51ºÚÁÏ

Lesson 7: Ritual & Psychological Control in The Handmaid’s Tale

In this lesson, students will explore the role of ritual in Gilead and how Atwood uses it to reinforce power structures. The focus will be on The Ceremony - a disturbing ritual justified through religious rhetoric. Students will examine how ritual is used to control behavior, enforce obedience, and uphold oppressive systems.

The lesson begins with a discussion on the purpose of rituals in society, encouraging students to reflect on how ceremonies shape beliefs and power dynamics. Through guided group tasks, students will analyze The Ceremony in the novel, drawing comparisons to real-world traditions and historical examples. Thought-provoking questions will help them critically assess whether rituals empower or oppress, and how Atwood critiques these practices.

Students will also evaluate key interactions between characters in The Ceremony, exploring themes of complicity, resistance, and psychological control. The lesson concludes with an extended response task, prompting students to develop an analytical argument on Atwood’s use of ritual as a tool of oppression.

This lesson includes:

• A structured lesson plan with engaging activities
• A group discussion on the significance of ritual in Gilead and real-world contexts
• Guided analysis tasks focusing on The Ceremony
• An opportunity for students to develop their critical interpretations

This resource is part of a full Handmaid’s Tale unit, available on 8th March. Visit my TES shop for more lessons in this series.

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.