wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

NEW

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

The Chimney Sweeper

Total questions: 39

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
What does the lamb symbolize in "The Lamb?"
a)
Death
b)
Mystery
c)
Peace
d)
Christ
2.
Which author wrote The Lamb?
a)
William Blake
b)
William Wordsworth
c)
Robert Burns
d)
Samuel Coleridge
3.
Descriptive words and imagery in “The Lamb” suggests that the lamb is a symbol of
a)
Youth
b)
Summer
c)
Romance
d)
Innocence
4.
The poem’s ("The Chimney Sweeper") main tension (conflict) comes from:
a)
The natural world of sheep and fields and the dirty, sooty world of the city
b)
The painful world of human beings and the heavenly world of God and the angels
c)
The innocence of the boy chimney sweeps and the financial and social circumstances that create their misery
d)
The comforting world of sleep and dreams and the harsh realities of the waking working world
5.
How did the speaker of "The Chimney Sweeper" get his job?
a)
he ran away from home to take it up
b)
his father sold him into it
c)
he was discovered by a talent scout
d)
it is the family business
6.
In "The Chimney Sweeper," when does Tom Dacre start crying?
a)
when he gets up in the morning
b)
when he enters a dark chimney
c)
when his head is shaved
d)
when he thinks of home
7.
In the first stanza of the poem ("The Chimney Sweeper"), Blake uses alliteration to highlight:
a)
The youth of the speaker
b)
The sad situation typical of chimney sweeps
c)
The poverty of a typical chimney sweep
d)
All of the above
8.
The poem ("The Chimney Sweeper") resolves itself by saying:
a)
That life as a chimney sweep isn’t as bad as Tom originally thought
b)
That consolation can be found through religion and duty, even in a miserable situation
c)
That as long as you do your job correctly, you can avoid workplace injuries
d)
That life as a chimney sweep, while it may be difficult, gives you the opportunity to make friends
9.
What is the main idea of the poem "The Chimney Sweeper"?
a)
Children had to work dirty jobs in the 1800s
b)
This poem is a harsh and justifiable critique of child labor.
c)
William Blake did not like chimneys
d)
Chimney sweeps were always children
10.
What is the (a)  theme of "The Chimney Sweeper?"
a)
Chimney sweeping
b)
Suffering / Death
c)
Childhood
d)
Being dirty
11.
Who is the speaker in "The Chimney Sweeper"?
a)
a young child
b)
Tom Dacre
c)
an old man
d)
a chimney sweeper man
12.
In "The Chimney Sweeper," where does Tom Dacre dream the various chimney sweepers are kept?
a)
in a grand palace
b)
in their master's basement
c)
in a fine hotel
d)
in black coffins
13.

What is the rhyme scheme of stanza 1?

a)

ABAB

b)

ABCB

c)

AABB

d)

ABCA

14.

Why did the author break the stanzas in the way that he did?

a)

because each stanza has a different mood

b)

Because each stanza represents the chimney sweep's growth

c)

Because each stanza has a certain rhythm and rhyme scheme throughout the poem.

d)

Because each stanza develops a different theme

15.

Explain how the speaker helps Tom deal with the loss of his hair.

a)

He says that being bald makes him look older

b)

He says that now the dirt won't ruin his hair.

c)

He says that shaving his hair is a sign of a successful sweeper.

d)

all of the above

16.

What does the symbol of the "coffins of black" refer to?

a)

It represents the chimney flue itself because it is dark, cramped, and covered in soot.

b)

It represents the dark streets of London for a homeless child.

c)

It represents the almost certain fate of chimney sweeps.

d)

Both A and C

17.

What is the mood of stanzas 1-3?

a)

Melancholy and Grim

b)

Grim but optimistic

c)

Grim but playful

d)

Pessimistic and Mirthful

18.

How does the mood change in stanzas 4 and 5?

a)

It changes from grim to celebratory and liberating.

b)

It changes from optimistic to grim and pessimistic.

c)

It changes from grim to deadly and critical.

d)

It changes from celebratory and liberating to grim.

19.

What is the tone of the poem? "How does the author feel about the topic of using children as chimney sweeps?

a)

accusatory and angry

b)

unbiased and calm

c)

reflective and Optimistic

d)

tranquil and critical

20.

Which of the following could be a theme of the poem?

a)

In life, there are some situations that are challenging and require change, but hope is never completely lost.

b)

Children should make the best of challenging situations.

c)

Sometimes all hope is lost, and there is nothing that can restore it.

d)

Both B and C

21.

Which of the following quotes explains what the speaker finally gets Tom to understand?

a)

"So if all do their duty, they need not fear harm."

b)

"And by came an Angel who had a bright key."

c)

"Were all of them locked up in coffins of black."

d)

None of the above

22.

the following line from stanza 4 is important because...


"And wash in a river and shine in the sun."

a)

it contrasts the usual condition of the chimney sweeps

b)

It is symbolic of heaven where deceased chimney sweeps go after they are killed in a chimney accident.

c)

It shows how important the idea of bathing and being clean is to chimney sweeps.

d)

all of the above

23.
Who is the speaker in "The Chimney Sweeper"?
a)
a young child
b)
Tom Dacre
c)
an old man
d)
a chimney sweeper man
24.
In "The Chimney Sweeper," where does Tom Dacre dream the various chimney sweepers are kept?
a)
in a grand palace
b)
in their master's basement
c)
in a fine hotel
d)
in black coffins
25.

The poem’s ("The Chimney Sweeper") main tension (conflict) comes from:

a)

The natural world of sheep and fields and the dirty, sooty world of the city

b)

The painful world of human beings and the heavenly world of God and the angels

c)

The innocence of the chimney sweeps and the financial and social circumstances that create their misery

d)

The comforting world of sleep and dreams and the harsh realities of the waking working world

26.
How did the speaker of "The Chimney Sweeper" get his job?
a)
he ran away from home to take it up
b)
his father sold him into it
c)
he was discovered by a talent scout
d)
it is the family business
27.

How did the speaker of 'The Chimney Sweeper' get his job?

a)

he ran away from home to take it up

b)

he was discovered by a talent scout

c)

his father sold him into it

d)

it is a family business

28.

In 'The Chimney Sweeper', when does Tom Dacre start crying?

a)

when his head is shaved

b)

when he gets up in the morning

c)

when he enters a dark chimney

d)

when he thinks of his home

29.

What is the main idea of the poem 'The Chimney Sweeper'?

a)

Children had to work dirty jobs in the 1800

b)

The poem is a criticism of the unjustifiable and harshness of child labour

c)

William Blake did not like chimneys

d)

Chimney sweeps were always children

30.

Where does Tom Ducre dream the various chimney sweepers are kept?

a)

in a grand palace

b)

in their master's basement

c)

in a 5 star hotel

d)

in black coffins

31.

The poem resolves itself by saying:

a)

That life as a chimney sweep isn't as bad as Tom originally thought

b)

That consolation can be found through religion and duty, even in a miserable situation

c)

That as long as you do your job correctly, you can avoid work place injuries

d)

That life as a chimney sweep, though it is difficult, gives you an opportunity to make friends

32.

What were the health risks to the boys who worked as Chimney Sweepers?

a)

Stunted their growth

b)

Lungs became diseased

c)

The boys became disfigured

d)

All these options

33.

Typically how old were the boys that worked as chimney sweepers?

a)

4 to 6 years old

b)

2 to 5

c)

12 to 16

d)

8 years old

34.

William Blake lived during which time period?

a)

1760-1857

b)

1754-1825

c)

1757-1827

d)

1755-1824

35.

What major historical event took place during William Blake's life?

a)

The Civil War

b)

World War I

c)

The American Revolutionary War

d)

England declares war on Spain

36.

In Stanza one - "Weep, Weep" is an example of what type of literary device?

a)

onomatopoeia and assonance

b)

onomatopoeia and allusion

c)

onomatopoeia and irony

d)

onomatopoeia and simile

37.

Which of the following represents a major theme in the poem, "The Chimney Sweeper?"

a)

The theme of poverty of the life of working children.

b)

The theme of money and happiness.

c)

The theme of hope and fear.

d)

The theme that life always improves with time.

38.

Why is the boy called, "the little black thing" in the poem?

a)

Because that is how chimney sweeper look.

b)

To explain that the chimney sweepers are dirty.

c)

To express that the chimney sweeper needs to take a bath.

d)

To express that he is not important and doesn't matter - reduced to being called a thing.

39.

How did the speaker of "The Chimney Sweeper" get his job?

a)

he ran away from home to take it up

b)

his father sold him into it

c)

he was discovered by a talent scout

d)

it is the family business