Year 9 - English
Symbolism and motif in Ian Beck's short story, 'Propping Up The Line'
Literary perspectives from the First World War
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils explore and compare texts written about the First World War. They first read Beck's 'Propping up the line', Mansfield's 'The Fly' and Wilfred Owen's 1917 letter home to his mum. They finally read Brittain's 'Testament of Youth', and then plan and write a comparative response.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explore Ian Beck's use of symbolism and motif in his short story, 'Propping Up The Line'.
Key Notes
- Writers use symbols and motifs to present key themes.
- Beck uses the symbol of the canary to explore the theme of sacrifice.
- Beck uses the motif of the washing line to explore the theme of trauma.
Vocabulary To Learn
- tangible: a physical thing that can be touched
- symbolism: when writers use something tangible to represent an intangible idea; for example, a crown as a symbol for power
- theme: an important idea in a text; for example the theme of trauma is important to Beck
- motif: something that comes up multiple times in a text; the image of the washing line is a motif in Beck's story
- sacrifice: unwillingly giving something up
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- There are no common symbols across literature.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Writers use symbols and motifs to present key themes. Beck uses the symbol of the canary to explore the theme of sacrifice.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'tangible'
a physical thing that can be touched.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: There are no common symbols across literature. Correction: There are many common symbols across literature which writers use knowing that many of their readers will know what they mean. For example, a crown to symbolise power. A rose to symbolise love. Birds to symbolise freedom.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Analysing the presentation of the gas attack: Ian Beck's 'Propping Up the Line' Study Guide
- Comparing texts about World War One in comparative analytical paragraphs Study Guide
- Comparing texts about World War One using comparative topic sentences Study Guide
- Creative writing in the third person inspired by Katherine Mansfield's 'The Fly' Study Guide
- Debating different interpretations of Katherine Mansfield's 'The Fly' Study Guide
- Exploring the presentation of the boss in 'The Fly' by Katherine Mansfield Study Guide
- Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line': Alice's experiences on the Home Front Study Guide
- Improving a letter: deliberate verbs and precise adjectives Study Guide
- Improving the style of a letter: sentence structure and rhythm Study Guide
- Katherine Mansfield's 'The Fly' (1922): exploring character foils and symbolism Study Guide
- Letter writing: planning, using Vera Brittain's 'Testament of Youth' as stimulus Study Guide
- Letter writing: planning, using Wilfred Owen's 1917 letter as stimulus Study Guide
- Reading 'Propping Up the Line', a short story about World War One by Ian Beck Study Guide
- Reading Katherine Mansfield's short story, 'The Fly' (1922) Study Guide
- Skim reading and close reading: 'Testament of Youth' by Vera Brittain Study Guide
- Skim reading and close reading: Wilfred Owen's 1917 letter to his mother Study Guide
- The presentation of trauma in Ian Beck's short story, 'Propping Up the Line' Study Guide
- Understanding why people write about war Study Guide
- Using sentence structure to create rhythm in writing about World War One Study Guide
- Vivid descriptive writing using Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line' as stimulus Study Guide
- World War One: propaganda and trench warfare Study Guide
- Writing a letter as a soldier in the trenches of World War One Study Guide
- Writing a letter from the British home front: tone, audience and purpose Study Guide
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