Dead Bodies, Blooming Poppies - Alvin

“Dead Bodies, Blooming Poppies”

"In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae is able to effective in highlighting themes of bravery and gratitude.

Commented by Alvin Mak

“The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below” John McCrae writes, setting the scene. The theme of war and bravery that John McCrae establishes in “In Flanders Fields” is both done effectively and thought provoking.

“We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow”, McCrae writes, employing the power of three. This line emphasizes the nature of the soldiers, reminding us that they were once like us, wishing to live life to its fullest. This also emphasizes the point that these people have sacrificed their lives, and that we should be grateful. As McCrae employs repetition for “In Flanders fields”, the theme of remembrance and gratitude is once again highlighted, reminding us that these people should be appreciated and we should feel grateful. McCrae does an exceptional job with emphasizing his stance that these intrepid warriors should never be forgotten for their service and their bravery.

McCrae also employs the technique of symbolism and metaphors to convey the bravery of the men who went to war. “The larks, still bravely singing, fly……” he writes, symbolizing the intrepid and undaunted soldiers in the battlefield, fighting for the safety of their family at home. This makes the theme of the bravery of the soldiers very prominent in the poem. McCrae also employs the technique of metaphors and juxtaposition to highlight the fearlessness of these men. “We shall not sleep, though poppies grow……” highlighting the stern undaunted mentality that these men express. This makes the theme of bravery even more emphasized and prominent.

Ultimately, John McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields” should be read and appreciated because he effectively employs poetic techniques such as metaphors, the power of three, repetition, and symbolism to express and highlight the themes of gratitude and bravery.