Flag

By John Agard (b. 1949)

Context

• John Agard was born in British Guiana (now Guyana) in 1949, a time when his home country was still a British colony. He later moved to Britain, and his experiences of colonialism, independence, and national identity have deeply influenced his work. "Flag" explores the power of a national symbol—specifically, the flag—and how it can evoke strong emotions and actions, often leading to conflict and blind patriotism. The poem critiques how a simple piece of cloth can come to represent a whole nation, its identity, and its values, often leading to people committing extreme acts in its name.

The Poem

What's that fluttering in a breeze?

It's just a piece of cloth

← Irony

that brings a nation to its knees.

← Metaphor and paradox

What's that unfurling from a pole?

It's just a piece of cloth

that makes the guts of men grow bold.

← Personification

What's that rising over a tent?

It's just a piece of cloth

that dares the coward to relent.

What's that flying across a field?

It's just a piece of cloth

that will outlive the blood you bleed.

← Contrast and irony

How can I possess such a cloth?

Just ask for a flag, my friend.

Then blind your conscience to the end.

← Metaphor

5 Quotes + Analysis to Achieve a Grade 9

1. Language device = Irony. "Just a piece of cloth" Analysis: The phrase "just a piece of cloth" is repeated to emphasise the physical insignificance of the flag. By focusing on the material, the repetition highlights how something so ordinary can become filled with symbolic meaning. The irony of the quote is that it downplays the flag's importance, while in reality, it holds immense symbolic power and can provoke extreme emotions and actions. This criticises how people often blindly follow and are manipulated by national symbols

2. Language device = Metaphor and paradox. "Brings a nation to its knees" Analysis: This phrase uses a metaphor to illustrate the immense influence a flag can have over an entire country. "Brings a nation to its knees" implies submission and defeat, showing how a flag can lead to the downfall of a nation through war or conflict. The idea that something as simple as a flag can wield such immense power highlights the paradox of national symbols, which are mere objects yet have the capacity to inspire both unity and destruction.

3. Language device = Personification. "Makes the guts of men grow bold" Analysis: The phrase "makes the guts of men grow bold" suggests that the flag has the power to inspire courage and bravery in people, driving them to fight for their country. However, this is portrayed as a negative force, capable of motivating men to take violent action, often leading to unnecessary conflict and bloodshed.

4. Language device = Contrast and irony. "Will outlive the blood you bleed" Analysis: This line contrasts the temporary nature of human life with the enduring symbol of the flag. The flag "outliving" the "blood you bleed" implies that the sacrifices made by individuals in the name of the flag are ultimately pointless, as the flag remains while the people who fight for it die. This highlights the tragic irony of nationalism, where the symbol persists, but the human cost is forgotten.

5. Language device = Metaphor. "Blind your conscience to the end" Analysis: "Blind your conscience" metaphorically suggests shutting off one's moral awareness or judgment. It implies that people who fully embrace the flag must ignore or "blind" themselves to the ethical consequences of their actions, reflecting the dangerous consequences of blind patriotism. This line captures the poem's warning about the dangers of unquestioning loyalty to national symbols, suggesting that such loyalty can lead to a loss of moral judgment.

Form

• Dialogue Structure:
  • The poem is structured as a dialogue between a naive persona who asks questions and a worldly persona who provides answers. This format highlights the contrast between the two perspectives, with the naive speaker gradually realising the power and danger of the flag.
• Sophisticated Rhyme Scheme:
  • The rhyme scheme in the first four stanzas alternates between full rhymes and half rhymes, reflecting the tension between the idealised view of the flag and the harsh reality of its impact. The final stanza breaks this pattern, ending with a rhyming couplet to emphasise the conclusion of the dialogue.

Structure

• Tone Shift in the Final Stanza:
  • In the last stanza, the tone shifts from inquiry to a direct warning. The naive persona's final question, "How can I possess such a cloth?" reveals a desire to own the flag, but the answer provided by the worldly voice is a stark warning about the cost of such ownership—losing one's conscience.

Example Paragraph for a Grade 9 Answer:

In "Flag," Agard presents the flag as a powerful symbol that can manipulate people's emotions and actions. The repeated phrase "just a piece of cloth" highlights the flag's simplicity, yet the poem shows how this object can "bring a nation to its knees" and "make the guts of men grow bold." These phrases illustrate the paradox of the flag's influence, as it inspires both pride and destruction. The final line, "Then blind your conscience to the end," serves as a warning about the dangers of blind patriotism, suggesting that loyalty to a flag can lead to a loss of moral judgment. Through this, Agard critiques how national symbols can be used to justify violence and control.