‘The Chimney Sweeper’: a protest against child labour
I can explain why and how William Blake took a stand against child labour.
‘The Chimney Sweeper’: a protest against child labour
I can explain why and how William Blake took a stand against child labour.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- 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.
Common misconception
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.
Keywords
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
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of 'The Chimney Sweeper' by William Blake which is available in the additional materials.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
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6 Questions
severe
everywhere
impactful
take advantage of