishes he could go home but instead loses his hand from the saw he was using after being called in for supper and as quickly as the accident occurs and the boy tries his best to save himself but he unfortunately fails and thus his short life is taken and the adults move on and go about their days as if this child did not die a gruesome death as a result of being forced into labor. Blake's work tells the story in the perspective of a young boy whose parents exploit and force him to be a chimney sweeper putting his life at risk constantly every day after seeing that he had been a happy child almost as punishment for being happy while they go to the church to pray away their sins thinking that it will excuse their wrongs of mistreating and neglecting their child and his needs believing they will earn their spot in heaven as long as they pray while he is out in the winter snow cold, hungry, dirty and suffering all alone in the harsh weather hoping that his parents will put an end to this work and see the emotional damage but instead they do not. Both works go over the theme of child labor, the burdens of the labor as a result as well as a society not batting an eye to a child suffering as a result. And I believe that although Frost's work does an excellent job of telling us and expressing this matter, Blake's work instead does a better job of expressing the themes of child labor and the sad effects it has on these innocent children.

Let us begin with exploring Frost's work and dive into the sad and very short story almost representing how short the child's life was in the poem and was told in a creative and mundane way. The start of "OUT OUT" begins with the usage of imagery and onomatopoeia to help picture the buzz saw and hear it as well as we are "there" hearing the child use it to chop up "stove-length sticks of wood" as he is so bored of this labor he is being forced to do he is off looking into the distance and scenery that he can see as he is hoping to be done with work early most likely in hopes to go home and enjoy playing outside. But instead while wondering and hoping for a short work day he hears his sister call for supper and Frost then uses personification and writes "As if to prove saws knew what supper meant, Leaped out at the boy's hand, or seemed to leap--" (Frost 15-16)

QUESTION:

1. Is the hook interesting?

2. Find the thesis.

What is the common topic between the two poems?

Which poem is presented as better?

What audience is presented as thinking this?

3. Are brief summaries (of the peer's creation) and some biographical information for both poems and poets provided in the introductory paragraph?

4. Does the essay contain some poetry terminology?

5. How is the essay organized and is it logical?

6. What 4 (or more) secondary sources are used?

7. What conclusion strategy is used?

8. Is the essay persuasive?