An introduction to Atwood's novel used as part of an A level unit

1. The Handmaid’s tale

2. Lesson 1: 1st impressions & chapter analysis skills
Lesson 2: Timeline & text structure
Lesson 3: Characterization
Lesson 4: Themes
Lesson 5: Symbols
Lesson 6: The role & function of language

3. Lesson 7: Dystopic & Speculative fiction
Lesson 8: Settings
Lesson 9: Narrative issues & palimpsests
Lesson 10: Historical notes
Lesson 11: The Film version
Lesson 12: Film/novel comparison & conclusion

4. Top 10 features
This is a novel...

5. With a strong sense of place and time

6. About loss (freedom, family, hope)

7. About the exploitation of women

8. About male power and conflict

9. With an unusual structure and
unreliable narrator

10. That explores a society based on
repressive religious systems

11. About the control of language and
therefore thought

12. Of alienation and not belonging

13. Exploring political systems

14. Containing a warning

15. In which .......................... is important

16. 1. Remove the features slips from the envelope
2. Add an extra point of your own
3. Rank the features, starting with the one that best
characterises the novel for you as a reader
4. For your top 3 features, find evidence from the text
to support and explain your choices (be prepared to
justify your choices to the rest of the group!)