‘The Chimney Sweeper’: a protest against child labour | English

Starter quiz

What was the primary religion of Great Britain in the 18th century?
- 'Christianity' ✓
Which of the following are the conventions of a poem?
- rhyme ✓
- imagery ✓
- figurative language ✓
- paragraphs
- full stops
Which of the following are types of text?
- recipes, articles, poems ✓
- spelling, punctuation and grammar
- simile, metaphors and personification
- alliteration and onomatopoeia
If we say someone is innocent, we mean they are...
- violent, aggressive and angry.
- inexperienced, young and trusting. ✓
- wise, well read and knowledgeable.
- calm, gentle and kind.
Which of the following is the best definition of a social issue?
- a topic affects a small group of people
- a problem or concern that impacts society as a whole ✓
- a personal dilemma that someone has to solve
- a debate about how a company should be organised
Which of the following is the best description of fantasy literature?
- writing with with realistic and events
- writing that focuses on historical events and figures
- imaginative texts with supernatural elements ✓
- texts that explore everyday life and human relationships

Match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right.
- harsh
  
  ⇔
  
  severe ✓
- widespread
  
  ⇔
  
  everywhere ✓
- influential
  
  ⇔
  
  impactful ✓
- exploit
  
  ⇔
  
  take advantage of ✓
Which word beginning with A refers to a new law passed by Parliament
- 'Act' ✓
The economic and technical changes in the UK in the 18th and 19th century is known as the...
- 'Industrial Revolution ' ✓
Which of the following is not true of William Blake?
- He was born in the 18th century.
- He was a poet.
- He was an artist.
- He was religious.
- He was an actor. ✓
How did the fact that Blake lived in London affect his writing?
- He saw the consequences of the Industrial Revolution and the growing city. ✓
- He loved London and wanted to celebrate all the people who lived there.
- He believed that he could see angels.
- He was an artist and liked to sketch London.
What might be the best interpretation of the quotation "wash in a river"?
- The sweeps are glad to be able to wash themselves clean.
- Victorians thought cleanliness was very important.
- The sweeps are cleaned literally but also baptised. ✓
- The sweeps are given a day of freedom and fun by the river.

The Industrial Revolution created great wealth and great poverty.
Young children were used to sweep the chimneys of houses in the growing cities.
Poet William Blake used his writing to took a stand against the exploitation of child workers.
His poem ‘The Chimney Sweeper’ uses the language of religion and the language of social issues to take a stand.

Students often think that serious topics need serious text types such as articles or speeches.

Encourage students to consider why a writer might choose to use a poem to write about a serious topic and take a stand.

Influence - to affect or change how someone or something develops, behaves, or think
Awareness - knowing that something exists
Harsh - cruel, unkind, or unpleasant in a way that seems unfair
Widespread - existing or happening in many places and/or among many people
Exploitation - the use of something in order to get an advantage from it