John McCrae In Flanders Fields

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

You might know about World War 2 but do you know about World War 1?

At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month – we will remember them.

The Armistice, an agreement to end the fighting of the First World War as a prelude to peace negotiations, began at 11am on 11 November 1918.

Armistice is Latin for to stand (still) arms.

To this day we mark Armistice Day around the United Kingdom with a Two Minute Silence at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month.

De Eerste Wereldoorlog

2. De Grote Oorlog

John McCrae

In this lesson  you will:

-read information about John McCrae's connection with WW1

-listen to Flanders Fields by John McCrae

-analyse the poem

-learn how Remembrance Day is celebrated

-realize the importance of poppies on Remembrance Day

In Flanders Fields is one of the most famous war poems. It was written in 1915 by a Canadian military doctor, John McCrae, who saw his friends die on the battlefields in Belgium during World War 1. Flanders, referred to in the poem, is a county in northwest Belgium.

John McCrae wrote the poem in less than an hour. He was very upset after the death of a friend who died in battle, and expressed his feelings through the poem. After writing it, he tossed it in the garbage! Another officer picked it up and sent it to some newspapers in England, where it was soon published.

First impression?

recitation

https://youtu.be/K6BlOkpdkg8

recitation

https://youtu.be/FydFyyVHXQU

Which recitation is better? Why?

song

https://youtu.be/1QBtdzXGYmo

song

https://youtu.be/ZPgZnhtTwmM

song

http://www.greatwar.nl/contemporary/romislokus/romislokus.html

Which song do you prefer? Why?

https://clpe.org.uk/poetryline/poetic-forms-and-devices

1 In Flanders Fields is written in the "voice" of a certain type of soldier. What type of soldier? 

2 In Flanders Fields is a French rondeau. What are the characteristics of a French rondeau?

3 The symbols used in this poem are: poppies, torch, rows , larks 

What do they represent?

4 Why has the author chosen poppies instead of another flower?

5 Comment on other poetic devices in Flanders Fields.

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Hand in your answers.

In Vlaamse velden

In Vlaamse velden klappen rozen open

Tussen witte kruisjes, rij op rij,

Die onze plaats hier merken, wijl in ’t zwerk

De leeuweriken fluitend werken, onverhoord

Verstomd door het gebulder op de grond

Wij zijn de doden. Zo-even leefden wij.

Wij dronken dauw. De zon zagen wij zakken.

Wij kusten en werden gekust. Nu rusten wij

In Vlaamse velden voor de Vlaamse kust.

Toe: trekt gij ons krakeel aan met de vijand.

Aan u passeren wij, met zwakke hand, de fakkel.

Houd hem hoog. Weest gíj de helden. Laat de doden

Die wij zijn niet stikken of wij vinden slaap noch

Vrede - ook al klappen zoveel rozen open

In zovele Vlaamse velden.

 

Make it more modern.

John has used symbols in this poem such as, “poppies” symbolizes the dead souls and “torch” is the symbol of hope. Similarly, “rows of poppies” symbolize the rows of dead soldiers and “larks” are the symbol of life.

The poem, written from the point of view of dead soldiers, describes how men sacrificed their lives in war. They ask that people carry on their fight and never forget them. 

As a result of the poem, poppies, the flowers referred to in the poem, have become an international symbol for remembrance.

00:36

What does this picture clarify?

02:25

How is Remembrance Day celebrated?

02:51

Which countries use poppies as a symbol on Remembrance Day?

04:37

How do volunteers raise money?

05:23

In what way does the last part of this video remind you of Sassoon's poem Does it Matter?

00:41

Why is Remembrance Day a better name than Armistice Day?

01:01

When is Remembrance Day celebrated? Why then?

02:47

Differences?/Similarities?
all over the world

03:41

Why is Lest we Forget an appropriate theme of Remembrance Day?

Be creative with In Flanders Fields

(or another war poem)