New
New
Year 9

Analysing John McCrae’s call to arms in ‘In Flanders Fields’

I can explain how McCrae uses natural imagery, euphonic sounds and structure to present a call to arms.

New
New
Year 9

Analysing John McCrae’s call to arms in ‘In Flanders Fields’

I can explain how McCrae uses natural imagery, euphonic sounds and structure to present a call to arms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The natural imagery of the poppy and the lark suggests that it's natural to die for your country
  2. The euphonic sounds create a soothing tone to the poem
  3. McCrae uses the imagery of sunlight to represent life and death
  4. The last lines act as a warning to the reader, saying the dead will never sleep if we do not continue their fight

Common misconception

That natural imagery is only designed to help paint a picture to the reader.

Natural imagery can also be used to suggest a concept is natural or make a comment about the relationship between humans and nature.

Keywords

  • Natural imagery - Natural imagery is the use of images of animals, landscapes and nature in a poem.

  • Symbolise - To symbolise means to represent something.

  • Soothing - Soothing means to have a calming effect.

  • Reassurance - Reassurance is the action of removing someone's doubts or fears.

  • Consequence - Consequence is a result or effect, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.

You could extend the work on euphonic sounds by asking students to create their own lines either using or not using euphonic sounds and thinking about the different effects.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of John McCrae's 'In Flanders Fields' for this lesson. There is a copy in the additional materials.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

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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6 Questions

Q1.
The act of remembering the dead is known as .
Correct answer: Remembrance
Patriotism
Pessimism
Optimism
Q2.
What does the speaker in John McCrae's 'In Flanders Fields' ask the reader to do?
Correct answer: Carry on the fight
Remember the soldiers
Stop the fighting
Q3.
The action of enlisting new people in the armed forces is known as .
Remembrance
Correct answer: Recruitment
Propaganda
Patriotism
Q4.
What will happen to the dead soldiers if the reader of John McCrae's 'In Flanders Fields' does not take up the call to arms?
They will find eternal peace.
Nothing.
They will not be avenged.
Correct answer: They will not rest in peace.
Q5.
The ability to understand and share the feelings of another is known as .
Idealism
Euphony
Correct answer: Empathy
Optimism
Q6.
Why might John McCrae have written 'In Flanders Fields' from the perspective of the dead soldiers?
Correct answer: To create empathy.
To create a sense of horror.
To show that they aren't really dead.

6 Questions

Q1.
What is dawn generally said to represent?
An ending
Correct answer: A beginning
Freedom
Fragility
Q2.
To symbolise means to .
Create something.
Correct answer: Represent something.
Destroy something.
Praise something.
Q3.
Typically, birds in literature represent .
Joy
Correct answer: Freedom
Fear
An ending
Q4.
Soothing means to have a effect.
disconcerting
Correct answer: calming
disturbing
joyful
Q5.
A pause in a line of poetry is known as a .
Correct Answer: caesura
Q6.
Match the natural image from 'In Flanders Field' with the symbolism.
Correct Answer:Birds,Freedom

Freedom

Correct Answer:Sunset,An ending

An ending

Correct Answer:Flowers,Beauty/fragility

Beauty/fragility

Correct Answer:Dawn,A beginning

A beginning

Correct Answer:Poppy,The blood of the dead soldiers

The blood of the dead soldiers

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