Year 9 - English
Understanding the concept of remembrance in John McCrae's 'In Flanders Fields'
Comparing poetry from the First World War
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils explore how poets responded to the horrors of the First World War. They first explore Brooke's 'The Soldier', before looking at McCrae's 'In Flanders Fields' and Naidu's 'The Gift of India'. They finally write a comparative response on perspectives of war and sacrifice.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how John McCrae presents the experience of dying at war.
Key Notes
- The poem begins by introducing the symbol of the poppy
- There are crosses marking the graves of the many fallen soldiers, who died in these fields in Belgium
- The second stanza focuses on the men and how they once were, creating empathy for the dead
- The final stanza is a call to arms, encouraging others to continue to fight for freedom
Vocabulary To Learn
- Poppy: A poppy is a plant with large, delicate flowers that are typically red and have small, black seeds.
- Remembrance: Remembrance is the act of remembering the dead.
- Call to arms: A call to arms is a call to defend or make ready to fight.
- Recruitment: Recruitment is the action of enlisting new people in the armed forces.
- Empathy: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- That all war poetry is designed to dissuade people from fighting.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
The poem begins by introducing the symbol of the poppy. There are crosses marking the graves of the many fallen soldiers, who died in these fields in Belgium.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Poppy'
A poppy is a plant with large, delicate flowers that are typically red and have small, black seeds.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: That all war poetry is designed to dissuade people from fighting. Correction: Pro-war poetry is designed to encourage people to volunteer to fight.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Analysing John McCrae's call to arms in 'In Flanders Fields' Study Guide
- Analysing the humanity and fragility of soldiers in Naidu's 'The Gift of India' Study Guide
- Analysing the presentation of patriotism in Rupert Brooke's 'The Soldier' Study Guide
- Comparing views in 'The Soldier', 'In Flanders Fields' and 'The Gift of India' Study Guide
- Considering the relationship between the poetry of WW1 and the context Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of Empire and colonialism in Naidu's 'The Gift of India' Study Guide
- Understanding patriotism in Rupert Brooke's 'The Soldier' Study Guide
- Writing a comparative response on perspectives of war and sacrifice in WW1 poems Study Guide
- Writing about John McCrae's 'In Flanders Fields' as a call to arms Study Guide
- Writing about patriotism in Rupert Brooke's 'The Soldier' Study Guide
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