Oral Presentation Like Water For Choc. Chap2

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ORAL PRESENTATION IB HAND MAIDS TALE CHAPTER 2

Offred describes her living quarters and ponders her situation.  Read the extract and compose a compentary on everything you learn about her as a person and as a story teller.  How does Atwood try to engage your sympathy for Offred?  Is she successful? Read the opening of chapter 2, “A window, two white curtains.  Under the window,….who was in love with either/or.”

--Offred describes her surroundings in great detail ex. “… which I made of wood, in narrow strips, highly polished.” Or even noticing how the room changes when the window is opened vs. closed, “makes the curtains move”  (Symbolically suffocating as only partially able to open/partial air)

Often sparks interior monologue about past

Plenty of time to do so, nothing else occupies time

--Can’t control inner thoughts (area of freedom) – stream of consciousness fitting, although her memory is spotted (hint of brainwashing involved)

--Separates herself from the people in authority, “they”  “them” (anonymous) Even though they control her life, she does not offer them respect

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--Feels limited by her life and not satisfied living with maxims taught.  Longs for something more, “Waste not want not.  I am not being wasted.  Why do I want?

(Rhetorical and ironic)  Playful alliteration.

--She is determined to survive, even if this means denying the truth sometimes, “Thinking can hurt your chances, and I intend to last.”  [Somewhat pathetic, we feel for her]

Compares “rationed” environment (limited supplies) to “rationed” thought

She is optimistic – recognizes the good, “But a chair, sunlight, flowers:; these are not to be dismissed.”  (Expresses danger of too much adaptation as ...

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