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’

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

a British soldier and poet (1893-1918) best known for his poems about World War One

a language technique whereby a writer describes something by comparing it to something else using 'like' or 'as'

Reading 'Propping Up the Line', a short story about World War One by Ian Beck

English

In 'A World at War: Short Stories', pupils explore the reasons for writing war literature and how it seeks to convey the suffering of soldiers and civilians, in times of conflict. In 'Power and Conflict Poetry', students explore the many types of conflict that arise through war, with themes including patriotism, propaganda, fear, guilt and duty.

In 'The Tempest', pupils are encouraged to write from the viewpoint of Caliban and Ariel, adopting character voices in creative writing. In 'A World at War', pupils emulate the writing styles of the authors that they encounter, to create an authentic voice in their writing. 

Literary perspectives from the First World War

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction or discussion of violence or fighting, including threats of violence or the aftermath of violence.

Alfred kills a rat in anger in the trenches.

Alfred and Jonesey are asked to cut some barbed wire in no man's land.

Jonesey is killed in a gas attack. Alfred breathes in gas but survives.

Alfred realises he can no longer work in the winter because of lung damage.

Alfred sees someone who reminds him of Jonesey at a cricket match.

We learn Alfred dies owing to complications brought on by the gas attack.

Starting with the first, order these plot points from Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line' in chronological order.

the writer adopts the voice of a character in the story using "I" and "me"

there are three narrators over the course of the story

the writer is 'outside' of the story - an all knowing narrator

the writer uses names, and the pronouns 'she', 'he' and 'they' throughout

Ian Beck wrote 'Propping Up The Line'. This story is written using a third person narrative voice. What does this mean?

Which word from Beck's 'Propping Up The Line' tells us the story is written in the third person?

In Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line', how does the main character, Alfred, die?

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?

 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? 

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?

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?

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?

The story 'Propping Up the Line' opens explaining some of the emotions Alfred feels in the trench. What are these emotions?

A {{}} is a language technique whereby a writer describes something by comparing it to something else using ‘like’ or ‘as’.

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?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Reading 'Propping Up the Line', a short story about World War One by Ian Beck

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.