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Year 9

Ian Beck's ‘Propping Up The Line’: Alice’s experiences on the Home Front

I can rewrite a passage of Ian Beck's ‘Propping Up The Line’ from the perspective of the character of Alice.

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Year 9

Ian Beck's ‘Propping Up The Line’: Alice’s experiences on the Home Front

I can rewrite a passage of Ian Beck's ‘Propping Up The Line’ from the perspective of the character of Alice.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Home Front refers to the idea that those in Britain felt the impact of World War One in their day to day lives.
  2. Food shortages, bombs and fear of invasion are some of the ways civilians in Britain were affected by World War One.
  3. When loved ones returned home from the front line, there were often complex and conflicting emotions.
  4. Many women found employment during World War One, filling the labour shortage because so many men were fighting.
  5. Telegrams were a common method of communication during World War One.

Keywords

  • Telegram - a short written message, now outdated; used in WW1 to inform family members of death or casualty on the front line.

  • Proximity - being close to something.

  • Ignorance - lack of knowledge or understanding.

  • Perspective - point of view.

  • Infer - to work out, to make an educated guess.

Common misconception

Those living in Britain during World War One faced no threat or privation other than their loved ones being far away.

World War One was what is known as 'total war' meaning that those in Britain felt its impact in their day to day life.

Consider how long you wish your pupils to write for, and then work out the rest of the timings of the lesson from there.
Teacher tip

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 mental health issues

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), 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' (Literary perspectives from the First World War) what perspective does Ian Beck choose to write from?
Alfred's perspective
Nell's perspective
Alice's perspective
first person perspective
Correct answer: third person perspective
Q2.
In 'Propping Up The Line' (Literary perspectives from the First World War) where and when is Alfred, a soldier, fighting?
the Home Front, World War One
the Home Front, World War Two
Correct answer: the Western Front, World War One
the Western Front, World War Two
Q3.
In 'Propping Up The Line' (Literary perspectives from the First World War) what do we know of the character of Alice, Alfred's wife?
She is a carpenter.
She leaves Alfred, unable to cope with the effects of the gas attack.
Correct answer: She supports Alfred after the gas attack.
She wants Alfred to share his experiences of war.
She works in a munitions factory while Alfred is fighting.
Q4.
Starting with the first, order these plot points relating to the character of Alice in 'Propping Up The Line' (Literary perspectives from the First World War) in chronological order.
1 - Alice receives a telegram stating Alfred has been gassed.
2 - Alice welcomes Alfred home, telling Nell to be "brave" in front of Alfred.
3 - Alice washes a pillow case Alfred has covered in blood.
4 - Alice tries to help Alfred's lungs by creating nightly steam baths.
5 - Alice relies on Alfred to help her with the washing.
6 - Alice tells Alfred off when he compares a cart of junk to a cart of bodies.
7 - Alfred hides the fact that his condition is deteriorating from Alice.
Q5.
In 'Propping Up The Line', Alfred doesn't tell Alice of his experiences of the trenches, saying that it was his problem to carry. What word does he use to suggest this?
issue
Correct answer: burden
worry
Q6.
In 'Propping Up The Line', the character of Alice is described as "dignified" but also " ".
Correct Answer: remote

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'Propping Up The Line', Beck presents three important settings. Match each setting to its definition.
Correct Answer:the Home Front,refers to the way in which civilians at home are impacted by war

refers to the way in which civilians at home are impacted by war

Correct Answer:the front line,the bit of the battlefield closest to the enemy

the bit of the battlefield closest to the enemy

Correct Answer:the Western Front,where the majority of the fighting took place in WW1; Europe

where the majority of the fighting took place in WW1; Europe

Q2.
'Propping Up The Line' is set during World War One. Match some of the experiences and emotions of civilians in Britain to their explanation.
Correct Answer:anxiety and fear,civilians worried for loved ones on the front line

civilians worried for loved ones on the front line

Correct Answer:proximity,as well as fear of invasion, the trenches in France felt very close

as well as fear of invasion, the trenches in France felt very close

Correct Answer:ignorance,understanding of the trenches was limited; many didn't speak of it

understanding of the trenches was limited; many didn't speak of it

Correct Answer:shortage of food,production of food decreased, and prices increased

production of food decreased, and prices increased

Correct Answer:freedom,some women felt less confined to the home as they took on 'male' jobs

some women felt less confined to the home as they took on 'male' jobs

Q3.
In 'Propping Up The Line', Alice receives news of Alfred via " ".
Correct Answer: telegram
Q4.
In 'Propping Up The Line', Alice receives a telegram. She is described as "trembling" as she prepares to open it. What might we infer about her feelings at this point?
She doesn't know what a telegram is.
She is excited to hear news of Alfred.
Correct answer: She is scared, knowing telegrams often contain bad news.
Correct answer: She is unable to hide her emotions, even though she doesn't vocalise them.
She has received many telegrams.
Q5.
In 'Propping Up The Line', Alfred expresses anger at what he had to endure. His daughter, Nell, says his anger felt like what being thrown at her?
a brick
Correct answer: a stone
a hurricane
Q6.
In 'Propping Up The Line', Alice considers the news of Alfred's gas attack. How are the men's deaths described?
choking
Correct answer: drowning
suffocating