WWI & poetry 1/3

WWI poetry

What did WWI inspire to the poets? What messages did WWI poems convey? Final task : you are invited to a ceremony on Remembrance Day and you are asked to read a poem.

Introduction

A cenotaph

A wreath

Who? Where? When? What?

Look at the photos -> Where? What? Why?

Lesson 1: In Flanders fields by John Mc Crae (1915)

Lesson 1: In Flanders fields by John McCrae (1915)

Memorial of Vimy

Detail : what do you see?

Lesson 1: In Flanders fields by John Mc Crae (1915)

1. Read the first lines of the poem.
2. Focus your attention on the subjects.=> Who / what is it about?
3. Focus your attention on the verbs.=> Say what the characters do.=> Look at the tenses. => Make links between all the elements. What can you conclude?
4. The poppies and larks: what symbols?

1. Read the poem.
2. Click on the , read the tips and begin to explain the messages the author conveyed in the poem.

1. Read the poem.
2. Click on the , read the tips and begin to explain the messages the author conveyed in the poem.

In Flanders Fields, the poppies blowBetween 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.

Cette séquence peut être le sujet de votre oral pour le DNB. Idée de problématique : En quoi les conflits armés ont-ils été source d'inspiration pour les artistes ?(poètes, écrivains, cinéastes, peintres, sculpteurs) Liens possibles - Der Krieg de Otto Dix - Les autres poèmes de cettte séquence - Pour aller plus loin ... Pour une présentation complète de Flanders Fields, lisez ce qui est dit sur la forme poétique du rondeau.

In Flanders Fields, the poppies blowBetween 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.

Get ready to read the poem :

1. underline the words that are stressed.
2. mark / when you pause shortly.
3. mark // when you pause a bit longer.
4. mark when the intonation goes up.
5. mark when the intonation goes down.