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Notes On The Author
Notes On The Author
Margaret Atwood is a Canadian author, poet, and literary critic whose prolific body of work has earned her numerous literary awards and accolades. Born in Ottawa in 1939, Atwood grew up in Canada's wilderness and spent much of her childhood reading and writing. After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, she went on to earn her master's degree at Harvard University.
Atwood is known for her exploration of themes such as feminism, dystopia, and environmentalism. Her writing often offers alternative perspectives on familiar stories, and she has been a vocal advocate for social justice and environmental causes. Atwood's use of multiple genres and forms within her writing, including science fiction, historical fiction, and poetry, has made her work both versatile and engaging.
The Penelopiad is part of Atwood's larger body of work that explores the role of women in history and myth. In this novel, Atwood offers an alternative perspective on the familiar story of The Odyssey, retelling it from the perspective of Penelope, the wife of the Greek hero Odysseus. By giving voice to a traditionally silent character, Atwood challenges the patriarchal narrative of the original story and highlights the experiences of women in ancient Greece.
Atwood's writing is also known for its exploration of social and environmental issues. In addition to her literary work, she has been a vocal advocate for social justice and environmentalism. Her writing often reflects these concerns, and The Penelopiad is no exception. Through her portrayal of the gods and goddesses in the novel, Atwood offers a commentary on power dynamics and the consequences of environmental degradation.
By exploring the role of women in myth and history, and by highlighting social and environmental issues, Atwood's writing offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective that continues to resonate with readers today.
The Penelopiad is a retelling of a classical Greek myth: The Odyssey. Whereas the original myth focused on Odysseus, Atwood's story focuses on his wife, Penelope. Read the slides about the original myth and Greek culture to better understand this novel.
EXPLORING THE PENELOPIAD
EXPLORING THE PENELOPIAD
Click the link above or the image of the book cover to access a PDF version of this text. Whilst having a digital version of the text is useful, it might also be a good idea to buy a hard copy of the text so that you can make annotations as you read. Don't forget, the more active you are as you read, the better your understanding of the text will be.
The following sections are broken up for our benefit. They are organised in short sections that allow us to discuss the text more effectively. The division of the text into these nine sections is NOT a choice made by the author.
Use this study pack to organise your notes on the text. Keeping your notes together like this will help you track patterns across the text, make connections to other texts, and prepare for assessments in the future.
You can also explore click the image of a pile of books to visit the 'Analysing Novels & Short Stories' page, which can help you explore this text.
Some people say, "We shouldn't judge the past by the standards of today." How does this apply to The Penelopiad?
Does Atwood's portrayal of Penelope challenge her idealised image of her in The Odyssey?
Is Penelope a reliable narrator, or does she manipulate the truth to serve her narrative?
How does the dynamic between Penelope and Helen reflect on societal values regarding beauty and power?
What emotions or perspectives do the Chorus of Maids evoke? Do they seem justified in their grievances?
To what extent does Atwood humanise Penelope and the maids, moving them beyond mythological archetypes?
Does Penelope’s wit and intelligence empower her, or does it serve to highlight her lack of agency?
Do you think Helen is an empowered or disempowered character?
What do you think of Atwood’s choice to have Penelope narrate from the afterlife?
Was Penelope a sympathetic narrator?
How does Atwood use the structure of the novel, alternating between Penelope’s narrative and the Chorus of Maids, to critique the myth of The Odyssey?
In what ways does The Penelopiad explore themes of power and gender dynamics in ancient and contemporary contexts?
Analyze the symbolic significance of weaving in the narrative and its relationship to Penelope’s identity and agency.
How does Atwood use humor and irony to subvert traditional hero myths in The Penelopiad?
Discuss how The Penelopiadaddresses the theme of justice, particularly in the treatment of the maids.
How does Atwood challenge the glorification of Odysseus through Penelope’s perspective?
Explore the role of storytelling in shaping memory and legacy as depicted in The Penelopiad.
How does Atwood critique the patriarchal values embedded in Greek mythology through Penelope’s narrative?
In what ways does The Penelopiadcritique class hierarchies through the portrayal of the maids and their treatment in contrast to the aristocracy?
How does The Penelopiad embody postmodernist techniques, such as metafiction and intertextuality, to challenge traditional narratives of The Odyssey?
Click the link above or the image to access materials that might help with your understanding of the text.
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