In Flanders' Fields

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

In Flanders' Fields

Literature

Before we start..

A short test to see what you remember

Which poem was positive about the war?

1. Dulce Et Decorum Est
2. The Soldier
3. Does It Matter?

What is the place
where Dulce Et Decorum Est
takes place?

Why did Owen write
Dulce et Decorum Est?

What was the message
in the Soldier?

Why is the poem
Does It Matter ironic?

What do the following words mean?

poppies

larks

scarce

dawn

quarrel

torch

fakkel

gevecht

klaprozen

dageraad

leeuweriken

nauwelijks

The importance of poppies

• English national symbol of remembrance (WWI)
  
• Because of this poem (In Flander’s Fields)
  

Let's read the text together

1. Is the text prose or poetry?

1. prose
2. poetry

Explain your answer

Discuss in pairs or groups of three.

After that: class discussion

Why is it poetry?

It is a piece of writing in which words are arranged in separate lines ending in rhyme.

2. Is in Flanders' fields a sonnet?

1. yes
2. no
3. What is a sonnet?
4. I don't know

Why not?

It isn't a sonnet

• A sonnet consists of 14 lines
• This poem has 15 lines

3. What is the rhyme scheme of this poem?

What type or rhyme can be found?
Explain your answer with examples.

The rhyme:

• End rhyme: blow – row; sky – fly; etc.
  
•  Alliteration: Flanders’ Fields; row on row; still bravely singing; etc.

5. Are there any imageries (figures of speech) that you can find?

Discuss in pairs or groups of three.

After that: class discussion

Correct answers

• Poppies: metaphor; they represent the dead soldiers
  
  
  
• Torch: metaphor; it represents hope
  

6. What is the setting of this poem?

Discuss in pairs or groups of three.

After that: class discussion

Correct answer

• A makeshift graveyard in Flanders during WWI. 

7. Dulce et Decorum Est, The Soldier and In Flanders' Fields all talk about fields. Try to explain the difference between them.

Discuss in pairs or groups of three.

7. Difficult? Try the following

Dulce et Decorum Est

The Soldier

In Flanders' Fields

Battlefield, battle is still taking place.

Battlefield, battle has already ended

(make-shift) graveyard

8. Rank the poems from most negative to most positive.

Most negative

Most positive

Dulce Et Decorum Est

Does It Matter?

In Flanders' Fields

The Soldier

Why did you choose this ranking?

Discuss in pairs or groups of three.

Explanation

#	Poem	Reason(s)
1	Dulce et Decorum Est	Negative message towards war Graphic language and scenes
2	Does It Matter?	Negative message towards war No graphic language, but after effects of war are negative
3	In Flander's Fields	Neutral message: They talk about dead soldiers, but also hope
4	The Soldier	Positive message towards war

I think I understand this text well enough for the test.

Yes

No

Continue

If you have answered yes, continue with your weektask.

If you have answered no, please let me know what you do not understand (yet).