Dissecting Dystopias: The Handmaid's Tale
What's included
1 live meeting
1 in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Dystopian fiction has remained a popular literary genre for decades, largely because it acts as both a mirror for our current society and a warning for the future. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood remains a culturally important and relevant work, spawning a critically acclaimed television series and contributing terminology and visual imagery to real-world social and political movements. This is not a novel study or book club, but a focused look into dystopian societies in media and how they reflect contemporary events and concepts. As part of Dissecting Dystopia series, this class will guide learners towards answering the following questions: • What elements of dystopias can you identify in The Handmaid's Tale? • How does the society in The Handmaid's Tale affect the personal, social, professional, economic, and religious spheres of characters' lives? • Do any elements of The Handmaid's Tale seem utopian at first look? • How have elements of The Handmaid's Tale affected language in the real world? • What are the social, political, or economic messages of The Handmaid's Tale? Learners should read The Handmaid's Tale prior to class. This class does not cover the events of The Testaments (Margaret Atwood's sequel novel). While I will use some non-graphic stills from The Handmaid's Tale show for visual reference for topics such as how clothing color is used to segregate the social and economic spheres, the focus of this course is the novel, not the television series, and events and characters that exist solely in the show will not be included in discussion. This course is taught through a mix of lecture and discussion, with visual references to illustrate specific points. I will explain each concept, provide examples, and then ask learners for additional examples to ensure they understand the concepts and how to apply them. Learners are strongly encouraged to take Dissecting Dystopia: Intro to Dystopias prior to this class, as it introduces learners to terminology and concepts that will be used in this class.
Learning Goals
Learners will learn to identify what elements of The Handmaid's Tale make it a dystopia and how that dystopia affects the five spheres of characters' lives: personal, social, professional, economic, and religious.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Dystopian fiction contains elements some learners may find troubling, such as violence and oppression based on factors such as gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, level of education, religious/spiritual beliefs, and social status. The Handmaid's Tale specifically deals with the topics of brutal systemic sexism, racism, classism, religious oppression, and the sexual trafficking and enslavement of female characters, including forced pregnancy. We will objectively discuss the use of imagery from The Handmaid's Tale in social and political movements, and how the language of The Handmaid's Tale has impacted real-world legislation.
The Common Sense Media recommended reading age for The Handmaid's Tale is 16+, but a learner's emotional and academic readiness may vary. Please use your best judgment regarding your learner's readiness.
Supply List
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (to read prior to class)
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree from Kennesaw State University
I have a BA in English and an MA in Professional Writing, and have taught literature and writing classes to middle and high school students for many years, with a focus on apocalyptic, dystopian, and horror fiction. I am a recurring panelist and moderator at a major science fiction and fantasy convention, speaking on apocalyptic and dystopian media, including four consecutive years of panels specifically on The Handmaid's Tale (novel and show) and The Testaments for both all-ages and adult audiences. I have a deep understanding of the genre in both a professional and personal capacity, as well as the real-world implications and effects of dystopian media.
Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$18
per classMeets once
60 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-18
2-10 learners per class