Lit Openers
Episode 7: The Handmaid's Tale
Interactive Biography Chart
ESSENTIAL BIOGRAPHIC INFO |
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| Author Name: | Margaret Eleanor Atwood | |
| Pseudonym: | /// | |
| Nickname: | Peggy | |
| Date of Birth: | 18 November 1939 | |
| Place of Birth: | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | |
| Date of Death: | ||
| Time Period: | Late 20th and early 21st Century | |
| Type of Education: | University Level (Bachelor’s and Master's Degrees) | |
| School/University: | Victoria College at the University of Toronto (BA); Radcliffe College at Harvard University (MA) | |
| Places where the author lived: | Canada (Ottawa, Toronto, and the northern Quebec wilderness), the USA (Boston), the UK (London and Edinburgh), Germany (Berlin), and France. | |
| Peculiar events: | - Because her father was an entomologist (insect scientist), she spent large parts of her childhood in the remote Canadian bush, often without electricity or running water. - She did not attend school full-time until she was about 12 years old. - She co-invented the LongPen, a robotic device that allows an author to sign books remotely from anywhere in the world. | |
LITERARY PRODUCTION |
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Main works |
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| Complete title: | "The Handmaid’s Tale" (1985) | |
| Genre: | Dystopian novel | |
| Synthesis: | Set in the Republic of Gilead (formerly the USA), the novel describes a patriarchal theocracy where women's rights have been removed. The protagonist, Offred, is a ‘Handmaid’ forced to bear children for the ruling class. The story explores themes of power, gender, and the dangers of religious extremism. | |
Other works |
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| Title: | "The Blind Assassin" (2000) | |
| Genre: | Historical novel | |
| Brief Synthesis: | This is a multi-layered story about the complex relationship between two sisters in mid-20th-century Canada. It includes a story within a story' and focuses on secrets, betrayal, and a mysterious death. | |
| Title: | "Oryx and Crake" (2003) | |
| Genre: | Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic novel | |
| Brief Synthesis: | This novel imagines a future where corporate greed and genetic engineering have caused the collapse of society. It follows a character named Snowman, who may be the last human left on Earth, as he remembers the events that led to the catastrophe. | |
| Title: | "Alias Grace" (1996) | |
| Genre: | Historical novel | |
| Brief Synthesis: | Based on a real-life double murder that took place in Canada in 1843, the book follows Grace Marks, a young servant girl convicted of the crimes. It explores the ambiguity of her guilt and the treatment of women in the 19th century. | |
Ep 7 The Handmaid's Tale ANSWERS
Created for LnT
by Anna Maria Bellomo
Former High School English Teacher
Created for LnT
by Anna Maria Bellomo
Former High School English Teacher