Reading 'Propping Up the Line', a short story about World War One by Ian Beck
I can explain what happens in ‘Propping Up The Line’, including commenting on some of the choices Beck made.
Reading 'Propping Up the Line', a short story about World War One by Ian Beck
I can explain what happens in ‘Propping Up The Line’, including commenting on some of the choices Beck made.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
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.
To help you plan your year 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 year 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.
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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.
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
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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