Topics | Literature | The Handmaid's Tale | Tasks & exercises
Tasks & exercises
In these two chapters, chapter 16 and 17, page 100-106, the infamous Ceremony finally takes place with all its rules and restrictions.
a) Create a short guide for The Ceremony to help each of the three participants behave accordingly during the ritual.
b) Some of the points in the guide should be supported with quotes from the chapters and if possible, The Holy Bible. The quotes from the bible do not necessarily have to be present in The Handmaid's Tale.
c) Optional: Feel free to turn it into an actual pamphlet, include illustrations or other creative ideas. However, keep in mind that Gilead is a very strict, conservative and religious state.
We have read seven chapters recently from p. 108 - 152. In this exercise I want you to highlight the five most important moments of those previous chapters, attach a quote and explain why you consider these moments the most important. Feel free to use the template below.
Template
These are tasks for comprehension, analysis and discussion of the chapters 38-41 in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale (1985). The tasks can be answered individually, in a written form, but were actually intended to be discussed in small groups or pairs.
1. Metafiction is a term that might be applied to Offred/June’s role as a narrator in these chapters. What does it mean? Also comment on the quote below.
“I’m at least believing in you, I believe you’re there, I believe you into being. Because I’m telling you this story I will your existence. I tell, therefore you are”
2. There are several quotes painting Offred/June as a somewhat unreliable narrator. For example, “I made that up. It didn’t happen that way.” (p. 269) and “It didn’t happen that way either. I’m not sure how it happened; not exactly.” (p. 271) What is your perception of her as a narrator and do you consider her unreliable?
3. Offred/June also describes her story as limping and mutilated. In what ways do the structure and narrative of the novel match this description.
4. “I’m sorry it is in fragments, like a body caught in crossfire or pulled apart by force” (p. 275) Does the novel actually lack structure or is Offred/June stating this merely used as a narrative device do you think?
5. There have been several sections during the book. E.g. the reoccuring Night sections (e.g. chapter 1, chapter 18, chapter 24 etc.). What do they mean and do they have anything in common?
6. When we worked on postmodernism last year, fragmentation was one of our key terms. Discuss whether The Handmaid’s Tale can be considered a postmodern text.
These are tasks for comprehension, analysis and discussion of the entire book, Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale (1985). The tasks can be answered individually, in a written form, but were actually intended to be discussed in small groups or pairs.
1. Some of the characters in the book might be more than just characters. Do you think the different characters represent anything else in the book? Comment on some of them such as Janine, Moira, Luke and Nick.
2. Do you think any real life regimes or events inspired Margaret Atwood to write The Handmaid's Tale? What events and why?
3. There is a powerful statement on reading in the historical notes chapter; “Our big mistake was teaching them to read. We won't make that mistake again.” What do you make of that quote?
4. The historian at the end of the book is unsure of Offred's fate. What do you think happens to her?
5. The book has, like most other dystopian works, sometimes been interpreted as a warning. Do you think there are any lessons to be learned from the book?
