YPRES WW1 - teach -

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

YPRES WW1 - teach -

What do you know about World War 1?

general Alfred von Schlieffen

‘Over the top’

German soldiers opening chlorine gas cannisters to poison the enemy

Thousands of soldiers were blinded by the gas

Thousands of soldiers were blinded by the gas

Poetry from the start of the war

John McCrae "In Flanders Fields"

In Flanders' Fields - John MacCrae

               In Flanders Fields

    In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow

         Between the crosses, row on row,

       That mark our place; and in the sky

       The larks, still bravely singing, fly

    Scarce heard amid the guns below.

    We are the dead. Short days ago

    We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

       Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

                              In Flanders fields.

    Take up our quarrel with the foe:

    To you from failing hands we throw

       The torch; be yours to hold it high.

       If ye break faith with us who die

    We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

                                In Flanders fields.

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?

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“In Flanders Fields” Summary

The speaker describes the poppies (beautiful red flowers) that grow in a place called Flanders fields. Along with the poppies, there are rows of crosses marking graves throughout the fields. The speaker also notes that larks (a particular kind of bird) fly high above the fields, singing their songs. However, the birds' songs can barely be heard on the ground below, because the noise of guns—most likely from some kind of battle—is too loud.

The speaker then reveals that they are actually multiple speakers, a group of people who are all dead and presumably died in this location. Until recently, the speakers were alive, experiencing the beauties of sunrise and sunset, as well as loving relationships with other people. Now, the speakers are dead and buried in Flanders fields.

The speakers go on to ask the reader to continue their fight. They liken their struggle to a torch that they are now passing off to the people who are still alive, because they themselves cannot hold it anymore. They ask that the reader take this responsibility seriously. The speakers conclude by saying that if the reader betrays the speakers by not continuing their fight, the speakers will never be peaceful in death, even though the field where they lie is covered in beautiful flowers.