In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
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.

Summary of In Flanders Fields

• Popularity of “In Flanders Fields”: John McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields,” penned during World War I, is one of the most recognizable and moving lyrical poems ever written. First published in December 1915 in the British magazine Punch, it quickly resonated with a world grappling with the horrors of war. The poem’s enduring power lies in its poignant portrayal of sacrifice and its call to continue the fight for freedom. The poppy has since become a lasting symbol of remembrance for those who have fallen in war.
• “In Flanders Fields” as a Representative of Hope and Remembrance: The poem presents a haunting image of fallen soldiers resting in the fields of Flanders, marked by rows of crosses and vibrant poppies. However, it isn’t simply a lament. It is a passionate plea from the dead to the living. The soldiers urge those still fighting to carry on their struggle, to uphold the ideals they died for. The poem suggests a spiritual connection between the living and the dead, with the soldiers refusing to rest peacefully if their sacrifices are forgotten.
• Major Themes in “In Flanders Fields”: Life, death, duty, and remembrance are central to the poem. McCrae masterfully juxtaposes the beauty of the natural world—the poppies and the larks—with the grim reality of war. The poem emphasizes the importance of honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and continuing their fight for a better future. It is a powerful call to action, urging readers to remember and learn from the past.

Analysis of Literary Devices in “In Flanders Fields”

Literary devices are tools writers use to craft impactful and meaningful texts. Understanding these techniques unlocks a deeper appreciation of the poem’s artistry.

• Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds creates musicality and emphasis. For example, the repeated ‘f’ sound in “In Flanders fields the poppies blow” draws attention to the setting and the imagery. The repeated ‘s’ sound in “We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow” creates a flowing, almost dreamlike quality, evoking memories of life before war.
• Imagery: McCrae uses vivid imagery to appeal to the reader’s senses. Phrases such as “In Flanders fields, the poppies blow” and “sunset glow” create strong visual images, immersing the reader in the scene. The contrast between the vibrant poppies and the stark crosses highlights the paradoxical nature of war and beauty amidst destruction.
• Symbolism: The poem is rich in symbolism. The poppies are not simply flowers; they symbolize the blood shed by the soldiers and represent remembrance. The crosses mark the graves of the fallen and symbolize sacrifice. The larks, singing in the sky, symbolize hope and the continuation of life, even in the face of death. The torch symbolizes duty, ideals, and the responsibility to continue the fight.
• Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause is called enjambment. This technique creates a sense of flow and momentum. For example:

To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.

The enjambment emphasizes the act of passing on responsibility and the urgent need for action.

• Hyperbole: Exaggeration used for effect. While the soldiers are not literally throwing a torch, the phrase “To you from failing hands we throw / The torch” is a hyperbole representing the symbolic transfer of duty and ideals.
• Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects. The line “The larks, still bravely singing, fly” personifies the larks, attributing to them the human quality of bravery. This reinforces the idea of life persevering even in the midst of war.
• Metaphor: An implicit comparison between two unlike things. “We are the Dead” is a powerful metaphor, identifying the speakers not simply as deceased individuals but as a collective representation of all those who have fallen in battle.

The masterful use of these literary devices transforms a simple poem into a deeply moving and thought-provoking exploration of war, sacrifice, and remembrance.

Analysis of Poetic Devices in “In Flanders Fields”

While literary devices encompass a broad range of techniques, poetic devices are specifically those used in poetry to create musicality, rhythm, and aesthetic effect.

• Rondeau: A Rondeau is a fixed-form poem of fifteen lines with a refrain. “In Flanders Fields” does not follow the strict Rondeau form but incorporates elements of repetition, especially the recurring line “In Flanders fields.”
• Stanza: A group of lines forming a unit within a poem. “In Flanders Fields” is composed of three stanzas, each with a different length and purpose.
• Quatrain: A stanza of four lines. The second stanza, describing the soldiers’ past lives, is a quatrain.
• Quintet: A stanza of five lines. The first stanza, establishing the setting and introducing the imagery, is a quintet.
• Sestet: A stanza of six lines. The final stanza, issuing the challenge to the living, is a sestet.
• Rhyme Scheme: The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line. “In Flanders Fields” follows an AABBA rhyme scheme in the first stanza. The second stanza does not follow a strict rhyme pattern. The final stanza follows an AABBAC pattern.
• Iambic Tetrameter: A metrical pattern consisting of four iambs per line. The poem largely uses iambic tetrameter, creating a flowing, rhythmic quality. For example, “In Flanders fields the poppies blow.”
• Repetition: The intentional reuse of words or phrases. The repeated phrase “In Flanders fields” not only reinforces the setting but also creates a musical, almost hypnotic effect.
• Refrain: A line or phrase that is repeated throughout a poem, often at the end of a stanza. The repeating phrase “In Flanders fields” functions as a refrain, emphasizing the poem’s central theme and creating a sense of continuity.

Quotes to be Used

These lines can be used to inspire a sense of duty and commitment, particularly in contexts where courage and sacrifice are valued.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.