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Lesson 4 of 24
  • Year 9

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.

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Lesson 4 of 24
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  • Year 9

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.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The gas attack, and its aftermath, is the central focus of Beck’s short story.
  2. The effects of the gas attack are described in graphic detail.
  3. 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...

Work out how long your pupils need to plan and write their paragraph. Then plan the rest of the timing of the lesson from there so you are sure to give pupils enough time to write carefully and in a developed way.
Teacher tip

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

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line', why is the gas attack so important to the story?

Correct answer: Beck wants to present the long term effects of gas attacks on soldiers.
Most people immediately died of gas attacks; Beck explores how to survive.
Gas wasn't considered a dangerous weapon - Beck wants to show that it was.
Correct answer: Beck wants to honour his grandfather's experiences.

Q2.
In Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line', what are some of the long term effects of the gas attack on the main character, Alfred?

Correct answer: He is haunted by the memories of the attack.
He isn't allowed back in the army, although he wants to return to France.
Correct answer: He feels guilty for not saving his friend.
He starts forgetting important memories when he is in his nineties.
Correct answer: He has damaged lungs.

Q3.
Starting with the first, order plot points detailing the gas attack in Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line' in chronological order.

1 - After hearing a bomb go off, Alfred and Jonesey try to put on their gas masks.
2 - Alfred notices that Jonesey is struggling to put on his mask.
3 - Alfred tries to help Jonesey, but he starts to die in front of him.
4 - Jonesey knocks Alfred's gas mask off by accident.
5 - Alfred breathes in some of the gas.
6 - Alfred manages to crawl back to his trench.
7 - Alfred passes out.

Q4.
Methods are the tools a writer uses to create their work. Which of the following are methods all writers might rely on to create any text?

Correct answer: verb choice
author
Correct answer: characterisation
Correct answer: setting
World War One

Q5.
In Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line', Beck describes the gas attack, writing the scent of the gas " ."

Correct Answer: drifted

Q6.
In Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line', Beck describes the gas attack, and in particular described how the gas moved. What word does he use to describe the gas' movement?

Correct answer: billowed
smoked
surged

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
In Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line', Beck describes a gas attack. These words could be helpful in exploring how it is presented. Match each to its definition.

Correct Answer:harrowing,extremely disturbing

extremely disturbing

Correct Answer:pervasive,something that spreads everywhere and can’t be stopped

something that spreads everywhere and can’t be stopped

Correct Answer:frenetic,fast paced, uncontrolled

fast paced, uncontrolled

Q2.
What advice might you give to a pupil who is about to attempt to analyse the presentation of the gas attack in Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line'?

only use one word quotations so you can zoom in on each word
Correct answer: link quotations from different parts of the story together in each paragraph
Correct answer: explore the methods Beck uses to convey the attack
focus on one quotation per paragraph so you can explore it in enough detail

Q3.
In Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line', what is one way Beck creates a sense of the pervasiveness of the gas during the attack?

by having Alfred shout "Gas!"
Correct answer: by saying the gas was "thick"
by describing Alfred as "wrenching" Jonesey's arm
Correct answer: by saying the gas "billowed" towards the soldiers
by making it clear that attack is harrowing for Alfred

Q4.
In Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line', what is one way Beck creates a sense of the frenetic pace of the gas attack?

through the symbolism of Jonesey's cricket ball lying in the trench
by making it clear the gas attack will have long term effects
through his description of the gas "drifting" towards Alfred and Jonesey
Correct answer: through verb choice, like "wrenched", "shouted" and "flailed"

Q5.
In Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line', Beck describes Alfred at the start of the gas attack. How does Alfred reach for the respirator?

Correct answer: fumbled
lunged
dived

Q6.
In Ian Beck's 'Propping Up The Line', Beck describes Alfred returning to his trench during the gas attack. How does he described leaving Jonesey behind?

he feels like he's "failed" him
Correct answer: he feels like he's "abandoned" him
he feels like he's "deserted" him