Native Lit Jan 23 - Google Docs

Page 1: Introduction to Margaret Atwood

  • Birth: Margaret Atwood was born in Ottawa in 1939.

  • Philosophical Perspective: Sherrill Grace states that Atwood embodies the tension between art and life.

  • Character Isolation: Atwood’s characters often experience isolation from one another and the natural world.

  • Women’s Suffering: "My women suffer because most of the women I talk to seem to have suffered."

Why Rewrite Moodie's Stories?

  • Atwood's inspiration to explore Moodie's works emerged from a dream.

  • Initial Disappointment: Criticism of Moodie's prose for being discursive and lacking structure, described as "collections of disconnected anecdotes."

  • Atwood is drawn back to Moodie's work due to the subtlety and complexity beneath the surface of the text.

  • Highlights the conflict within Moodie's feelings versus societal expectations.

Themes of Moodie's Perspective

  • Nature's Duality: Moodie presents nature as awe-inspiring and destructive, highlighting colonial and modern mindsets.

  • Identity: Discusses performative identity and the contrast of private persona versus public image.

Reasons for Rewriting

  • Promotes feminist perspectives.

  • Seeks to break emotional barriers and present a less colonial view.

  • Aims to reinterpret perspectives, providing different viewpoints.

  • Highlights the reader's role in judging Moodie's perspectives and worldviews.

  • Touches on themes of autobiography versus national identity.

  • Reflects on personal experiences of dislocation and mental illness.

Page 2: Moodie’s Journals and Artistic Collaborations

  • Human Connection: Moodie's journey involves a struggle between distancing herself from neighbors and her need for human connection.

  • Canadian Landscape: The Canadian environment is both fascinating and intimidating to her.

The Journals of Susanne Moodie

  • Journal 1 (1832-1840): Begins with Moodie's arrival in Canada and ends with her departure from the bush.

    • Key themes include disembarking in Quebec and adapting to new arrivals.

  • Journal 2 (1840-1871): Focuses on family life in Belleville, including the death of her young son by drowning.

  • Journal 3 (1871-1969): Offers reflections later in her life.

Charles Pachter and Canadian Identity

  • Background: Born in Toronto (1942), Pachter is a contemporary Canadian artist exploring national identity.

  • Moodie as a Presence: He views Moodie as a significant figure symbolizing Canada's past.

  • Collaborations: Created five limited edition handmade books exploring Moodie’s themes.

  • Artistic Approach: Pachter integrates Atwood's images into his artwork to reveal complexities without direct replication.

Moodie as a Symbol

  • Represents the pioneer mother filled with stubbornness and arrogance.

  • Reflects the realities of 19th-century colonization and the emotional challenges of migration.

  • Captures themes of homesickness, culture shock, and the settler experience.

Page 3: Poetry Toolbox and Disembarking in Quebec

  • Cultural Symbolism: Poetry serves to represent ideas through symbolic characters and actions.

Literary Devices

  • Symbolism: Represents larger concepts through symbols, transcending literal meanings.

  • Imagery: Rhetorical images that illustrate characters’ psychological states.

  • Metaphor and Simile: Comparisons that evoke deeper meanings (e.g., "the city is a jungle").

Theme Exploration in "Disembarking in Quebec"

  • Integration Refusal: Moodie’s struggle to integrate and her feelings of rejection by the land.

  • Fear and Awe: Highlights her fear while attempting to navigate a foreign landscape.

  • Key Imagery: Themes of desolation, self-reflection, and alienation are prominent (e.g., "I am a word of foreign language").

Page 4: Moodie/Atwood’s Views on Nature

Inner Turmoil and Nature

  • Moodie and Atwood view the natural world as terrifying and unfamiliar, leading to nightmarish visions.

  • Animal Imagery: Animals embody internal fears and serve as metaphors for psychological states.

The Character of Brian the Still-Hunter

  • Represents dualities—kindness vs. lost identity and the tension between external appearance and internal conflict.

  • Depression/The Hunter: Brian is depicted as a hunter physically but plagued by his mental struggles.

  • Suggests a warning about the dangers of the environment and mental health.

Thoughts of the Underground

  • Moodie’s Legacy: The poem conveys a sense of being trapped by the past and its consequences.

  • Charles Pachter’s Insight: He emphasizes the psychological impact of pioneer life through the interplay of text and imagery.