‘Flag’ John Agard

1. ‘Flag’ John Agard To be successful… Have a copy of the poem in front of you

2. What is the poem about?

3. What is the poem about? The poem questions the purposes and value of a flag. Agard explores the causes of conflict – is it the flag or human beings? Flags are important symbols – they can unite a nation, but they can also create conflict.

4. What happens in the poem? The speaker explores how flags can affect people. In the first stanza, the flag is merely ‘fluttering in the breeze’. As the poem continues – it becomes a symbol of military power ‘flying over a field’. The speaker ends with a warning to the reader - a flag can be a dangerous thing.

5. What does the poem mean? The poem suggests thata flag can: • Control countries • Motivate people • Outlive generations • Unite a nation On the other hand, the poem warns that a flag can: • Take away freedom of choice • Destroy individual identity • Make our consciences go ‘blind’

6. How does the author use language, structure and form in the poem? ‘Flag’ John Agard To be successful… Have a copy of the poem in front of you

7. How does the author use languageand imagery in the poem?

8. -Urgent Written in the present tense. -Rational ‘It’s just a piece of cloth’ -Bitter ‘that will outlive the blood you bleed’. How could we describe the voice? The speaker could be: -Attracted by the flag’s power to ‘bring a nation to it’s knees’ -A pacifist – rejecting the need to ‘bleed’ for a flag. Who do you think they are?

9. Agard uses a range of verbs to explore the movement of the flag. ‘fluttering’ ‘unfurling’ ‘rising’ ‘flying’ The verbs become more active as the poem progresses. This mimics a flag being raised. The words also warns that a flag’s power to move people can also increase. By the time the flag is ‘flying’, ‘blood’ is being spilt.

10. The Flag itself is a key image ‘a piece of cloth’ The art of making flags from symbolic images is the ancient art of heraldry.

11. ‘brings a nation to it’s knees’ Suggests an almost religious devotion … or military aggression

12. How does the author use structure and form in the poem?

13. The poem has a simple, regular, format. The rhyme scheme reinforces this pattern. Agardbreaks the pattern in the final stanza to emphasise the final warning. The poem appears simplistic and clear on the surface – but we can read deeper meanings. In this way, the poem reflects the heraldic imagery of most flags.