Analysing the presentation of the gas attack: Ian Beck's 'Propping Up the Line'
I can explain how Ian Beck presents the gas attack in his short story, ‘Propping Up The Line’ in a well-planned analytical paragraph.
Analysing the presentation of the gas attack: Ian Beck's 'Propping Up the Line'
I can explain how Ian Beck presents the gas attack in his short story, ‘Propping Up The Line’ in a well-planned analytical paragraph.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The gas attack, and its aftermath, is the central focus of Beck’s short story.
- The effects of the gas attack are described in graphic detail.
- Perceptive analysis can involve making thoughtful connections between different moments in a text.
Keywords
Methods - the tools a writer uses to create their work; setting, characterisation, language choices are all examples
Harrowing - extremely disturbing
Perceptive - thoughtful
Pervasive - something that spreads everywhere and can’t be stopped
Frenetic - fast paced, uncontrolled
Common misconception
You can't link quotations from across a text in a short story.
Being able to link quotations from any text together is a key skill in English. It helps make your analysis thoughtful and convincing.
To help you plan your year 9 english lesson on: Analysing the presentation of the gas attack: Ian Beck's 'Propping Up the Line', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 english lesson on: Analysing the presentation of the gas attack: Ian Beck's 'Propping Up the Line', 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.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
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 access to 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 recommended
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
extremely disturbing
something that spreads everywhere and can’t be stopped
fast paced, uncontrolled