‘Where Have All the Flowers Gone?’: a song of conviction

English

In 'Writing with passion', students use protest poetry and speeches as inspiration for their own protest writing. In 'Single Poet Study: Maya Angelou', students look in depth at the writing of a poet who is synonymous with writing as protest; in particular at the ways in which she used her poetry to voice support for the Civil Rights Movement. 

In 'Myths and Legends Re-Told', students consider how writers have modernised ancient stories in order to make them more reflective of modern values. In 'Writing with passion', students look at the ways in which they can use their own writing, inspired by key poets and speech writers, to take a political or moral stand.

In this unit, pupils learn about the different ways that writers have expressed their points of view across history. They look at some key techniques that writers use, such as motif and triad, before reading a speech, article, poem and song. They finally write and deliver their own presentation.

Taking a stand

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Who wrote the poem and song 'Where All The Flowers Gone?'?

Match the words on the left with the synonyms on the right.

In the following title, 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone?' which word evokes a sense of loss or that something is missing and cannot be found?

What word beginning with r refers to a line or phrase that is repeated throughout a poem?

In the following title, 'Where Have All The Flowers Gone?' which word represents beauty and youth?

The cyclical structure reinforces the sense of war being ever ending. 

The cyclical structure reinforces the innocence of the young people.

The cyclical structure reminds us of the fate of the soldiers. 

The cyclical structure is key to the poem's mood.

Which of the following explains the use of structure in 'Where Have All the Flowers Gone?'?

a type of poetry with a set rhythm and meter

the melody or musical composition of a song 

the emotional atmosphere created by a piece of music 

Which of the following is the best description of what lyrics are?

Which of the following is a synonym for "mood"?

the social and historical background of a text

Which of the following is the best definition of the context of a text?

What do we call the technique when a writer deliberately uses an idea or an image or a word several times in the same text?

In literature, we often say that 'a thing' can represent an idea.  Which of the following is the best definition of represent?

the underlying message of a story to teach the reader something

the use of language designed to create pictures in the reader's mind

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision recommended

Introduction

What will you need for this lesson?

Are you ready to learn?

Equipment

Content guidance

Supervision

Worksheet