ENG 102 (Michaud)

This guide supports Essay #4. Surfacing by Margaret Atwood is the primary source for this essay.

Prompt 1: Explore the nuanced portrayal of gender complexity in Surfacing, analyzing the novel's alignment with, interrogation of, or divergence from contemporary discourse on these issues. Consider socio-cultural dynamics and emphasize delving into specific niche ideas within the broader spectrum of gender complexity, steering clear of generalizations.

Suggested search terms: 

women AND patriarchy AND alienation

women AND male dominance

power in marriage

male gaze AND social implications

objectification AND women

objectification AND patriarchy

hormonal contraception AND health risks AND patriarchy

Prompt 2: Nationalism is characterized by an obsessive identification with one's own country at the expense of outsiders. Explore the nuanced exploration of nationalism in the novel. Scrutinize how the narrative aligns with, complicates, or challenges prevailing notions of nationalism, particularly as they pertain to the contemporary socio-political climate of the United States, considering global perspectives and historical contexts.

Suggested search terms: 

nationalism AND United States

Christian nationalism AND United States

nationalism AND America

new nationalism

digital nationalism

Prompt 3: Delve into the intricacies of the protagonist's confrontation with mental illness and trauma in the novel. Evaluate how the current landscape of research on these subjects both supports and complicates Atwood's treatment, taking into account evolving perspectives and interdisciplinary insights.

Suggested search terms:

psychological trauma AND psychosis NOT childhood

psychological trauma AND neurosis NOT childhood

alienation AND psychosis