Starter quiz
- 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
- a painful cough ✓
- a weakened heart ✓
- external scarring
- memory loss
-
- In 'Propping Up The Line', what are some of the lasting psychological effects from World War One that Alfred has to live with?
- nightmares ✓
- feelings of guilt ✓
- a painful cough
- flashbacks to the war ✓
- panic attacks
-
- 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 "______".
- 'dreams' ✓
- 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.
- 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?
- with anger ✓
- with understanding
- with sympathy
- with curiosity
-
- ______ 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.
- 'Wilfred Owen' ✓
Exit quiz
- In 'Propping Up The Line', Beck explores a psychological illness called PTSD. PTSD stands for ______.
- 'Post Traumatic Stress Disorder' ✓
- 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
- Jonesey vomiting after the gas attack ✓
- his experiences in hospital
- the noise of the gas bomb going off
-
- In 'Propping Up The Line', how does Alfred's psychological trauma manifest?
- he can no longer work in the winter
- he has intense flashbacks to the war ✓
- he often coughs up blood
- nightmares ✓
- guilt ✓
-
- There are some key words which help us explore and analyse 'Propping Up The Line'. Match the words to their definitions.
- psychological⇔of the mind ✓
- PTSD⇔acronym for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a mental health condition ✓
- debilitating⇔weakening ✓
- pernicious⇔harmful, destructive, invasive ✓
- manifest⇔show through emotional or physical reactions ✓
- 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
- that it was a sign of weakness ✓
- that it was as awful a condition as a physical wound
- that those with PTSD were cowards ✓
- that only those who experienced gas attacks could have it
-
- 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".
- 'wound' ✓
Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Beck is interested in exploring both the physical and psychological effects of World War One on Alfred.
- Some of Alfred’s actions and thoughts suggest he has some form of PTSD.
- Many soldiers suffered from PTSD (or what was then known as 'shell shock') following World War One.
- PTSD was not well understood in the early 20th century.
- Beck’s short story is part of a body of literature which explores the experiences of PTSD caused by World War One.
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.
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
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