1. Flag
by John Agard Templates
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2. Learning Objectives
We are learning to...
• Use the skills that we have developed
on an unseen poem
• Analyse a poem to explore layers of
meaning
Skills for Life – Reflection and Initiative
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3. In the exam...
Section A
You’ll have a choice of questions and be
asked to compare two poems
• - one that is specified
• - one that you can choose
(36 marks 23% of Literature grade)
Section B
Respond to an unseen poem
(18 makrs 12% of Literature grade)
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4. For example
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5. How do we use flags?
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6. Powerpoint Templates
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7. Celebration
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8. Powerpoint Templates
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9. Powerpoint Templates
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10. Commemoration
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11. Russian Flag in Arctic sea
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12. Ownership
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13. Protest
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14. Desecration
• des·e·crat·ed, des·e·crat·ing, des·e·crate
s:
• To violate the sacredness of; profane
A suggested amendment in
America Desecration of Flag
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15. Think – Pair - Share
Why do people take flags so seriously?
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16. FLIRT
F
L
I
R
T Powerpoint Templates
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17. Task: dialogue
• In pairs, one person ask the question in
the fist line of the poem
• The second say the answer
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18. What you need to include
Skilled 1. Identify and comment on the use of
annotation poetic features to create layers of
will.... meaning
2. Comment show an awareness of how
poem links to Conflict
Excellent • Have a detailed explanation, with
Writing appropriate terminology, of how poetic
will features contribute to meaning
• Comments begin to develop precise,
perceptive identification that link to the
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theme of Conflict Page 18

19. For example
What’s that fluttering in a breeze?
It’s just a piece of cloth
that brings a nation to its knees.
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20. This form is
What’s that fluttering in a breeze? repeated
throughout
It’s just a piece of cloth the poem. It
that brings a nation to its knees. is rigid. The
use of the
It is unclear if there is someone asking questions
the question. This makes it seem like creates a sort
the speaker is voicing more general of dialogue.
concerns about flags and conflict.
Even though flags are ‘just a piece of
cloth’ they Powerpoint powerful and
provoke Templates
forceful responses. Page 20

21. What you need to include
Skilled 1. Identify and comment on the use of
annotation poetic features to create layers of
will.... meaning
2. Comment show an awareness of how
poem links to Conflict
Excellent • Have a detailed explanation, with
Writing appropriate terminology, of how poetic
will features contribute to meaning
• Comments begin to develop precise,
perceptive identification that link to the
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theme of Conflict Page 21

22. What’s that fluttering in a breeze?
It’s just a piece of cloth
that brings a nation to its knees.
The structure is the same throughout. The gentle image of
the flag ‘fluttering’ seems innocent and contrasts with the
powerful metaphor at the and of each stanza. It moves from
a gentle question to a literal answer followed by a powerful,
often violent, metaphor. The juxtaposition of contrasting
images creates a range of images and emotion the reader is
exposed to in a short stanza creates a conflict within the
structure.
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23. What’s that fluttering in a breeze?
It’s just a piece of cloth
that brings a nation to its knees.
The metaphor at the end of each line is often
ambiguous. Here, does the personification of a
‘nation to its knees’ suggest that the nation has
fallen or that it is kneeling in prayer.
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24. What’s that unfurling from a pole?
It’s just a piece of cloth
that makes the guts of men grow bold.
Again, gentle image followed by literal and then
metaphorical.
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25. What’s that rising over a tent?
It’s just a piece of cloth Military tent?
that dares the coward to relent.
Again, the metaphor is ambiguous. How
does a coward relent? Do they
surrender or fight?
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26. What’s that flying across a field?
It’s just a piece of cloth
that will outlive the blood you bleed.
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27. How can I possess such a cloth?
Just ask for a flag, my friend.
Then blind your conscience to the end.
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