Flag

Question 1

Recall stanza 1 of the poem, flag

Answer 1

What’s that fluttering in a breeze?
Its just a piece of cloth
that brings a nation to its knees.

Question 2

Recall stanza 2 of the poem, flag

Answer 2

What’s that unfurling from a pole?
It’s just a piece of cloth
that makes the guts of men grow bold.

Question 3

Recall stanza 3 of the poem, flag

Answer 3

What’s that rising over a tent?
It’s just a piece of cloth
that dares the coward to relent.

Question 4

Recall stanza 4 of the poem, flag

Answer 4

What’s that flying across a field?
It’s just a piece of cloth
that will outlive the blood you bleed.

Question 5

Recall stanza 5 of the poem, flag

Answer 5

How can I possess such a cloth?
Just ask for a flag my friend.
Then blind your conscience to the end.

Question 6

What is the effect of the repeated questions in the poem?

Answer 6

1. To emphasise our fascination with the power of nationalism
2. To start to get the reader to think about what nationalism actually is

Question 7

What is the effect of the repeated declarative “its just a piece of cloth” throughout the first 4 stanzas?

Answer 7

• 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)

Question 8

“nation”, “guts” “blood” “men” “coward”

What do these words connote?

Answer 8

The negative aspect of nationalism

Question 9

“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?

Answer 9

Personification

• the line suggests that your conscience is no longer present/active if you believe in the power of a flag

Question 10

What technique is used in the questions at the start of the stanzas?

Answer 10

Rhetorical questions