A comprehensive Senior English analysis deck for Regeneration by Pat Barker, designed to develop students’ analytical thinking, close reading, and essay-writing skills through the study of this acclaimed historical and anti-war novel.

Through engaging and thought-provoking learning activities, students explore themes of trauma, masculinity, duty and loyalty, psychological healing, and the moral cost of war while examining Barker’s fictionalised account of Craiglockhart War Hospital in 1917, where psychiatrist Dr W.H.R. Rivers treats shell-shocked soldiers — including the real-life poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen. The deck encourages students to analyse Barker’s distinctive narrative voice, blending of historical and fictional characters, and morally nuanced exploration of war, sanity, and conscience to develop sophisticated understandings of the text.

What’s included
• Analysis of themes, voice, context, and cultural assumptions
• Exploration of trauma, masculinity, duty, loyalty, and the psychological cost of war
• Study of World War I, shell shock, the real figures of Sassoon, Owen, and Rivers, and the historical context of Craiglockhart
• Language features, text structures, symbolism, and figurative language analysis
• Examination of narrative voice, point of view, and characterisation
• Close reading and comprehension activities
• A structured sequence of analysis slides paired with classroom-ready learning activities
• Engaging activities designed to promote discussion, interpretation, and critical thinking

Teaching approach
This resource follows a flexible, activity-based approach rather than a scripted lesson-by-lesson format. Teachers can work through the deck in order or select individual slides and activities to suit their classroom needs, supporting students in developing deeper understanding through discussion, close analysis, collaboration, and analytical writing.

File info
• Provided as a non-editable PDF
• Not designed as an editable PowerPoint
How to use
• Upload to your LMS (Google Classroom, Canvas, etc.) for digital learning
• Print selected pages for classroom use
• Display pages to support discussion, analysis, and writing activities
• Upload to presentation or design platforms if you wish to adapt for your own use (formatting may vary depending on the program used)