Chapter 1: What are the questions that come to mind when you read chapter 1?
*Why weren't they allowed to talk?
*Why was there a chain link fence?
*Who are the guards?
*Why do the guards have leather belts?
*Why re the people in the gymnasium?
*Why can they only go for two walks?
Chapter 2
Task 2:
What comparison does Offred make to herself and the rag rug?
"There's a rug on the floor, oval, of braided rugs"
"no further use"
This connotes that Offred believes that she has no further use. She is useless like to rug. In adddition rugs are walked all over therefore she thinks that people are walking all over her and there's nothing that she can do about it.
Thursday 30 September 2010
Wednesday 29 September 2010
Tuesday 28 September 2010
Homework on Chapter 7 September 27th 2010
Who are the characters?
Offred speaks of her mother and her friend Moira whom she obviously has a lot of things in common with i.e they are of the same age.
Offred's Mum is shown to be a juxtaposition of what a Mum should have been like back then, instead of stying at home with her daughter she goes out and burns pornographic magazines this connotes that Offred's Mum is a feminist- all for women's rights. Moreover her mother is shown to be quite open because she doesn't mind her young daughter seeing all of what was happening.
From what parts are they taken?
When Offred is referring to her mother she is talking about her childhood, this is obvious to us because Offred believed her mother when she said that they were going to the park.
When Offred is referring to Moira she is talking about when she was at college, writing papers, moreover she had to be over 18 because she was going out and drinking.
What do they reveal about Offred's personal history?
It reveals that when Offred was young women were free and they were allowed to do as they pleased i.e burn pornographic magazines. It also shows that Offred might be insecure and she is imagining her childhood memories to gain security, moreover she might be thinking of times when she was happy therefore she is trying to find comfort in her old memories.
Why is she exploring these memories, who is listening to them?
Offred might be exploring her childhood memories because she might be trying to seek comfort or security from them. Moreover I don't think that anyone is listening to her, although she speaks as if someone is there listening, this connotes that she is well educated.
What forms of writing do first person narratives suggest?
The whole idea of Offred speaking in first person connotes that she might be revisited her childhood memories spontaneously, therefore they could be memories that are just coming to her and she is saying them out allowed. She is not writing them down because writing is "forbidden".
Are the memories being written down?
The memories are not being written down because as Offred has stated writing is "forbidden"therefore it is not allowed. the word forbidden connotes that there might be a punishment if they go against the rule.
What tenses are used?
The tenses used are present and past. Past because she is recalling memories from her childhood.
Offred speaks of her mother and her friend Moira whom she obviously has a lot of things in common with i.e they are of the same age.
Offred's Mum is shown to be a juxtaposition of what a Mum should have been like back then, instead of stying at home with her daughter she goes out and burns pornographic magazines this connotes that Offred's Mum is a feminist- all for women's rights. Moreover her mother is shown to be quite open because she doesn't mind her young daughter seeing all of what was happening.
From what parts are they taken?
When Offred is referring to her mother she is talking about her childhood, this is obvious to us because Offred believed her mother when she said that they were going to the park.
When Offred is referring to Moira she is talking about when she was at college, writing papers, moreover she had to be over 18 because she was going out and drinking.
What do they reveal about Offred's personal history?
It reveals that when Offred was young women were free and they were allowed to do as they pleased i.e burn pornographic magazines. It also shows that Offred might be insecure and she is imagining her childhood memories to gain security, moreover she might be thinking of times when she was happy therefore she is trying to find comfort in her old memories.
Why is she exploring these memories, who is listening to them?
Offred might be exploring her childhood memories because she might be trying to seek comfort or security from them. Moreover I don't think that anyone is listening to her, although she speaks as if someone is there listening, this connotes that she is well educated.
What forms of writing do first person narratives suggest?
The whole idea of Offred speaking in first person connotes that she might be revisited her childhood memories spontaneously, therefore they could be memories that are just coming to her and she is saying them out allowed. She is not writing them down because writing is "forbidden".
Are the memories being written down?
The memories are not being written down because as Offred has stated writing is "forbidden"therefore it is not allowed. the word forbidden connotes that there might be a punishment if they go against the rule.
What tenses are used?
The tenses used are present and past. Past because she is recalling memories from her childhood.
Thursday 23 September 2010
September 23rd
Lexicon of terms:
Description and purpose of a verb:
A verb is a doing or a being word and they can be in different tenses=> past, present or future.
Continuous verb: 'ing' words i.e: walking, running.
Modal verbs.
Conditional verbs: i.e: couldn't, shouldn't, wouldn't.
Transitive and intransitive verbs:
Intransitive verbs only have a subject i.e: he runs, she swims, they sleep.
Transitive verbs have a subject and a direct object i.e: she eats an apple.
Analysis of chapters 2-6.
Chapter 2: the quote "white curtains" connote purity and innocence and virginity moreover, this is a juxtaposition of what the handmaids are, the handmaids are not virginal nor pure.
"red" the handmaids wear red denotes love, Passion lust, and sexual activity (fertility), the handmaids wear red because they are fertile therefore, they have periods.
The commander wear black connoting that they are in charge and in control.
The wives wear blue connoting that they are calm.
The Martha's wear greens.
Handmaids wear red.
The econowives wear 3 colours: red, blue and green connoting that they are fertile therefore, they can reproduce and that they are wives to men.
"waste not want not. I am not being wasted. Why do I want?
This quote connotes that the handmaids fertility is not being wasted and the fact that they can have babies is a good thing. It also suggests that the Handmaid is willing to use her fertility to give the family a baby instead of her fertility going to "waste".
If they do not become handmaids they go to colonies, where it is polluted.
The Handmaids have circumstances because they are fertile.
*Of/Glen
*Of/Fred
The handmaids names are linked to the commanders names, the commander own the handmaids.
Chapter 3: "Sometimes the maid sits in the garden" the wife enjoys her garden and her own company, moreover a garden is a place where children play and have fun, therefore, the wives may dream and think about when they have children. the wives are possessive, intimidating and they make the handmaids feel uncomfortable and threatened. The wives are territorial.
Chapter 4 "girls are not allowed to talk to men".
The girls look at the floor when men walk past, the men don't whistle nor touch the girls. they lower their head and their "wings" cover their head. this connotes that they are pure and virginal, however they are the opposite.
The handmaids have to go around in twos because they are not trusted to go anywhere on their own because they might try and run away.
they also have rules and regulations of which they have to follow.
Chapter 5: The wives are well respected, and they long to become pregnant.
The society is broken because there are too many choices to be made.
Chapter 6: The handmaids have to follow rules and regulations i.e they are not allow to go on the trains bridges nor rivers. They are not trusted to go anywhere on their own therefore, they have to go everywhere in pairs, they have to walk everywhere, moreover they are known to the whole world and society as being "handmaids".
They are none to have no feelings and they are broken because the wives treat them so badly.
They are frowned upon and they have to do what they at told, in addition they can only go down a few routes. The handmaids lives are structured and very ordered.
**Anarchy: Government controlled.
**Theocracy: God.
Description and purpose of a verb:
A verb is a doing or a being word and they can be in different tenses=> past, present or future.
Continuous verb: 'ing' words i.e: walking, running.
Modal verbs.
Conditional verbs: i.e: couldn't, shouldn't, wouldn't.
Transitive and intransitive verbs:
Intransitive verbs only have a subject i.e: he runs, she swims, they sleep.
Transitive verbs have a subject and a direct object i.e: she eats an apple.
Analysis of chapters 2-6.
Chapter 2: the quote "white curtains" connote purity and innocence and virginity moreover, this is a juxtaposition of what the handmaids are, the handmaids are not virginal nor pure.
"red" the handmaids wear red denotes love, Passion lust, and sexual activity (fertility), the handmaids wear red because they are fertile therefore, they have periods.
The commander wear black connoting that they are in charge and in control.
The wives wear blue connoting that they are calm.
The Martha's wear greens.
Handmaids wear red.
The econowives wear 3 colours: red, blue and green connoting that they are fertile therefore, they can reproduce and that they are wives to men.
"waste not want not. I am not being wasted. Why do I want?
This quote connotes that the handmaids fertility is not being wasted and the fact that they can have babies is a good thing. It also suggests that the Handmaid is willing to use her fertility to give the family a baby instead of her fertility going to "waste".
If they do not become handmaids they go to colonies, where it is polluted.
The Handmaids have circumstances because they are fertile.
*Of/Glen
*Of/Fred
The handmaids names are linked to the commanders names, the commander own the handmaids.
Chapter 3: "Sometimes the maid sits in the garden" the wife enjoys her garden and her own company, moreover a garden is a place where children play and have fun, therefore, the wives may dream and think about when they have children. the wives are possessive, intimidating and they make the handmaids feel uncomfortable and threatened. The wives are territorial.
Chapter 4 "girls are not allowed to talk to men".
The girls look at the floor when men walk past, the men don't whistle nor touch the girls. they lower their head and their "wings" cover their head. this connotes that they are pure and virginal, however they are the opposite.
The handmaids have to go around in twos because they are not trusted to go anywhere on their own because they might try and run away.
they also have rules and regulations of which they have to follow.
Chapter 5: The wives are well respected, and they long to become pregnant.
The society is broken because there are too many choices to be made.
Chapter 6: The handmaids have to follow rules and regulations i.e they are not allow to go on the trains bridges nor rivers. They are not trusted to go anywhere on their own therefore, they have to go everywhere in pairs, they have to walk everywhere, moreover they are known to the whole world and society as being "handmaids".
They are none to have no feelings and they are broken because the wives treat them so badly.
They are frowned upon and they have to do what they at told, in addition they can only go down a few routes. The handmaids lives are structured and very ordered.
**Anarchy: Government controlled.
**Theocracy: God.
Sunday 19 September 2010
Handmaids tale Chapter summary 1-5
In the first chapter the narrator describes how all the women slept in a gymnasium in army cots. Elizabeth patrol the site with weapons but not guns, and the women, are not allowed to speak out loud so they whisper without distracted them and without getting the guards attention. Everyday the women would be allowed to walk around the old football field which was not surrounded by a silver meter chain. There were armed guards outside whom were not allowed inside unless they were called to do so. Moreover this chapter goes into quite a lot of depth about how the characters communicated (they could lip read) this connotes that lip reading was there only form of communication.
In the second chapter the story changes tense. They now live in a place where there are no curtains and the windows do not open fully so that they cannot escape moreover the one picture that hangs on the wall has no glass to cover it. The picture is of flowers (flowers are allowed
In the second chapter the story changes tense. They now live in a place where there are no curtains and the windows do not open fully so that they cannot escape moreover the one picture that hangs on the wall has no glass to cover it. The picture is of flowers (flowers are allowed
.) all the Handmaids where red, the house servants "Martha's" wear green uniforms and the wives wear blue uniforms. servants are not allowed to form relationships nor bonds with the house wives. tokens are used to purchase items : Each token has an image of what will be purchased "eggs, cheese and steak"
3: The Commander’s Wife has a garden, and she knits all the time. All the Wives knit scarves “for the Angels at the front lines,” but the Commander’s Wife is very skilled. On the first day, her new mistress told her to stay out of her sight as much as possible, and to avoid making trouble. Then the Wife reminded her that the Commander is her husband, always and forever. “It’s one of the things we fought for,” she said, looking away.
4: Offred notices Nick a Guardian of the Faith washing the Commander’s car. Nick lives on top of the garage. The Handmaids always travel in pairs when outside.
3: The Commander’s Wife has a garden, and she knits all the time. All the Wives knit scarves “for the Angels at the front lines,” but the Commander’s Wife is very skilled. On the first day, her new mistress told her to stay out of her sight as much as possible, and to avoid making trouble. Then the Wife reminded her that the Commander is her husband, always and forever. “It’s one of the things we fought for,” she said, looking away.
4: Offred notices Nick a Guardian of the Faith washing the Commander’s car. Nick lives on top of the garage. The Handmaids always travel in pairs when outside.
They reach a checkpoint with two young Guardians. The Guardians serve as a routine police force. They are men too young, too old, or just generally unfit for the army. (not the norm) Young guardians can be dangerous because they are usually nervous than older guards. These young Guardians recently shot a Martha as she fumbled for her pass, because they thought she was a man in disguise carrying a bomb. The Guardians can only hope to become Angels, when they will be allowed to take a wife and perhaps eventually get a Handmaid. This denotes the first time in the novel we hear the word “Handmaid” used.
5. We learn the name of this new society: “The Republic of Gilead.” Now no one whistles at women as they walk; no one touches them or talks to them. The women shop at stores known by names like All Flesh and Milk and Honey. Pictures of meat or fruit mark the stores, rather than lettered signs, because “they decided that even the names of shops were too much temptation for us.” The tourists want to take a photograph, but Offred refuses
Handmaids tale Section headings 19th September 2010
The section headings in Handmaids tale are short and concise; therefore, they are only a couple of words or even less. These headings make the audience wonder what significance these words might have. "Night, Soul scrolls, Birth Day". personally these words seem very abstract and and they are not words that I would use on a day to day basis which gives the impression that the book may have a twist to it. The short effective headings lure the reader in and it makes them want to read on. From the first chapter you can tell that this book is well written and it has a lot of meaning to it.
Wednesday 15 September 2010
Handmaids Tale questions 9th September 2010
What is the Bible?
The Bible is a holy book in which Christians believe in, moreover it has two sections: the old testament and the new testament The book consists of the rights and wrongs i.e the ten commandments.
How has/does the Bible influence the lives of people?
The Bible influences people by telling them what to do and what not to do. this is done through force and fear: force: people think that there is someone with a greater power whom sees everything they do.
Does this quotation offer a sound model for a happy life?
This quotation is very biased because it does not consist of the Maid and how she feels about having sex with Jacob and giving birth to Rachel ad Jacob's children. However Rachel and Jacob will be happy because they will get what they want.
Does Rachel present a reasonable argument?
Rachel does present a reasonable argument in some ways because Jacob having sex with the maid and the maid giving birth to their children would be a quick and efficient way for Rachel and Jacob to have children. However the Maid is unaware about what is going on and she might not want to got through with this, but she may have to if she wants to keep her job. In addition Rachel may get protective over the children once they are born and she might fire the Maid therefore, the maid has a very difficult decision to make.
Are the feelings of all participants explored?
All the participants feelings are not explored: Jacob and the Maid's are not considered.
Rachel has just assumed that the maid will agree to this suggestion, this connotes that Rachel is confident that she has the upper hand and that she is in control of the maid. Moreover the Maid doesn't really have a choice in the matter because if she says no she ricks losing her job and if she agrees she might get accused of sleeping around and she still may lose her job due to her being the third adult in Rachel and Jacob's marriage. In addition; Rachel is assuming that Jacob with have sex with the maid, Rachel doesn't actually ask him if he minds. Rachel's feelings are the only ones that are considered to a great extent which connotes that she is determined to get her way.
The Bible is a holy book in which Christians believe in, moreover it has two sections: the old testament and the new testament The book consists of the rights and wrongs i.e the ten commandments.
How has/does the Bible influence the lives of people?
The Bible influences people by telling them what to do and what not to do. this is done through force and fear: force: people think that there is someone with a greater power whom sees everything they do.
Does this quotation offer a sound model for a happy life?
This quotation is very biased because it does not consist of the Maid and how she feels about having sex with Jacob and giving birth to Rachel ad Jacob's children. However Rachel and Jacob will be happy because they will get what they want.
Does Rachel present a reasonable argument?
Rachel does present a reasonable argument in some ways because Jacob having sex with the maid and the maid giving birth to their children would be a quick and efficient way for Rachel and Jacob to have children. However the Maid is unaware about what is going on and she might not want to got through with this, but she may have to if she wants to keep her job. In addition Rachel may get protective over the children once they are born and she might fire the Maid therefore, the maid has a very difficult decision to make.
Are the feelings of all participants explored?
All the participants feelings are not explored: Jacob and the Maid's are not considered.
Rachel has just assumed that the maid will agree to this suggestion, this connotes that Rachel is confident that she has the upper hand and that she is in control of the maid. Moreover the Maid doesn't really have a choice in the matter because if she says no she ricks losing her job and if she agrees she might get accused of sleeping around and she still may lose her job due to her being the third adult in Rachel and Jacob's marriage. In addition; Rachel is assuming that Jacob with have sex with the maid, Rachel doesn't actually ask him if he minds. Rachel's feelings are the only ones that are considered to a great extent which connotes that she is determined to get her way.
Handmaids Tale epigraphs explained
The novel starts off with 3 epigraphs.
An epigraph is a phrase, poem or quote at the beginning of a written piece of work or chapter.
"And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel; and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I many also have children by her". - Genesis 30:1-3
Jacob asks Rachel whether he is the reason why she can't have children and if he is denying her children "the fruit of his womb". Although Jacob doesn't have any intentions of being mean and horrible he does come across to be selfish. Moreover Jacob asks whether he has the powers to make Rachel pregnant "am I in Gods stead", therefore he is not in control of if and when Rachel becomes and gets pregnant.
Back then it was a patriarchal society and it was seen as normal for men to have sex with their slaves. Rachel is jealous of her sister whom has children and Rachel will go to any extents to get children of her own, even allowing her husband to sleep with the maid.
Moreover the epigraph is from the Bible and the bible clearly quotes " thou shall not commit adultery". Therefore, the quote is contradicting itself by allowing the husband to sleep with his maid. Although Rachel is giving consent to the whole idea it is still seen as wrong due to her husband having sex with another women. This connotes that Rachel is willing to go against the Bible and the ten commandments to get children.
In addition Rachel is using emotional blackmail on Jacob by saying that she will die if he doesn't give her children "Give me children, or else I die". Jacob may feel bad and therefore go an sleep with the maid so that he does not loose his wife.
2. "In the deserts there is not sign that says "thou shall not eat stones" sufi proverb.
This quote connotes that people will not eat stones because they find it wrong however what is considered to be "wrong"?
There is not sign however people see it as unnatural and it is not normal to eat stones.
An epigraph is a phrase, poem or quote at the beginning of a written piece of work or chapter.
"And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel; and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I many also have children by her". - Genesis 30:1-3
Jacob asks Rachel whether he is the reason why she can't have children and if he is denying her children "the fruit of his womb". Although Jacob doesn't have any intentions of being mean and horrible he does come across to be selfish. Moreover Jacob asks whether he has the powers to make Rachel pregnant "am I in Gods stead", therefore he is not in control of if and when Rachel becomes and gets pregnant.
Back then it was a patriarchal society and it was seen as normal for men to have sex with their slaves. Rachel is jealous of her sister whom has children and Rachel will go to any extents to get children of her own, even allowing her husband to sleep with the maid.
Moreover the epigraph is from the Bible and the bible clearly quotes " thou shall not commit adultery". Therefore, the quote is contradicting itself by allowing the husband to sleep with his maid. Although Rachel is giving consent to the whole idea it is still seen as wrong due to her husband having sex with another women. This connotes that Rachel is willing to go against the Bible and the ten commandments to get children.
In addition Rachel is using emotional blackmail on Jacob by saying that she will die if he doesn't give her children "Give me children, or else I die". Jacob may feel bad and therefore go an sleep with the maid so that he does not loose his wife.
2. "In the deserts there is not sign that says "thou shall not eat stones" sufi proverb.
This quote connotes that people will not eat stones because they find it wrong however what is considered to be "wrong"?
There is not sign however people see it as unnatural and it is not normal to eat stones.
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