Reading 'Propping Up the Line', a short story about World War One by Ian Beck
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what happens in ‘Propping Up The Line’, including commenting on some of the choices Beck made.
Key learning points
- ‘Propping Up The Line’ is a short story by Ian Beck written using a third person narrative voice.
- Beck was inspired to write the story to “honour” his grandfather who was gassed in the trenches during World War One.
- Gas attacks killed about three percent of people immediately.
- There were long term physical and psychological effects for those who survived gas attacks.
- Many people who write about World War One try to convey the horrors of gas attacks in their work.
Keywords
Third person narrative - when the person telling the story isn’t a character in the story and tells us about the characters using their names, or ‘she’, ‘he’, ‘they’
Short story - a fictional text which is shorter than a novel and can often be read in one sitting; a writer might focus on one event, or linked events, and evoke a particular tone or mood
Wilfred Owen - a British soldier and poet (1893-1918) best known for his poems about World War One
Simile - a language technique whereby a writer describes something by comparing it to something else using 'like' or 'as'
Common misconception
Anyone who breathed in gas died immediately.
Gas attacks killed about three percent of people immediately, but there were long term physical and psychological effects for those who experienced gas attacks.
Teacher tip
This lesson is all about reading, engaging with and understanding Beck's short story. Consider focusing your planning on your own reading of the story, annotating it with questions, quick definitions for words your pupils might not know and any other prompts which will support their reading.
Equipment
You will need a copy of the 2014 edition of Stories of World War One, edited by Tony Bradman to read 'Propping Up the Line' by Ian Beck.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In the unit 'Literary perspectives from the First World War', one of the texts is Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line'. What type of text is this?
Q2.In the unit 'Literary perspectives from the First World War', one of the texts is Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line'. Which war does this story focus on?
Q3.In the unit 'Literary perspectives from the First World War', one of the texts is Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line'. The story opens in a particular setting. What is it?
Q4.The story 'Propping Up the Line' opens explaining some of the emotions Alfred feels in the trench. What are these emotions?
Q5.A is a language technique whereby a writer describes something by comparing it to something else using ‘like’ or ‘as’.
Q6.Ian Beck uses a third person narrative in his story, 'Propping Up The Line' ('Literary perspectives from the First World War'). Which of the following are examples of third person?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Starting with the first, order these plot points from Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line' in chronological order.
Q2.Ian Beck wrote 'Propping Up The Line'. This story is written using a third person narrative voice. What does this mean?
Q3.Which word from Beck's 'Propping Up The Line' tells us the story is written in the third person?
Q4.In Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line', how does the main character, Alfred, die?
Q5.In Beck's 'Propping Up The Line', the main character describes corpses he sees in the trenches. What kind of shop does he compare them to?
Q6. In Beck's 'Propping Up The Line', the main character describes corpses he sees in the trenches to clothes. What kind of line does he describe?
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: Reading 'Propping Up the Line', a short story about World War One by Ian Beck, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: Reading 'Propping Up the Line', a short story about World War One by Ian Beck, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the Literary perspectives from the First World War unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.