Free write which counted as a quiz: Think about a theme or recurring theme; the idea of narrator’s storytelling of the book, “The Handmaid’s Tale” base on what you have read so far. (Hints: words, languages, audience and communications.)

Friendly reminder:

Mid-Semester Grades: If you have NOT heard from our lovely professor Belli, then you are off the hook. She called out the names during class, if you did not attend class, email her just to be safe. If you want to know about your grade whether you are passing or failing.

Have a sense on how many blogs you’ve done so far and email professor if you can’t see her at normal timing when you want to have a chat with her about any assignments including the essay. Don’t forget to bring the printed materials with you!

Homework:

-People’s choice on the blogs about part III to part VIII, it’s due on November 8th, this coming Wednesday.

-Catch up on the reading in order to keep on track.

-Continue working on the Essay#1 and it’s due November 14th, next week, Tuesday.

Story Telling: Page 39 – 40:

“It isn’t a story I’m telling but it is a story I’m telling.” mixture of past and facts.

• Hierarchy – color of dresses
• Epigraphs
• Descriptive
• Imagery ( the book uses a lot of descriptions and imagery.)
• Narrative
• Table of contents – Functional (sort of like a journal, what happens, not so much like a list.)
• “Night” – has an importance in the book

Page 37:

“The night is mine, my own time, to do with as I will, as long as I am quiet. As long as I don’t move. As long as I lie still.”

• Night is the freedom, as long as she is quiet.
• Memories – She reminisces about her daughter Hannah and Husband Luke.
• Meditation – During the day, her life is about waiting to be told what to do. She has lots of free time.
• Time travels through Offred’s mind, she retains control of her mind while all else has been lost to her.
• Subjective Narrative – All she has is that cannot talk freely.
• Constantly revises the way she tells her story. Gilead, Red Center.
• Propaganda – To persuade you to change your opinion.
• Narrator thinks back to how commander reads bible by ceremony.
• Free association: Something that makes you think about something else, and on and on… (Offred’s Style or the signature of the author)
• Author is very attentive to detail.
• Offred was hungry on everything, such as news, nail polish in the stores.
• The system in Gilead was set up, but there was no more loyalty left because people loved each other and desired on each other, the emotion in people’s mind was getting much stronger than the system itself.
• “I need to be very clear, in my own mind.” (Page 33)
• “I wait. I compose myself. My self is a thing I must now compose, as one composes a speech. What I must present is a made thing, not something born.” (Page 66)

We will continue what we left off on Thursday 11/09/2017 🙂