Introduction

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 
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EngelsUpper Secondary (Key Stage 4)GCSE

This lesson contains 17 slides, with interactive quizzes, text slides and 2 videos.

Items in this lesson

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 

Slide 1 - Slide

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 



Slide 2 - Slide

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.

Slide 3 - Slide

What do you know
about the novel?

Slide 4 - Mind map

Introduction
Read the text and answer these questions in your exercise book: 
1. What? 
2. When?
3. Why? 
4. How? 

Slide 5 - Slide

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 

Slide 6 - Slide

In what ways may The Handmaid's Tale be considered relevant today? 
Read the text given to your group. Discuss.  

Slide 7 - Slide

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.

Slide 8 - Slide

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).​

Slide 9 - Slide

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. 

Slide 10 - Slide

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? 

Slide 11 - Slide

Slide 12 - Video

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

Slide 13 - Mind map

Slide 14 - Link

Slide 15 - Video

Context 

Slide 16 - Slide

Slide 17 - Link