The Handmaid's Tale at A level

This scheme of work focuses on The Handmaid’s Tale; due to the themes and level of complexity it is only suitable for students who are 16-18. It contains 28 lessons that allow thorough progression through the text, allowing opportunities for analysis and critical thinking. It is fully resourced and comes with worksheets, videos, notes, example essays and critical articles. It is particularly in depth for high achieving students, looking at post-modern concepts such as metafiction and the unreliable narrator. Character lessons refer to the York Notes A level edition. Each lesson focuses on different aspects of the text such as why Gilead could come true, the epigraphs, identity, feminist arguments, the irony of names, class hierarchy, rebellion, oppression, the role of the mother in society, the female body, use of colour imagery, masculinity and the role of religion.

Lesson 1: an introduction to The Handmaid’s Tale
Lesson 2: C1 The Gymnasium
Lesson 3: C2 Offred
Lesson 4: C3 Serena Joy
Lesson 5: C4-5 Shopping
Lesson 6: C6-7 Rebellion
Lesson 7: Oppression and Rebellion
Lesson 8: C11-12 Attitudes to childbirth
Lesson 9: C13 The Female Body
Lesson 10: C15-16 The Commander
Lesson 11: C17-18 Masculinity
Lesson 12: C19-20 Ofwarren
Lesson 13: C22 Moira
Lesson 14: C23 Offred and The Commander
Lesson 15: C25 Offred and The Commander
Lesson 16: C26-27 Piety and Dissent
Lesson 17: C28 Fragility of society
Lesson 18: C29 Offred and The Commander
Lesson 19: C30 Prayer
Lesson 20: C31 Serena and Offred
Lesson 21: C33 Prayvaganza
Lesson 22: C35-37 Symbolism
Lesson 23: C38-39 Moira
Lesson 24: C40 Nick
Lesson 25: C42-43 The Salvaging
Lesson 26: C45 The Ending
Lesson 27: Historical Notes
Lesson 28: End of Unit Quiz