GCSE-ready- Home
- Lessons
- GCSE & IGCSE English Literature
- Journey's End: the plot
Journey's End: the plot
🎬 The doodle video for this lesson is coming soon. Subscribe on YouTube to see it first.
R C Sherriff's play takes place in a British officers' dugout in the front-line trenches near St Quentin, France, in March 1918, as a huge German attack approaches.
Arrival
Young Raleigh, fresh from school, asks to join the company of Captain Stanhope, his old school hero.
Stanhope, exhausted after three years at the front, drinks heavily. He fears Raleigh will tell his sister, whom Stanhope hopes to marry, what he has become.
Stanhope, exhausted after three years at the front, drinks heavily. He fears Raleigh will tell his sister, whom Stanhope hopes to marry, what he has become.
The raid
The officers wait for the German attack. Stanhope censors Raleigh's letter, expecting criticism, but finds Raleigh praises him.
The Colonel orders a daylight raid to capture a German prisoner. Osborne and Raleigh lead it. A young German is captured, but Osborne is killed.
That evening Stanhope and others eat and drink, and Stanhope turns angrily on Raleigh.
The Colonel orders a daylight raid to capture a German prisoner. Osborne and Raleigh lead it. A young German is captured, but Osborne is killed.
That evening Stanhope and others eat and drink, and Stanhope turns angrily on Raleigh.
The attack
The German offensive begins at dawn. Raleigh is badly wounded and brought into the dugout.
Stanhope comforts him; Raleigh dies.
Stanhope goes out to the fighting, and a shell collapses the dugout as the play ends.
Stanhope comforts him; Raleigh dies.
Stanhope goes out to the fighting, and a shell collapses the dugout as the play ends.
Why does Stanhope censor Raleigh's letter?
- He fears Raleigh will describe his heavy drinking.
- Raleigh's sister would then learn the truth.
- In fact the letter praises Stanhope, which makes him feel ashamed.
Answer: He fears Raleigh will reveal his drinking to Raleigh's sister, but the letter praises him.
Raleigh arrives, Stanhope fears exposure, the letter, the raid in which Osborne dies, the dinner, the German offensive, Raleigh's death and the collapse of the dugout.
Check you have got it
Answer 6 quick questions with instant marking. If you get one wrong, GCSE-ready shows you why and gives you another go. It is free, and you do not need an account.