This document provides an overview of a class on Elizabeth Barrett Browning and her poem "The Cry of the Children." It discusses the social context that inspired the poem, its critique of the industrialization and its impact on child labor. It also covers discussion questions about the poem's form, themes, and viewpoint. The document aims to analyze how Browning uses language and imagery to convey the dreary reality of the factory environment and her indictment of a society that allows such conditions.
SWON Webinar: Written Conversations and Academic Literacies in LibrariesBuffy Hamilton
https://theunquietlibrarian.wordpress.com/category/written-conversation-strategies-2/ and https://www.pinterest.com/buffyjhamilton/written-conversation-strategies-examples-and-refle/
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Discussion Board Guidelines Students must respond individuallyLyndonPelletier761
Discussion Board Guidelines
Students must respond individually to the Discussion Board question and forge a discussion with at least two class members.
Discussion Board postings should be "original thought" posting. Unless requested to do so, students should not use the internet to create discussion board responses.
Discussion Board postings should be 300 words minimum in length, provide evidence of reading comprehension through illustrations from the reading assignments, critical thinking, and consideration of others' views.
When Discussion Board work is assigned on the syllabus schedule, students must post their responses by the appointed time and respond to at least two class members' posts within 48 hours/at the appointed time.
Discussion Board work is time-sensitive. Late submissions will not be accepted/will receive a zero.
It is STRONGLY suggested that you visit the discussion board frequently after your work is completed to see where the discussion is going and to further respond to your group members (or your instructor) if need be.
Please see the Discussion Board Rubric for grad
Assignment
Grading Rubric
Meets/Exceeds
Expectations
(10 Pts)
Approaches
Expectations
(8 Pts)
Needs Improvement
(6 Pts)
In-complete
and/or not
done correctly
(1 Pt)
No
Marks/Missing
(0 Pts)
Purpose
Purpose is clear.
Shows awareness of
purpose.
Shows limited
awareness of purpose.
No awareness.
No
Marks/Missing
Main idea Clearly presents a
main idea and
supports it throughout
the paper.
There is a main idea
supported
throughout most of
the paper.
Vague sense of a main
idea, weakly supported
throughout the paper.
No main idea.
Student didn't
turn in
assignment.
Overall and
Style
Well-planned and well-
thought out. Includes
title, introduction, and
statement of main
idea, transitions,
conclusion, using
APA standard: correct
font, font size and no
more than 1000
words.
Good overall
organization includes
the main
organizational tools
but font is incorrect
or word count is
more than 1000
and/or line spacing
is not doubled, or no
APA style.
There is a sense of
organization, although
some of the
organizational tools are
missing and/or late.
No sense of
organization.
Student didn't
turn in
assignment.
Content Exceptionally well-
presented and
discussed; ideas are
detailed, well-
developed with
evidence & facts
based on text
information.
Well-presented and
discussed; ideas are
detailed, developed
and supported with
less evidence and
details.
Content not as clear or
solid; some ideas are
present but not
particularly developed
or supported with
minimal evidence of
clear knowledge of
subject.
Content is not
complete.
Student didn't
turn in
assignment.
Structure Sentences are clear
and varied in pattern,
from simple to
complex, with
excellent use of
punctuation.
Sentences are clear
but may ...
SWON Webinar: Written Conversations and Academic Literacies in LibrariesBuffy Hamilton
https://theunquietlibrarian.wordpress.com/category/written-conversation-strategies-2/ and https://www.pinterest.com/buffyjhamilton/written-conversation-strategies-examples-and-refle/
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Self Harm Essay. Free Self-Harming Essay Sample in the Category Research at ...Tina Johnson
Self Harm discursive essay - GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy .... Depression is a mental health disorder and invisible illness. It .... The Habit of Self Harming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written .... Why Teens Self-Harm and How to Make it Stop. 87 Self-Harm Resources and Activities for Teens and Young Adults ideas ....
Discussion Board Guidelines Students must respond individuallyLyndonPelletier761
Discussion Board Guidelines
Students must respond individually to the Discussion Board question and forge a discussion with at least two class members.
Discussion Board postings should be "original thought" posting. Unless requested to do so, students should not use the internet to create discussion board responses.
Discussion Board postings should be 300 words minimum in length, provide evidence of reading comprehension through illustrations from the reading assignments, critical thinking, and consideration of others' views.
When Discussion Board work is assigned on the syllabus schedule, students must post their responses by the appointed time and respond to at least two class members' posts within 48 hours/at the appointed time.
Discussion Board work is time-sensitive. Late submissions will not be accepted/will receive a zero.
It is STRONGLY suggested that you visit the discussion board frequently after your work is completed to see where the discussion is going and to further respond to your group members (or your instructor) if need be.
Please see the Discussion Board Rubric for grad
Assignment
Grading Rubric
Meets/Exceeds
Expectations
(10 Pts)
Approaches
Expectations
(8 Pts)
Needs Improvement
(6 Pts)
In-complete
and/or not
done correctly
(1 Pt)
No
Marks/Missing
(0 Pts)
Purpose
Purpose is clear.
Shows awareness of
purpose.
Shows limited
awareness of purpose.
No awareness.
No
Marks/Missing
Main idea Clearly presents a
main idea and
supports it throughout
the paper.
There is a main idea
supported
throughout most of
the paper.
Vague sense of a main
idea, weakly supported
throughout the paper.
No main idea.
Student didn't
turn in
assignment.
Overall and
Style
Well-planned and well-
thought out. Includes
title, introduction, and
statement of main
idea, transitions,
conclusion, using
APA standard: correct
font, font size and no
more than 1000
words.
Good overall
organization includes
the main
organizational tools
but font is incorrect
or word count is
more than 1000
and/or line spacing
is not doubled, or no
APA style.
There is a sense of
organization, although
some of the
organizational tools are
missing and/or late.
No sense of
organization.
Student didn't
turn in
assignment.
Content Exceptionally well-
presented and
discussed; ideas are
detailed, well-
developed with
evidence & facts
based on text
information.
Well-presented and
discussed; ideas are
detailed, developed
and supported with
less evidence and
details.
Content not as clear or
solid; some ideas are
present but not
particularly developed
or supported with
minimal evidence of
clear knowledge of
subject.
Content is not
complete.
Student didn't
turn in
assignment.
Structure Sentences are clear
and varied in pattern,
from simple to
complex, with
excellent use of
punctuation.
Sentences are clear
but may ...
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2024.06.01 Introducing a competency framework for languag learning materials ...Sandy Millin
http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iateflwebinar2024
Published classroom materials form the basis of syllabuses, drive teacher professional development, and have a potentially huge influence on learners, teachers and education systems. All teachers also create their own materials, whether a few sentences on a blackboard, a highly-structured fully-realised online course, or anything in between. Despite this, the knowledge and skills needed to create effective language learning materials are rarely part of teacher training, and are mostly learnt by trial and error.
Knowledge and skills frameworks, generally called competency frameworks, for ELT teachers, trainers and managers have existed for a few years now. However, until I created one for my MA dissertation, there wasn’t one drawing together what we need to know and do to be able to effectively produce language learning materials.
This webinar will introduce you to my framework, highlighting the key competencies I identified from my research. It will also show how anybody involved in language teaching (any language, not just English!), teacher training, managing schools or developing language learning materials can benefit from using the framework.
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France. It marked the decline of absolute monarchies, the rise of secular and democratic republics, and the eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. This revolutionary period is crucial in understanding the transition from feudalism to modernity in Europe.
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Synthetic fiber production is a fascinating and complex field that blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science. By understanding these aspects, students can gain a comprehensive view of synthetic fiber production, its impact on society and the environment, and the potential for future innovations. Synthetic fibers play a crucial role in modern society, impacting various aspects of daily life, industry, and the environment. ynthetic fibers are integral to modern life, offering a range of benefits from cost-effectiveness and versatility to innovative applications and performance characteristics. While they pose environmental challenges, ongoing research and development aim to create more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the importance of synthetic fibers helps in appreciating their role in the economy, industry, and daily life, while also emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and innovation.
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Bills have a main role in point of sale procedure. It will help to track sales, handling payments and giving receipts to customers. Bill splitting also has an important role in POS. For example, If some friends come together for dinner and if they want to divide the bill then it is possible by POS bill splitting. This slide will show how to split bills in odoo 17 POS.
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What is the purpose of the Sabbath Law in the Torah. It is interesting to compare how the context of the law shifts from Exodus to Deuteronomy. Who gets to rest, and why?
Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacology:
Ethnobotany in herbal drug evaluation,
Impact of Ethnobotany in traditional medicine,
New development in herbals,
Bio-prospecting tools for drug discovery,
Role of Ethnopharmacology in drug evaluation,
Reverse Pharmacology.
The Indian economy is classified into different sectors to simplify the analysis and understanding of economic activities. For Class 10, it's essential to grasp the sectors of the Indian economy, understand their characteristics, and recognize their importance. This guide will provide detailed notes on the Sectors of the Indian Economy Class 10, using specific long-tail keywords to enhance comprehension.
For more information, visit-www.vavaclasses.com
Read| The latest issue of The Challenger is here! We are thrilled to announce that our school paper has qualified for the NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE (NSPC) 2024. Thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Dive into the stories that made us stand out!
GIÁO ÁN DẠY THÊM (KẾ HOẠCH BÀI BUỔI 2) - TIẾNG ANH 8 GLOBAL SUCCESS (2 CỘT) N...
Elit 46 c class 2
1. ELIT 46C: Class 2
Elizabeth Barrett Browning:
Sonnets From The Portuguese #43
“How Do I love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD9ycWMiTkw
Portrait of
Elizabeth Barrett
Browning English
poet Painting by
Michele Gordigiani
oil on canvas
2.
3. Agenda
More nuts and bolts
Class Policies
Turnitin
Lecture:
Poverty, Labor, and the Children.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “The Cry of
the Children”
Discussion:
Questions
Author Presentation:
Charles Dickens
The QHQ
To Watch Out For
Homework
4.
5. It is your responsibility to talk to me your absences or
other conflicts. Work done in class cannot be made
up. Also, please arrive on time, as you will not be able
to make up work completed before you arrive,
including quizzes.
Attendance:
Success in this course depends on regular attendance and
active participation. Participation points will be part of our daily
activities. If you are not in class, you cannot earn these points.
You should save absences for emergencies, work conflicts,
weddings, jury duty, or any other issues that might arise in your
life.
6. • Late Work:
I do not accept late work. I do, however,
extend an opportunity to revise your first
essay for a better grade. If you miss the
first essay due date, you may submit that
essay when the revision is due. If you
miss an in-class exam, you may take it
and count it as your revision submission.
Tests:
We will have a midterm and final exam. The first is on the
Victorian section of the course. The second will be
comprehensive, with 60% of the exam being focused on
modernism and postmodernism
7. Conduct, Courtesy, and Electronic Devices:
In this class, we may engage in the discussion of topics that stir passionate
debates. Please speak freely and candidly; however, while your thoughts
and ideas are important to me and to the dynamics of the class, you must
also respect others and their opinions. Courtesy will allow each person to
have the opportunity to express his or her ideas in a comfortable
environment.
Courtesy includes but is not limited to politely listening to others when
they contribute to class discussions, not slamming the classroom door,
and maintaining a positive learning environment for your fellow
classmates. To help maintain a positive learning environment, please
focus on the work assigned, and do not text-message in class.
8. Academic Dishonesty:
Plagiarism includes quoting or paraphrasing
material without documentation and copying
from other students or professionals. Intentional
plagiarism is a grave offense; the resulting
response will be distasteful. Depending upon
the severity, instances of plagiarism may result
in a failing grade for the paper or the course
and possible administrative action. All
assignments will be scanned and scrutinized for
academic dishonesty. Please refer to your
handbook for more information regarding
plagiarism.
9. Submit your essays through
Turnitin via Canvas
• Submit your essay as a
Microsoft Word doc or docx
format
• If you use Google Drive, simply
download your document as a
Word doc
1. Go to Canvas
2. Click on “Assignments”
3. Go the the Essay Group of assignments
4. Click on the appropriate essay: “essay 1 or 2”
5. Scroll to the bottom of the assignment and you will see the picture
below
11. 2. The teams will change on or near essay due dates.
3. You must change at least 50% of your team after
each project is completed.
4. You may never be on a team with the same person
more than twice.
5. You may never have a new team composed of more
than 50% of any prior team.
1. We will often use teams to
earn participation points.
Your teams can be made
up of 3 or 4 people.
12. • Points will be earned for
correct answers to questions,
meaningful contributions to
the discussion, QHQs that
are included in the power
point, and the willingness to
share your work.
• Each team will track their
own points, but cheating
leads to death (or loss of 25
participation points).
• Answers, comments, and
questions must be posed in
a manner that promotes
learning. Those who speak
out of turn or with
maliciousness will not
receive points for their
teams.
• Points are lost for speaking
while others have the floor
or any other distractions
created by a team member.
13. At the end of each class, you will turn in a
point sheet with the names of everyone in
your group (first name, last initial) and your
accumulated points for the day.
It is your responsibility to make the sheet,
track the points, and turn it in.
Sit near your team
members in class to
facilitate ease of group
discussions
Billy R III
Lan N IIII
Jose S III
Christine L II
13 points
14. Get into your
First Groups!
• Get into groups of
four. (1-2 minutes)
• If you can’t find a
group, please raise
your hand.
• Once your group is
established, choose
one person to be the
keeper of the points.
• Write down
members’ names
• Keep track of
points
• Turn in your sheet
at the end of the
class period.
15. Romantic and political influences
1. Barrett Browning inherited her ideas about what poetry could do
principally from the poets of the Romantic period – in particular
William Wordsworth, Percy Bysshe Shelley (who said, in “A
Defence of Poetry,” that “poets are the unacknowledged legislators
of the world”), and her great love, George Gordon, Lord Byron, a
Poet and Playwright (1788–1824).
2. Barrett Browning declared herself a “great admirer” Mary
Wollstonecraft, whose work A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
(1792) influenced her views on the position of women in society.
3. Her father and brother were politically active in the Whig party – the
party which fought for the legal, civil and religious rights of the
individual.
4. Barrett Browning saw her role as tackling social and political
injustices and arguing for tolerance and liberty.
16. Key political and social themes
1. Barrett Browning’s first published poems were written about
the ongoing Greek War of Independence (1821-32)
2. Her long poem published in 1826, An Essay on Mind, also
emphasized the idea of the poet being able to bring about
political change.
3. Her volumes of the 1830s – Prometheus Bound, and
Miscellaneous Poems (1833) and The Seraphim, and Other
Poems (1838) – saw her starting to explore other socio-
political issues: tyranny and freedom, theology, and power in
sexual relationships, marriage, and the family.
4. In Poems (1844), Barrett Browning proved her position as a
formidable commentator on socio-political issues.
17. “The Cry of the Children”
This poem is a strong
attack on industrialization
Barrett Browning had
read about these
conditions in a
parliamentary report
entitled Report of the
Royal Commission on
the Employment of
Children and Very Young
People in Mines and
Factories
https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-
victorians/articles/elizabeth-barrett-browning-social-
and-political-issues
18. The sense of the claustrophobia experienced by the children is
then powerfully caught in the repetitions of the verse itself:
For, all day, the wheels are droning, turning,—
Their wind comes in our faces,—
Till our hearts turn,—our head, with pulses burning,
And the walls turn in their places. Turns the sky in the high
window blank and reeling,
Turns the long light that drops adown the wall, Turn the black
flies that crawl along the ceiling,
All are turning, all the day, and we with all. (77-84)
Here Barrett Browning effectively emphasizes how the
industrial system reduces children to elements in a machine.
19.
20.
21. “The Cry of the Children”
The "Cry of the Children" is representative not only of Barrett Browning’s
political poetry but also of her work in general:
themes and images
The use of language, meter, and rhyme
Barrett Browning wrote "The Cry of the Children" after reading a report on
the employment of children in mines and manufactories:
The poem is intentionally didactic, political in purpose as well as
subject matter.
It is an expression of her own alienation and abhorrence of industrial
society
The poem is full of images
Factory Hell are contrasted with the Heaven of the English
countryside,
the inferno of industrialism is contrasted with the bliss of a land-based
society.
She ends her poem with an indictment of industrial society.
22. Discussion Questions
“The Cry of the Children”
1. What social and political context prompted
Barrett-Browning to write on this topic?
Who is its audience?
2. Who are the poem's speakers? Are there
shifts in the emphasis given to each voice?
What may have been the advantages of
Barrett-Browning's use of more than one
point of view?
3. What is the poem's stanza form and
rhythm? Are there variations? Do you think
this is a good stanza form and choice of
rhythm for the author’s purposes?
4. In particular, are there ways in which the
rhythms reinforce the theme of noisy, dirty
and unpleasant factory conditions?
23. Discussion Questions
5. What metaphors or recurrent
themes does the author use to
make her points? (nature; death;
youth and age; whirring of
machinery)
6. In what ways is the children’s
viewpoint different from that of
adults? What is their view of death,
and how does this reinforce the
poem's themes? How do they
respond to the death of little Alice?
7. What view of religion does the
author seem to espouse? Who is
responsible for the fact that the
children are unable to conceive of a
beneficent divine being?
24. The reader is made to experience the dreariness of the factory inferno by Barrett Browning’s use
of language, as she describes the harrowing reality of the “droning, turning” factory wheels,
relentlessly grinding the children’s spirit and life as it molds its goods. The factory is depicted as
a perversion of nature, a literal Hell seen as the absence and corruption of the natural world.
Instead of the world revolving around the sun, the sky turns—as the wheels, similarly, turn.
Do ye hear the children weeping, O my brothers,
Ere the sorrow comes with years ?
They are leaning their young heads against their mothers, —
And that cannot stop their tears.
The young lambs are bleating in the meadows ;
The young birds are chirping in the nest ;
The young fawns are playing with the shadows ;
The young flowers are blowing toward the west—
But the young, young children, O my brothers,
They are weeping bitterly !
They are weeping in the playtime of the others,
In the country of the free.
The First Stanza
25. The repetition of the phrase, “say the children” makes it a key element in the
very structure of the poem. Words of speech and silence are used
throughout—“hear,” “ask,” “listen,” “sing,” “answer,” “quiet,” “silent,” “still,”
“words,” “speechless,” “preach,” “stifle.” The hopelessness of the children’s
plight is partially caused by their inability to be heard or to express themselves.
In the end, even God is unable to hear their feeble attempts at prayer.
They answer, " Who is God that He should hear us,
While the rushing of the iron wheels is stirred ?
When we sob aloud, the human creatures near us
Pass by, hearing not, or answer not a word !
And we hear not (for the wheels in their resounding)
Strangers speaking at the door :
Is it likely God, with angels singing round Him,
Hears our weeping any more ?
Second part of stanza
9
27. How do I know what I think until I see what I say?
--E.M. Forster
Each text we study will provide material for response writing
called a QHQ (Question-Hypothesis-Question). The QHQ
requires students to have second thoughts, that is, to think
again about questions that arise during their reading and to
write about questions that are meaningful to them.
Begin your QHQ by formulating some question you have about
some aspect of the reading. The first question in the QHQ may
be one sentence or longer, but its function is to frame your QHQ
writing. A student might start with a question like, “Why is the
house in this story haunted? Or, “Why are goblins a recurring
theme?” A student might even write, “Why am I having so much
trouble understanding this story?”
28. After you pose your initial question, focus on a close reading of the text in
search of a hypothesis. Generally, a student will quote a specific part of the
text to interrogate. This hypothesis section comprises the body of your text.
The student who asked about the haunted house might refer to multiple
passages about haunting in the text, comparing and contrasting them to
other instances of haunting with which he or she is familiar. The student who
asked about the goblins might connect passages associated with the goblins
to other texts featuring goblins, or the student might do some outside
research on goblins. The student who struggled to understand the text might
explore those passages whose meanings were obscure or difficult to
understand, connecting them to other novels and/or cultural (con)texts. The
hypothesis should include quoted textual evidence (including citations)
After carefully exploring your initial question (200-300
words), put forward another question, one that has
sprung from your hypothesis. This will be the final
sentence of your QHQ and will provide a base for
further reflection into the text.
29. Remember, a QHQ is not a summary or a
report—it is an original, thoughtful response to
what you have read. All QHQs should be posted
on the website the evening before the class for
which they are due. This will give both me and
other students time to ponder your ideas and think
about appropriate responses. Moreover, this
sharing of material should provide plenty of fodder
for essays. Even though you have posted your
QHQ, you should bring a copy of it to class in
order to share your thoughts and insights and to
stimulate class discussion.
The QHQ is designed to help you formulate your response to the
texts we study into clearly defined questions and hypotheses that
can be used as a basis for both class discussion and longer papers.
The QHQ can be relatively informal but should demonstrate a
thoughtful approach to the material. While the papers need to be
organized and coherent, because you will sharing them in class, the
ideas they present may be preliminary and exploratory.
32. Homework
Assigned Reading:
The Chimes, a Goblin Story of
Some Bells That Rang an Old
Year Out and a New Year In
Suggested Reading
A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens: Hard Times
1599
[Coketown] 1599
Anonymous: Poverty Knock 1600
HW: Discussion Question #2
*Continue reading Wuthering
Heights
Editor's Notes
In sonnets by the Italian poet Petrarch, the rhyming lines divide into a group of eight followed by a group of six – so instead of having a thought that develops for twelve lines and then a catchy rhymed couplet, you get one idea for about half of the poem, followed by a twist (called a "volta") and then another idea for the next six lines.
Slide 11: Intro to Class Policies: I would like you to read the syllabus carefully after class today, but I would like to cover a few important policies here.
Slide 12: Attendance: Your success depends on your attendance. Participation points will be earned as part of our daily activities. If you are not in class, you cannot earn these points. Please save absences for emergencies. It is your responsibility to notify me if you have a conflict that keeps you from our meetings. Please do so in advance when possible.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning inherited her ideas about what poetry could do principally from the poets of the Romantic period – in particular William Wordsworth, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and her great love, George Gordon, Lord Byron. It was from these figures that she gained a strong belief that poetry had the power to influence social and political thinking. As Shelley famously put it in “A Defence of Poetry,”poets were “the unacknowledged legislators of the world.” Beyond poetry, the teenage Barrett Browning declared herself a “great admirer” Mary Wollstonecraft, whose monumental work A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) influenced her views on the position of women in society. Closer to home, her father and brother were politically active in the Whig party – the party which stood in opposition to the Tories and which fought for the legal, civil and religious rights of the individual. It is little wonder, then, that in her commitment to being a professional poet, Barrett Browning saw her role as tackling social and political injustices and arguing for tolerance and liberty.
This commitment to writing about social and political concerns developed early in Barrett Browning’s career. Her first published poems, which appeared in journals in 1821-24, were written about the ongoing Greek War of Independence (1821-32) and particularly celebrated Byron’s part in the campaign – a very bold start for a young poet. Her long poem published in 1826, An Essay on Mind, also emphasised in part the idea of the poet being able to bring about political change, while her volumes of the 1830s – Prometheus Bound, and Miscellaneous Poems (1833) and The Seraphim, and Other Poems (1838) – saw her starting to explore other socio-political issues, including the nature of tyranny and freedom, contemporary theological debates, and problems to do with power in sexual relationships, marriage, and the family. It was with her next volume, however, Poems published in 1844, that Barrett Browning really proved her position as a formidable commentator on socio-political issues.
Distressing illustrations of children’s working conditions from a revised edition of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Employment of Children and Very Young People in Mines and Factories, 1842.
One of the most famous poems of the Poems collection, is “The Cry of the Children.” This poem is a strong attack on industrialization and was written at a time of increasing concern about the conditions faced by workers in factories and mines – the long hours, the gruelling nature of the work, the lack of basic safety, the poor food, and the expanding slum areas in which the workers lived. Barrett Browning had read about these conditions in a parliamentary report entitled Report of the Royal Commission on the Employment of Children and Very Young People in Mines and Factories, written in part by her friend Richard Hengist Horne. She was so shocked at what she read that she consequently sought to tackle the issues in her own writing and ‘The Cry of the Children’ was the result.
It is an astonishing poem in many ways, focusing on children trapped in the exploitative systems of industrialization, ‘weeping bitterly’ and with ‘pale and sunken faces’ (ll. 10; 25). Alienated from both the nurturing world of nature outside and the figure of the nurturing mother, the children are at the mercy of the brutal factory owner. The sense of the claustrophobia experienced by the children is then powerfully caught in the repetitions of the verse itself:
For, all day, the wheels are droning, turning,—
Their wind comes in our faces,—
Till our hearts turn,—our head, with pulses burning,
And the walls turn in their places.Turns the sky in the high window blank and reeling,
Turns the long light that drops adown the wall,Turn the black flies that crawl along the ceiling,
All are turning, all the day, and we with all. (ll. 77-84)
Here Barrett Browning effectively emphasises how the industrial system reduces children to elements in a machine. Yet her condemnation extends much further in the rest of the poem to include Britain more generally – the final stanza is particularly damning of the country turning a blind eye to what is happening – and even, shockingly, to God himself, who she imagines sitting in Heaven, unconcerned and ‘speechless as stone’ (l. 126). Barrett Browning was never afraid to draw attention to what she saw as the problems of state politics or the manipulation of religion to ‘justify’ intolerance or oppression.
The "Cry of the Children" is representative not only of Barrett Browning’s political poetry but also of her work in general. It contains themes and images that can be found throughout her work. The use of language, meter, and rhyme in the poem demonstrates her innovative poetics and singular style.
I am going to stop here and give this poem back to you.
Form and Meter The poem is composed of twelve twelve-line stanzas, with one of sixteen lines (IV); the rhyme is for the most part in alternating pairs. Line length varies from six to twelve syllables, longer and shorter lines usually alternating. Poe and others identify the meter as trochaic (see below), whereas Hayter identifies it as "third paeons" (54), a long syllable followed by three short syllables. Anticipating Boyd's objection to the poem's sound, EBB wrote to him before he read it, warning, "It wants melody— The versification is eccentric to the ear" (BC 7: 316; 6 Sept.), and in the first Boyd letter quoted above, she jokingly referred to the rhythm as the poem's "iniquity" (331).
Barrett Browning’s use of words ending in “ing” and containing long vowel sounds—”Weeping” “leaning” “Bleating” Playing” Blowing” in this stanza, and in “moaning,” “droning,” “turning,” “burning” in the next—invokes the monotony and despair of this awful abyss of industry.
The “Children” of the poem are silenced by the sound of the wheels turning, seek the silence of death as their only means of escape, and, finally, are reduced to a mere “sob in the silence” in a vain effort to curse. The struggle to speak is a constant theme in the poem, a motif that vies with the oppression of the factory and the plight of the children. The repetition of the phrase, “say the children” makes it a key element in the very structure of the poem. Words of speech and silence are used throughout—“hear,” “ask,” “listen,” “sing,” “answer,” “quiet,” “silent,” “still,” “words,” “speechless,” “preach,” “stifle.” The hopelessness of the children’s plight is partially caused by their inability to be heard or to express themselves. They are oppressed and exploited because they are not authorized to speak. In the end, even God is unable to hear their feeble attempts at prayer.