Downloaded 28 times
Flag
- 1. Poetry Across Time Conflict Introduce
- 2. Flag By John Agard Establish
- 3. What is aflag? What does it represent? Discuss/Identify
- 4.
- 5. English Defence League Establish/Discuss
- 6. Flag By John Agard John Agard was born in Guyana in South America in 1949 and moved to Britain in 1977. He is a popular literary poet and a powerful performance poet who has a strong sense of his audience, believing humour is an effective way of challenging people's opinions. He likes to unpick British culture from his position as both an insider and outsider. Poet's Background and Ideas
- 7. Flag What’s that flutteringin a breeze? It’s just a piece of cloth that brings a nation to its knees. What’s that unfurling from a pole? It’s just a piece of cloth that makes the guts of men grow bold. What’s that rising over a tent? It’s just a piece of cloth that dares the coward to relent. What’s that flying across a field? It’s just a piece of cloth that will outlive the blood you bleed. How can I possess such a cloth? Just ask for a flag, my friend. Then blind your conscience to the end. JOHN AGARD Poem
- 8. Flag = verbs What does the What do you What's that fluttering in a breeze? Its just a piece of cloth poet use to open notice that brings a nation to its knees. each stanza? Why? about the verbs used? What's that unfurling from a pole? It's just a piece of cloth that makes the guts of men grow bold. What does this What's that rising over a tent? word imply? It's just a piece of cloth that dares the coward to relent. What is this an What does this What's that flying across a field? example of? It's just a piece of cloth line suggest? that will outlive the blood you bleed. What does the How can I possess such a cloth? Just ask for a flag my friend. Then bind your conscience to the end. } last stanza suggest? How does it achieve impact? Focus Qs
- 9. Connotations? fluttering blowing flapping 1 strong bold brave 2 arms hearts guts 3 flee fear relent 4 sacrifice bleed shed 5 blind hide ignore 6 Skill - Connotations
- 10. Endings: STANZA 5 1. Why does the speaker want to 'possess' the cloth? 2. Why do you think the poet waits until the last stanza say How can I possess such a cloth? the 'cloth' is a 'flag'? Just ask for a flag, my friend. 3. What is your 'conscience'? Then blind your conscience to the end. 4. What is 'the end'? 5. What meaning or meanings do you think the part in bold might have? Reflection... * Do you think the poem is giving a negative view of patriotism (love for and loyalty to your country)? Explain your answer. * There's a saying ''All's fair in love and war''. Do you think that some things that are 'wrong' are not wrong if you do them to defend your country or during war? * Does the flag have any power of its own, or is it people who give it power? Explain your ideas. * What do you think is the most important word/phrase in the poem? Why? Task: Individual Investigation
- 11. What is thepoem 'Flag' about? - The poem is about the power of a national flag. - The speaker presents the flag as a dangerous object, one that can change the way people think and see. - It is presented as a conversation between a naive questioner and a more sceptical responder. - The character responding to the questions is suggesting that a flag has the power to make people fight wars and subsequently die. Overview - F
- 12. Question Time! 1. Whydoes John Agard keep referring to a flag as "just a piece of cloth"? 2. What tone should it be read in? 3. John Agard uses the poem as a warning, but a warning for what? 4. Do you agree with John Agard's attitude towards the flag? 5. Why do you think the questioner wants to know how they can "possess such a cloth?" Quick Questions
- 13. Look at theimages below: Can you find the quotation/idea that they refer to? Explore - F&H
- 14. Links: A teacher's analysisof the poem: http://www.helpmewithenglish.co.uk/page_2111249.html Information about poet: http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/? p=auth162 Links and References