Learn English meaning of ‘the handmaid's tale’

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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• dystopian
• fertile
• revolution
• Big Brother

• close to home
• get real
• feel off
• based on

• go wrong
• bejesus

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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The Handmaid’s Tale is a very scary story. The popular TV show is based on a dystopian novel written by Margaret Atwood. The writer imagined a future where most women are not fertile. The women who are fertile are called handmaids. After a revolution, the totalitarian government controls the handmaids’ lives just like Big Brother.

Some might say it is an unrealistic story. Others might say it is very realistic. The story discusses themes like public health, religion, control, independence, and environmental pollution. Some would say these issues are close to home. The TV show is also intense and got pretty real. Many think it is based on our reality in the world right now.

Andy is feeling kind of off after watching an episode. Listen as he and Dominique discuss in today’s English lesson.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Andy_H

Dominique

Andy_H:  So, uh… Dominique. I’m feeling kind of off today.

Dominique:  Why? What’s going on Andy?

Andy_H:  Well, I watched Handmaid’s Tale, and it got pretty real. Like, I get it that it’s, you know, based on a book that’s been out, you know, since the 80s. It’s about a dystopian, post-revolution society, but it just hit really close to home for me.

Dominique:  How so?

Andy_H:  Well, there’s this scene with a protest gone wrong and I mean, I… It scared me. I’m not going to lie. This is the first show I’ve seen in awhile that actually scared the bejesus out of me.

Dominique:  Is that the show where the women can no longer have babies?

Andy_H:  Presto! That’s exactly the one. They all have the bonnets and so… The handmaids are the only women who are fertile. They’re the only ones who can, you know, birth children. But Big Brother and the totalitarian government has like, you know, taken control of them, so… They force them to have the babies that the government wants.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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