World War One: propaganda and trench warfare | English

Starter quiz

In the opening of Ian Beck's short story, 'Propping Up The Line', how does Beck describe the trench in France, which is where much of the short story is set?
- warm
- muddy ✓
- cold ✓
- gory ✓
- dark ✓
What are the dates for World War One?
- 1910-1914
- 1914-1916
- 1914-1918 ✓
- 1918-1939
- 1939-1945
The first line of Ian Beck's short story, 'Propping Up The Line', sees Beck describe the main character, Alfred "sat cold and drowsily slumped against the ______ wall".
- 'trench' ✓
What is the focus of Ian Beck's short story, 'Propping Up The Line'?
- Beck's grandparents' experiences of life in Britain during the war.
- Beck's own experiences of war.
- The glory and excitement of World War One, especially in the trenches.
- Beck's grandfather's experience of war, particularly being gassed. ✓
When looking at literature about World War One, why might we often come across the name Wilfred Owen?
- Owen is a famous historian who writes about World War One.
- Owen wrote a lot of poetry about World War One which we still read today. ✓
- Owen was a celebrated general in World War One, and wrote about his experiences.
- Owen helped the government in generating support for World War One.
- Owen was Prime Minister during World War One and led Britain through the war.
When looking at the literature of World War One, we might often come across the poetry of Wilfred Owen. Owen stated that he wrote to "______" people about the horrors of war
- 'warn' ✓

Much of World War One was fought in ______, deep ditches dug in the ground and occupied by opposing armies.
- 'trenches' ✓
What is true of many of the trenches of World War One?
- They were filled with rats and lice. ✓
- The British government warned soldiers about them via propaganda.
- They were exposed to the weather. ✓
- They were horrific, but soldiers only spent one or two days there at a time.
- The mud is often considered as harrowing as the enemy fire. ✓
______ is the term used for communication which is designed to influence its audience; this information can often be misleading.
- 'Propaganda' ✓
During World War One, the British government used propaganda. What did it hope to achieve through its use of propaganda?
- to prepare people for the horrors of war
- to ensure people were accurately informed about the nature of war
- to encourage people to sign up to fight in the war ✓
- o portray war as exciting and full of glory ✓
- to ensure people knew what soldiers were experiencing in the trenches
Jessie Pope wrote a poem in 1915 to encourage people to sign up to the British Armed Forces. The poem is designed to make war seem exciting by comparing war to a "..."
- 'game' ✓
Wilfred Owen wrote a poem called 'Exposure' detailing the realities of the trenches, particularly the agony of waiting for an attack. He repeats the line, "But ______ happens."
- 'nothing' ✓

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Wartime propaganda was used to encourage recruitment and persuade the population that war was necessary.
Wartime propaganda promoted the idea that fighting would bring glory upon soldiers.
Much of World War One was fought in trenches.
Conditions in trenches were appalling: the mud, rats, shelling, gore and inactivity traumatised many soldiers.
Much war literature attempts to evoke conditions in the trenches.

Trench warfare was fighting characterised by intense and constant action.

Trench warfare was characterised by intense periods of action, but also long periods of inaction which could be demoralising, boring and harrowing.

Propaganda - communication which is designed to influence its audience; the information is often misleading
Trench warfare - a type of war fought on land; deep ditches are dug and occupied by each warring side
Wilfred owen - a British soldier and poet (1893-1918) best known for his poems about World War One
Symbolise - when something is used to represent something else; trench warfare has come to symbolise World War One
No man's land - the area of land between enemy trenches; a dangerous place where soldiers were often killed