51ºÚÁÏ

The Handmaid’s Tale | Critical Essay: The Significance of the Novel’s Ending

This fully resourced lesson guides students through a structured critical essay exploring the significance of Offred’s final words in The Handmaid’s Tale. Through close reading, discussion, and essay planning, students will develop analytical skills and deepen their understanding of Atwood’s use of ambiguity.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key themes in the novel’s ending, including power, resistance, and fate.
• Explore how Atwood’s ambiguous conclusion influences interpretation.
• Plan and write a well-structured critical essay responding to an exam-style question.

Lesson Overview:

• Starter: Close analysis of Offred’s final line and discussion of its implications.
• Discussion: Key themes, critical perspectives, and contextual influences on the novel’s conclusion.
• Essay Planning: Breakdown of an exam-style question with structured guidance.
• Timed Essay: Students apply their learning in a formal response with peer review and feedback.

This resource includes a full PowerPoint presentation, an essay writing handout, and a structured essay guide with prompts to support students in developing a clear and critical argument.

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51ºÚÁÏ Notice: This resource is for personal classroom use only. Redistribution, resale, or uploading to shared platforms (including school drives and VLEs not for personal classroom use) is strictly prohibited. If you need additional licences, please purchase them separately. © 2024. Revolutionary Education. All rights reserved.