Recall stanza 1 of the poem, flag
What’s that fluttering in a breeze?
Its just a piece of cloth
that brings a nation to its knees.
Recall stanza 2 of the poem, flag
What’s that unfurling from a pole?
It’s just a piece of cloth
that makes the guts of men grow bold.
Recall stanza 3 of the poem, flag
What’s that rising over a tent?
It’s just a piece of cloth
that dares the coward to relent.
Recall stanza 4 of the poem, flag
What’s that flying across a field?
It’s just a piece of cloth
that will outlive the blood you bleed.
Recall stanza 5 of the poem, flag
How can I possess such a cloth?
Just ask for a flag my friend.
Then blind your conscience to the end.
What is the effect of the repeated questions in the poem?
- To emphasise our fascination with the power of nationalism
- To start to get the reader to think about what nationalism actually is
What is the effect of the repeated declarative “its just a piece of cloth” throughout the first 4 stanzas?
- It challenges the idea of ‘nationalism’ and what a flag is/means
- gives the flag a lack of value as its a normal cheap material (doesnt understand how people die for these flags)
“nation”, “guts” “blood” “men” “coward”
What do these words connote?
The negative aspect of nationalism
“just ask for a flag, my friend then blind your conscience till the end”
What technique is used here and what does this line suggest?
Personification
- the line suggests that your conscience is no longer present/active if you believe in the power of a flag
What technique is used in the questions at the start of the stanzas?
Rhetorical questions
