1. Poetry Across Time
Conflict
Introduce

2. Flag
By John Agard
Establish

3. What is a flag?
What does it represent?
Discuss/Identify

4. Discuss/Identify

5. English Defence League
Establish/Discuss

6. Flag
By John Agard
John Agard was born in Guyana in South America in 1949 and
moved to Britain in 1977. He is a popular literary poet and a
powerful performance poet who has a strong sense of his
audience, believing humour is an effective way of challenging
people's opinions. He likes to unpick British culture from his
position as both an insider and outsider.
Poet's Background and Ideas

7. Flag
What’s that fluttering in a breeze?
It’s just a piece of cloth
that brings a nation to its knees.
What’s that unfurling from a pole?
It’s just a piece of cloth
that makes the guts of men grow bold.
What’s that rising over a tent?
It’s just a piece of cloth
that dares the coward to relent.
What’s that flying across a field?
It’s just a piece of cloth
that will outlive the blood you bleed.
How can I possess such a cloth?
Just ask for a flag, my friend.
Then blind your conscience to the end.
JOHN AGARD
Poem

8. Flag
= verbs What does the
What do you What's that fluttering in a breeze?
Its just a piece of cloth poet use to open
notice that brings a nation to its knees. each stanza? Why?
about the
verbs used? What's that unfurling from a pole?
It's just a piece of cloth
that makes the guts of men grow bold.
What does this
What's that rising over a tent? word imply?
It's just a piece of cloth
that dares the coward to relent.
What is this an
What does this What's that flying across a field? example of?
It's just a piece of cloth
line suggest?
that will outlive the blood you bleed.
What does the
How can I possess such a cloth?
Just ask for a flag my friend.
Then bind your conscience to the end.
} last stanza
suggest?
How does it achieve impact?
Focus Qs

9. Connotations?
fluttering blowing flapping
1
strong bold brave
2
arms hearts guts
3
flee fear relent
4
sacrifice bleed shed
5
blind hide ignore
6
Skill - Connotations

10. Endings:
STANZA 5
1. Why does the speaker
want to 'possess' the cloth?
2. Why do you think the poet
waits until the last stanza say
How can I possess such a cloth?
the 'cloth' is a 'flag'?
Just ask for a flag, my friend.
3. What is your 'conscience'?
Then blind your conscience to the end.
4. What is 'the end'?
5. What meaning or meanings
do you think the part in bold
might have?
Reflection...
* Do you think the poem is giving a negative view of patriotism
(love for and loyalty to your country)?
Explain your answer.
* There's a saying ''All's fair in love and war''.
Do you think that some things that are 'wrong' are not
wrong if you do them to defend your country or during war?
* Does the flag have any power of its own, or is it people
who give it power?
Explain your ideas.
* What do you think is the most important word/phrase
in the poem?
Why?
Task: Individual Investigation

11. What is the poem 'Flag' about?
- The poem is about the power of a national flag.
- The speaker presents the flag as a dangerous
object, one that can change the way people
think and see.
- It is presented as a conversation between a
naive questioner and a more sceptical
responder.
- The character responding to the questions is
suggesting that a flag has the power to make
people fight wars and subsequently die.
Overview - F

12. Question Time!
1. Why does John Agard keep referring
to a flag as "just a piece of cloth"?
2. What tone should it be read in?
3. John Agard uses the poem as a warning,
but a warning for what?
4. Do you agree with John Agard's attitude towards the
flag?
5. Why do you think the questioner wants to know how
they can "possess such a cloth?"
Quick Questions

13. Look at the images below:
Can you find the quotation/idea
that they refer to?
Explore - F&H

14. Links:
A teacher's analysis of the poem:
http://www.helpmewithenglish.co.uk/page_2111249.html
Information about poet:
http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?
p=auth162
Links and References