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GENERAL ENGLISH · ENGLISH IN VIDEO · ADVANCED (C1-C2)

THE
HANDMAID’S
TALE
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1 Warm up

Think of your home country or a country you know very well. Answer the following questions.

Dystopia→ a fictional civilization where the lives of most of the people living there are very difficult,
dangerous, or unpleasant.

Utopia→ a fictional civilization where life for the people living there is absolutely perfect.

1. In your personal view, what would make somewhere a dystopia? What would be happening to
make it so bad?
2. In your personal view, what would make somewhere a utopia? What would make somewhere a
perfect place to live?

Think of your home country or a country you know very well. Answer the following questions.

• What would have to change in that country so that it could be a perfect place to live in your
opinion? List at least five aspects that could change.

• What could potentially change in that country that would make life considerably worse for the
majority of the people living there?

Now, in pairs, explain your ideas to each other.

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2 Understanding the introduction

Part A: Put the following sentences from the introduction of the video in order from 1 - 8. The first
one is done for you.

Dystopias, on the other hand, are not necessarily predictions of apocalyptic futures, but rather
warnings about the ways in which societies can set themselves on the path to destruction.

In Margaret Atwood’s near-future novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, a Christian fundamentalist regime called
the Republic of Gilead has staged a military coup and established a theocratic government in the United
States. 1

The Handmaid’s Tale is what Atwood calls speculative fiction, meaning it theorizes about possible
futures.

The possible futures in Atwood’s novels are usually negative, or dystopian, where the actions of a small
group have destroyed society as we know it.

The regime theoretically restricts everyone, but in practice, a few men have structured Gilead so they
have all the power, especially over women.

This is a fundamental characteristic shared by both utopian and dystopian texts.

Utopian and dystopian writing tends to parallel political trends.

Utopian writing frequently depicts an idealized society that the author puts forth as a blueprint to
strive toward.

Watch the video (00:00 - 01.20) to check your answer.

Part B: Find words in the introduction in Part A which mean the same as the following.

1. An illegal and often violent change of government

2. organizing society based on religion
3. a strict form of government, usually not democratic
4. shows or represents something
5. a plan which details how something can be achieved
6. enormously damaging and destructive

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Now complete the following questions with the correct form of the words you found.

1. Which countries in the past have experienced a military _________?

2. Which movies or books that you know of are set in an _________ vision of the future?
3. Which countries today have a _________ form of government?
4. Are you comfortable watching movies which _________ violence? Why/Why not?
5. What would you tell your children is the _________ for a successful life?
6. In your opinion, which countries around the world are, or have been, controlled by a dangerous
_________?
Now in pairs, answer the questions.

3 Focus on vocabulary
Part A: Write the following extracts in the correct blank in the definitions.
against their will does not agree give public support is not needed
most important character rules very strictly to have children you are told

1. advocate (v): to to a cause

2. subservient (adj.): doing what to do
3. fertile (adj.): able
4. rape (v): to force someone to have sex
5. dissenter (n): a person who with generally accepted opinions
6. protagonist (n): the in a book, play, or movie
7. fundamentalist (n): someone who follows religious or ideological
8. complacency (n): the state of believing that change

Part B: Now write a word from the same family as the words in Part A in the correct blank.

1. I don’t necessarily disagree with you. I’m just playing devil’s . (advocate)
2. I thought his book was brilliant and really exposed some truths about
humanity. (fundamentalist)
3. Having to face her in court was obviously the cause of extreme distress.
(rape)
4. He publicly registered his by voting against the proposal. (dissenter)
5. He is fondly remembered as one the central of the science fiction
series. (protagonist)
6. He bowed before the Queen as a demonstration of his . (subservient)
7. The land in the area was known for its , and crops could never be
successfully grown there. (fertile)
8. While there’s no immediate danger, it’s important not to become . Disaster
could strike at any time. (complacency)

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Now in pairs, answer the following questions.

1. Who is your favorite protagonist in a movie or novel?

2. How do the authorities in your country deal with dissenters?
3. Do you believe that is good to be subservient to someone or something? Why/Why not?
4. In your opinion, is it important whether or not a woman or a man is fertile?
5. What causes or public figures do you advocate for?
6. What do you believe should happen to people who are guilty of rape?

4 Comprehension

Watch the rest of the video (01:20 - 05:04) and choose the correct options to complete the sentences.

1. The Handmaid’s Tale was published at a time when...

a. there was great unrest over issues of racial equality in the United States.
b. Feminism had recently become a new and popular social movement.
c. ideas of equality for women were being challenged politically.
d. there had been a major increase in the number of attacks on black females.

2. In the book, Gilead divides women ...

a. according to their color.

b. based on their social class.
c. based on how attractive they are.
d. according to the tasks they can perform for the men.

3. Despite the book being set in the future ...

a. it was based on real events in the 1980s.

b. all of the events in the book have happened somewhere in the world since its publication.
c. it was inspired by the feminist movement in the past.
d. it was based on real events that had happened in the past in various places around the world.

4. The Puritans from Massachusetts were a basis for the society depicted in the book due to ...

a. their harsh rules which affected all elements of life in that society.
b. the color coding of women’s clothes at that time.
c. their society favoring men over women.
d. the great importance of religious rituals in their lives.

5. Margaret Atwood’s connection to the Puritans was personal because ...

a. her family was descended from the Puritans.

b. her ancestor had been accused of being a witch by the Puritans but survived execution.
c. her family had always worked for the church since arriving in America.
d. her mother used to tell her about the Puritans to frighten her when she was a child.

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6. In the book, prior to Gilead being established, Offred ...

a. worked for the government in a well-paid position.

b. was in prison for armed robbery.
c. was a regular, middle-class American.
d. had been famous and wealthy.

7. After establishing itself as the government, Gilead tries to influence ...

a. the food that people are able to consume.

b. the way people in its society think and behave.
c. the books and movies which people are able to read and watch.
d. the music that people are able to listen to.

8. According to the video, the novel explores ...

a. the origins of the feminist movement and why it’s so important.

b. how violence can be used to control the population.
c. how to resist and overpower theocratic governments.
d. the ways in which power can be misused and the results of inaction.

5 Talking point

Imagine you are leaders of a country. You want to create a utopia. What rules would everyone need
to follow or what ideas would everyone need to embrace in order to achieve this perfect state?

In pairs or small groups, write down 8 ideas or rules.

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6 Extra activity/homework

In the video, the following phrases are used. Explain what they mean.

conservative groups

1.

gains the upper hand

2.

demolishes the progress

3.

accused of witchcraft

4.

skimmed the surface of

5.

denied her identity

6.

two-legged womb

7.

drives the plot

8.

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