Introduction

• Engels
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• GCSE

Lesson objectives 

Seating plan term 2 

Truth or fiction? You will read about some events that we will also find referenced in our next novel 

We will make a timeline of events in the author's life and other important events for the novel 

Seating plan term 2 

Alastrina 

Andrea 

Emilia 

Deeshitha 

Hugo 

Kate 

Elsje 

Erik

Sham 

Mia 

Anna 

Robin 

Megan 

Damien 

Neysa 

Cleo 

Aamu 

Ella 

Lena 

Coen 

Rik

Kim 

Zoe

Alyanna 

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood is an award-winning Canadian poet, novelist and essayist known for books like The Circle Game (1966) The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) Cat's Eye (1988) The Blind Assassin (2000) and Oryx and Crake (2003) among an array of other works.​

​She was born on November 18, 1939 in Ottawa, Canada.  Her works have been translated into an array of different languages and seen several screen adaptations, with both The Handmaid's Tale and Alias Grace becoming miniseries in 2017.

What do you know
about the novel?

Introduction

Read the text and answer these questions in your exercise book: 

1. What? 

2. When?

3. Why? 

4. How? 

From the questions you answered in your exercise book, write a short summary, this should be no more than two sentences. 

What, when, why & how? 

Start your summary with your answers to 'when?' 

We will discuss your thoughts. 

"An ugly carnival" by Antony Beevor 

In what ways may The Handmaid's Tale be considered relevant today? 

Read the text given to your group. Discuss.  

True or false? 

Write down your answers 

​How many of these aspects do you think are true in Atwood's distopean society? 

​1. Women are forbidden from reading and writing.​

​2. Women must cover their body and most of their face in robes when in public.​

​3. Women must have permission from a male guardian in order to leave the house.​

​4. Public areas are segregated and interaction between men and women who are not of close family is punishable under the law.​

All of these statements about Gilead are TRUE.​

​

However…​

All of them except the first are also true about modern day Saudi Arabia.

Relevance today 

In Saudia Arabia, women have limited rights compared to men. Up until this year, women have been forbidden by law from driving, and they are still forbidden to show any of their body except for face, hands or feet to males that are not their husbands or immediate family, and are severely restricted from travelling. To travel somewhere – even within the country – women must have signed permission from their male ‘guardian’ (normally a father, husband or brother).​

Sorting the dates and events 

1. In your envelope you have a number of dates and events.
   
2. The dates that are underlined are from Margaret Atwood's life. 
   
3. Make two timelines one of general events and one of Margaret Atwood's life.  
   
4. Are you surprised by any of these dates?​ Discuss on your table. 
   
5. ​Write down what you think is the most significant event in the timeline for feminism and Atwood’s life, and why.
   
6. You will share your thoughts. 
   

Listen to the first chapter 

1. How has Atwood used a recognisable setting to highlight how much has changed in this society? 

2. What are the names of the different groups of people in this society? 

3. How has the way of dress been used to highlight these differences? 

In what ways may
The Handmaid's Tale be considered
relevant today?

www.theguardian.com

Context 

www.bbc.com