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Year 9

The presentation of trauma in Ian Beck's short story, 'Propping Up the Line'

I can explore Ian Beck’s presentation of the character of Alfred’s trauma in 'Propping Up The Line'.

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Year 9

The presentation of trauma in Ian Beck's short story, 'Propping Up the Line'

I can explore Ian Beck’s presentation of the character of Alfred’s trauma in 'Propping Up The Line'.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Beck is interested in exploring both the physical and psychological effects of World War One on Alfred.
  2. Some of Alfred’s actions and thoughts suggest he has some form of PTSD.
  3. Many soldiers suffered from PTSD (or what was then known as 'shell shock') following World War One.
  4. PTSD was not well understood in the early 20th century.
  5. Beck’s short story is part of a body of literature which explores the experiences of PTSD caused by World War One.

Keywords

  • Psychological - of the mind

  • PTSD - an acronym for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a mental health condition

  • Debilitating - weakening

  • Pernicious - harmful, destructive, invasive

  • Manifest - show through emotional or physical reactions

Common misconception

You can't refer to other writers or texts in your analysis.

Often, you will be asked to write about a text, and that text should certainly be your focus. However, you can refer to other writers or texts if they help develop your analysis and understanding. This is called literary context.


To help you plan your year 9 english lesson on: The presentation of trauma in Ian Beck's short story, 'Propping Up the Line', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Consider that the Owen poem in learning cycle 1 is there to support an understanding of PTSD. That is, it does not need to be a focus for analysis. Consider how long you want to spend exploring it and the types of questions which might support student understanding of Owen's presentation of PTSD.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

You will need access to 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

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
  • Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'Propping Up The Line', what are some of the lasting physical effects from World War One that Alfred has to live with?
loss of a limb
Correct answer: a painful cough
Correct answer: a weakened heart
external scarring
memory loss
Q2.
In 'Propping Up The Line', what are some of the lasting psychological effects from World War One that Alfred has to live with?
Correct answer: nightmares
Correct answer: feelings of guilt
a painful cough
Correct answer: flashbacks to the war
panic attacks
Q3.
In 'Propping Up The Line', Alfred decides not to share his experiences from the front line with his family, saying he will keep these experiences for his " ".
Correct Answer: dreams, nightmares
Q4.
Starting with the first plot point, order these events from 'Propping Up The Line' in chronological order.
1 - Alfred is gassed on the front line.
2 - Alfred returns home but keeps his experiences of war to himself.
3 - Alfred's lungs cause him pain and stop him from working.
4 - Alfred is haunted by memories of Jonesey and the dead.
5 - Alfred's lungs begin to fail him in the summer, as well as winter.
6 - Alfred attends a cricket match and is reminded of Jonesey.
7 - We learn of Alfred's premature death.
Q5.
In 'Propping Up The Line', how does Alice respond when Alfred compares the cart filled with junk to a cart filled with the bodies of young men?
Correct answer: with anger
with understanding
with sympathy
with curiosity
Q6.
is a well-known soldier from World War One. He is remembered for his bravery, but also his poetry which powerfully portrays the agonies and trauma of trench warfare. He died in 1918.
Correct Answer: Wilfred Owen, Owen

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'Propping Up The Line', Beck explores a psychological illness called PTSD. PTSD stands for .
Correct Answer: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Q2.
In 'Propping Up The Line', what does the sound of Alice's washing remind Alfred of?
the rats of the trenches
the endless mud of the trenches
Correct answer: Jonesey vomiting after the gas attack
his experiences in hospital
the noise of the gas bomb going off
Q3.
In 'Propping Up The Line', how does Alfred's psychological trauma manifest?
he can no longer work in the winter
Correct answer: he has intense flashbacks to the war
he often coughs up blood
Correct answer: nightmares
Correct answer: guilt
Q4.
There are some key words which help us explore and analyse 'Propping Up The Line'. Match the words to their definitions.
Correct Answer:psychological,of the mind
tick

of the mind

Correct Answer:PTSD,acronym for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a mental health condition
tick

acronym for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a mental health condition

Correct Answer:debilitating,weakening
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weakening

Correct Answer:pernicious,harmful, destructive, invasive
tick

harmful, destructive, invasive

Correct Answer:manifest,show through emotional or physical reactions
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show through emotional or physical reactions

Q5.
In 'Propping Up The Line', Beck explores PTSD. What were some common views about this psychological condition in the early 20th century?
that it needed immediate medical care and attention
Correct answer: that it was a sign of weakness
that it was as awful a condition as a physical wound
Correct answer: that those with PTSD were cowards
that only those who experienced gas attacks could have it
Q6.
In the poem 'Mental Cases' by Wilfred Owen, the speaker writes that for those who have PTSD, the experience of seeing the sun rising is the same as seeing a " that bleeds afresh".
Correct Answer: wound