CRY OF CHILDREN (Summary, Glossary, Antonyms, Synonyms, Comprehension Questions and Answers)

 

CRY OF CHILDREN

Summary: The poem "The Cry of Children" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning depicts the plight of weary and overworked children during the Industrial Revolution. The children express their exhaustion and lack of energy to engage in playful activities or appreciate nature's beauty. They describe their physically demanding tasks, such as toiling in coal mines or operating machinery in factories. The poem serves as a critique of child labour and highlights the detrimental effects it has on the well-being of children. Through vivid imagery and poignant language, Browning brings attention to the hardships faced by these young workers and calls for societal change to protect the rights and welfare of children.

Glossary:

1. Weary: Tired or exhausted.
2. Leap: Jump or spring.
3. Meadows: Open grassy areas or fields.
4. Stooping: Bending forward or hunching down.
5. Drooping: Hanging down or sagging.
6. Pale: Light or lacking color.
7. Snow: Frozen white precipitation.
8. Burden: A heavy load or responsibility.
9. Tiring: Fatiguing or exhausting.
10. Coal-dark: Referring to the dark and sooty conditions in coal mines.
11. Underground: Beneath the surface of the ground.
12. Drive: Operate or control.
13. Wheels of iron: Refers to the machinery or equipment in factories.
14. Factories: Industrial buildings where goods are manufactured or processed.
15. Round and round: Repeatedly or continuously.
16. Plight: Difficult or challenging situation.
17. Laborious: Involving hard work or effort.

Antonyms:

1. Weary - Energetic, refreshed
2. Leap - Stay, remain
3. Meadows - Concrete, urban areas
4. Stooping - Upright, standing
5. Drooping - Uplifted, perky
6. Pale - Bright, vivid
7. Snow - Heat, warmth
8. Burden - Relief, lightness
9. Tiring - Restful, rejuvenating
10. Coal-dark - Bright, illuminated
11. Underground - Aboveground, surface
12. Drive - Rest, relax
13. Factories - Nature, wilderness
14. Round and round - Still, stationary
15. Plight - Comfort, ease
16. Laborious - Effortless, easy

Synonyms:

1. Weary - Exhausted, fatigued
2. Leap - Bound, spring
3. Meadows - Fields, pastures
4. Stooping - Bending, crouching
5. Drooping - Sagging, wilting
6. Pale - Light, faded
7. Snow - Frost, snowfall
8. Burden - Load, weight
9. Tiring - Draining, taxing
10. Coal-dark - Charcoal-black, sooty
11. Underground - Subterranean, belowground
12. Factories - Mills, plants
13. Laborious - Arduous, strenuous

Comprehension Questions and Answers:

1.      What is the overall theme of the poem?

Ans: The overall theme of the poem is the plight of overworked and exhausted children during the Industrial Revolution.

2.      What do the children express in the poem?

Ans: The children express their weariness, inability to play or enjoy nature, and the physical burdens they bear from their labor.

3.      What activities do the children describe themselves engaged in?

Ans: The children mention dragging burdens underground in coal mines or driving iron wheels in factories.

4.      What effect does the work have on the children's physical appearance?

Ans: The work makes their knees tremble, their faces fall, and their eyelids droop. They become pale and exhausted.

5.      What do the children say about their desire to play and enjoy nature?

Ans: The children say that if they cared for meadows, it would only be to rest and sleep in them. They are too tired to appreciate the beauty around them.

6.      What emotions do the children convey in the poem?

Ans: The children convey weariness, physical pain, hopelessness, and a sense of resignation to their circumstances.

7.      What social issue does the poem address?

Ans: The poem addresses the issue of child labor and the exploitation of young workers during the Industrial Revolution.

8.      What is the poet's perspective on child labor?

Ans: The poet is critical of child labor and presents it as an unjust and harmful practice.

9.      What does the poet emphasize through vivid imagery?

Ans: The poet emphasizes the physical and emotional toll that child labor takes on the children, as well as their longing for rest and respite.

10.   What is the purpose of the poem?

Ans: The purpose of the poem is to raise awareness about the suffering endured by child laborers and advocate for their better treatment and protection.