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Margaret AtwoodA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
1. Atwood’s poem describes a classic “damsel in distress” scenario. The Siren calls for help, telling the sailors that they are unique in their ability to save her. She notes wryly that “it works every time.” Write and defend a thesis statement about The Influence of Ego on the Perception of Helplessness. The ego is a person’s sense of self-importance. Consider the ways a man’s sense of self-importance could be enhanced when he views himself as the savior of a helpless woman, and why.
2. In the sense that the Siren brings about the destruction of sailors, she might be considered a weapon in the “war of the sexes.” If so, what is the Siren trying to gain or defend? As you consider Woman as Weapon, write and defend a thesis statement that explains the Siren’s motivation. In what ways are the male sailors her enemies? Every sailor has the option of passing by the island unharmed. Do they deserve what they get?
By Margaret Atwood
Alias Grace
Alias Grace
Margaret Atwood
Backdrop Addresses Cowboy
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Cat's Eye
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Death By Landscape
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Hag-Seed
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Happy Endings
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Lady Oracle
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Life Before Man
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MaddAddam
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Oryx and Crake
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Rape Fantasies
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Stone Mattress
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Surfacing
Surfacing
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The Blind Assassin
The Blind Assassin
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The Circle Game
The Circle Game
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The Edible Woman
The Edible Woman
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The Handmaid's Tale
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The Heart Goes Last
The Heart Goes Last
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The Landlady
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Margaret Atwood