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In this lesson, students will explore the Essential Question: How does Atwood use historical and contemporary influences to construct the dystopian world of Gilead?

This engaging and thought-provoking lesson explores the real-world historical, political, and feminist influences behind The Handmaid’s Tale. Students will examine how Margaret Atwood critiques society through fiction and apply contextual knowledge to their analysis of the novel.

Lesson Objectives:

• Understand the historical, political, and feminist influences on The Handmaid’s Tale.
• Analyse how Atwood uses real-world events to shape her dystopian vision.
• Apply contextual knowledge to develop deeper textual analysis.

Lesson Activities:

• Starter: “Dystopia or Reality?” – Students engage with a quiz featuring real-world events and determine whether they are fictional or factual.
• Exploring Context – A deep dive into Atwood’s key influences.
• Atwood Interview – Students will watch and discuss a video where Atwood explains the truth behind The Handmaid’s Tale.
• Research Task – Students choose one of Atwood’s key influences to investigate further.
• Exit Task: Students show how Atwood’s use of real-world influences strengthens the novel’s warnings in a quick exit task.

Perfect for GCSE and A-Level English Literature, this resource promotes critical thinking, discussion, and independent research skills.

Download now to enhance your students’ understanding of Atwood’s dystopian warning!

51���� 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.