Skip to main content
Super TutorResources
Chapter 33 of 40
Revision Notes

The Cry of the Children — Revision Notes

ICSE · Class 10 · English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories)

The Cry of the Children revision notes for ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest: 4 topics in quick points.

61 questions30 flashcards5 concepts

Interactive on Super Tutor

Studying The Cry of the Children? Get the full interactive chapter.

Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan — built for revision notes and more.

Try Super Tutor — Free

Free trial, no card needed.

An illustration capturing the universal human longing for connection and the fear of being forgotten, visually representing the emotional impact of the poem's concluding rhetorical question.
Super Tutor

Learn better with visuals Super Tutor pairs illustrations like this with notes and quizzes for The Cry of the Children.

Get started

Key Topics to Revise

1

1. Poet and Background

  • Elizabeth Barrett Browning lived from 1806 to 1861.
  • She is one of Britain’s greatest women poets.
  • She was born when women could neither attend university nor vote.
2

2. Main Idea and Theme

  • The poem is a passionate indictment of child labour in 19th-century industrial England.
  • It condemns both people and societal institutions that uphold child labour.
  • The children are shown as exhausted, helpless, and sorrowful.
3

3. Voice, Address, and Structure

  • The poem begins with a rhetorical question: “Do ye hear the children weeping, O my brothers,”
  • “O my brothers” is the addressee of the poem and refers to society being questioned.
  • The children speak in their own voice in several parts of the poem.
4

4. Contrast Between Nature and Child Labour

  • The poem contrasts young animals and flowers with working children.
  • The young lambs, birds, fawns, and flowers are shown as free and lively.
  • The children are shown as weeping, weak, and tired.

Get complete notes with diagrams and examples

Full Notes

Key Concepts

The poem presents children workingThe poem compares free young animalsThe children speak of death asThe poem condemns both peoplePowerful images such as coal

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in The Cry of the Children for ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories)?
Key topics in The Cry of the Children include Poet and Background, Main Idea and Theme, Voice, Address, and Structure, Contrast Between Nature and Child Labour. Study these first, then practise questions on each for the ICSE Class 10 board exam.
How should I revise The Cry of the Children for the ICSE Class 10 board exam?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 61 practice questions on The Cry of the Children. Revise definitions regularly and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

More resources for The Cry of the Children

All ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories) Revision Notes

For serious students

Get the full The Cry of the Children chapter — start free.

Quizzes, flashcards, an AI doubt solver and a study plan for ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories). Free to start, no card needed.

Try Super Tutor Free
Try this chapter free