Lesson plan
“In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae and “Suicide In The Trenches” by Siegfried Sassoon.
John McCrae and Siegfried Sassoon were both poets and soldiers who fought in World War I. McCrae was a Canadian physician who served as a field surgeon and wrote “In Flanders Fields”, one of the most popular and patriotic poems of the war. He used a traditional and lyrical form, the rondeau, to express his respect and admiration for the fallen soldiers and to urge the living to carry on the fight. He died of pneumonia in 1918, before the war ended. Sassoon was a British officer who became disillusioned and angry with the war and its futility. He wrote “Suicide in the Trenches”, one of the most realistic and cynical poems of the war. He used a simple and direct language, with a rhyme scheme of AABB, to expose the brutality and horror of the war and to criticize the ignorance and indifference of the public. He survived the war, but suffered from shell shock and depression. He later became a pacifist and a critic of war.
Objectives:
- Students will be able to analyze the imagery and symbolism in the two poems.
- Students will be able to discuss the themes of war, loss, and remembrance in the poems.
- Students will be able to draw connections between the poems and the events of World War I.
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Introduction:
- Introduce the concept of poetry and its purpose in expressing emotions and ideas.
- Discuss the context of World War I and its impact on the lives of soldiers and civilians. See the info below.
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Analysis of “In Flanders Fields”:
- Read the poem aloud and ask students to take notes on the imagery and symbolism.
- Discuss the use of the metaphor of the poppies growing on the battlefield.
- Analyze the poem’s message about the importance of remembrance and carrying on the fight against the enemy.
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Analysis of “Suicide In The Trenches”:
- Read the poem aloud and ask students to take notes on the imagery and symbolism.
- Discuss the contrast between the soldier’s cheerful demeanor in civilian life and his despair in the trenches.
- Analyze the poem’s indictment of the public’s indifference to the suffering of soldiers.
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Discussion of Themes:
- Facilitate a class discussion on the themes of war, loss, and remembrance in the two poems.
- Ask students to compare and contrast the different perspectives on war presented in the poems.
Watch the video below. And answer these questions:
- Why should we remember the First World War?
- Why is a hundred years significant in remembering the First World War?
- How do you want to remember the First World War?
In Flanders Fields by John McCrae May 1915
Between 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.
Suicide In The Trenches – Poem by Siegfried Sassoon
I knew a simple soldier boy
Who grinned at life in empty joy,
Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,
And whistled early with the lark.
In winter trenches, cowed and glum,
With crumps and lice and lack of rum,
He put a bullet through his brain.
No one spoke of him again.
You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by,
Sneak home and pray you’ll never know
The hell where youth and laughter go.
Info on World War 1
World War I was a global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, with an estimated 16 million people, both soldiers and civilians, losing their lives 1. The war had a profound impact on the lives of those who lived through it, particularly soldiers and civilians.
Soldiers experienced the horrors of trench warfare, which included exposure to chemical weapons, disease, and extreme weather conditions. Many soldiers suffered from physical and psychological trauma as a result of their experiences on the battlefield. Civilians also experienced significant hardship during the war, including food shortages, displacement, and the loss of loved ones 3.
The impact of World War I on the world was far-reaching and long-lasting. It led to the collapse of empires, the redrawing of national borders, and the rise of new political ideologies. The war also had a profound impact on the arts, including poetry, which was used to express the emotions and experiences of those who lived through the conflict.
Here are some sources that provide more information on the context of World War I and its impact on soldiers and civilians: