Analysing John McCrae’s call to arms in ‘In Flanders Fields’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how McCrae uses natural imagery, euphonic sounds and structure to present a call to arms.
Key learning points
- The natural imagery of the poppy and the lark suggests that it's natural to die for your country
- The euphonic sounds create a soothing tone to the poem
- McCrae uses the imagery of sunlight to represent life and death
- The last lines act as a warning to the reader, saying the dead will never sleep if we do not continue their fight
Keywords
Natural imagery - Natural imagery is the use of images of animals, landscapes and nature in a poem.
Symbolise - To symbolise means to represent something.
Soothing - Soothing means to have a calming effect.
Reassurance - Reassurance is the action of removing someone's doubts or fears.
Consequence - Consequence is a result or effect, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
Common misconception
That natural imagery is only designed to help paint a picture to the reader.
Natural imagery can also be used to suggest a concept is natural or make a comment about the relationship between humans and nature.
Teacher tip
You could extend the work on euphonic sounds by asking students to create their own lines either using or not using euphonic sounds and thinking about the different effects.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of John McCrae's 'In Flanders Fields' for this lesson. There is a copy in the additional materials.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The act of remembering the dead is known as .
Q2.What does the speaker in John McCrae's 'In Flanders Fields' ask the reader to do?
Q3.The action of enlisting new people in the armed forces is known as .
Q4.What will happen to the dead soldiers if the reader of John McCrae's 'In Flanders Fields' does not take up the call to arms?
Q5.The ability to understand and share the feelings of another is known as .
Q6.Why might John McCrae have written 'In Flanders Fields' from the perspective of the dead soldiers?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is dawn generally said to represent?
Q2.To symbolise means to .
Q3.Typically, birds in literature represent .
Q4.Soothing means to have a effect.
Q5.A pause in a line of poetry is known as a .
Q6.Match the natural image from 'In Flanders Field' with the symbolism.
Freedom
An ending
Beauty/fragility
A beginning
The blood of the dead soldiers
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: Analysing John McCrae’s call to arms in ‘In Flanders Fields’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: Analysing John McCrae’s call to arms in ‘In Flanders Fields’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the Comparing poetry from the First World War unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.