SURVIVAL – MARGARET ATWOOD-CORE VIII CANADIAN STUDIES

 UNIT-II

 SURVIVAL – MARGARET ATWOOD

Let's begin with an introduction:

Margaret Atwood's "Survival" is a seminal work of Canadian literary criticism that explores the unique themes and motifs prevalent in Canadian literature. It posits that survival - both physical and psychological - is the central theme that unifies Canadian writing. This study guide delves into the key concepts and arguments presented in Atwood's work.

10 Two-mark Questions and Answers:

1. Q: What does Atwood identify as the central symbol for Canada?

   A: Survival is identified as the central unifying symbol for Canada.

2. Q: How does Atwood characterize the Canadian relationship with nature?

   A: Atwood portrays nature in Canadian literature as hostile or indifferent, often a threat to survival.

3. Q: What is the "Garrison Mentality" Atwood discusses?

   A: It's the idea that Canadian settlers saw themselves as isolated and surrounded by a hostile environment.

4. Q: How does Atwood describe the typical Canadian hero?

   A: The Canadian hero is often a victim or failure, unlike the triumphant American hero.

5. Q: What are the "victim positions" Atwood outlines?

   A: Atwood describes four victim positions, ranging from denial of victimhood to creative non-victimhood.

6. Q: How does Atwood characterize the immigrant experience in Canadian literature?

   A: Atwood portrays the immigrant experience as often marked by failure and disillusionment.

7. Q: What does Atwood say about the portrayal of Indigenous peoples in Canadian literature?

   A: Indigenous peoples are often depicted as victims or as symbols of a lost connection to nature.

8. Q: How does Atwood describe the typical ending in Canadian literature?

   A: Canadian stories often end in failure, death, or a grim form of survival rather than triumph.

9. Q: What does Atwood say about the portrayal of women in Canadian literature?

   A: Women are often depicted as trapped or victimized, with few positive Venus figures.

10. Q: How does Atwood characterize Quebec literature compared to English Canadian literature?

    A: Quebec literature often focuses on cultural survival and resistance against assimilation.

5 Five-mark Questions and Answers:

1. Q: Explain Atwood's concept of the "paralyzing antithesis" in Canadian literature.

   A: The "paralyzing antithesis" refers to the tension between the desire to stay and the urge to escape that many Canadian literary characters experience. This tension often results in inaction or paralysis. Characters feel trapped by their circumstances (often represented by harsh landscapes or oppressive social conditions) but are unable to leave due to fear, duty, or a lack of alternatives. This internal conflict reflects a broader theme in Canadian literature of individuals struggling with their identity and place in a challenging environment.

2. Q: Discuss how Atwood's analysis of animal stories in Canadian literature reflects broader themes of victimhood and survival.

   A: Atwood argues that Canadian animal stories differ significantly from their American or British counterparts. In Canadian stories, animals are often victims, dying at the end despite their struggles. This reflects the broader theme of survival against odds and the frequent failure to do so. The animals' struggles mirror those of human characters in Canadian literature, facing a hostile environment and often losing. This portrayal reinforces Atwood's argument that Canadian literature is preoccupied with victims and survival, even in stories ostensibly about animals.

3. Q: How does Atwood's analysis of the "Explorer" figure in Canadian literature differ from the American frontier hero?

   A: Atwood contrasts the Canadian "Explorer" with the American frontier hero. While the American hero conquers the wilderness and emerges victorious, the Canadian Explorer often fails or dies. The Explorer in Canadian literature is frequently lost, trapped, or defeated by the landscape. This reflects a broader theme of human smallness in the face of nature's vastness and indifference. Unlike the American narrative of manifest destiny and triumph over nature, the Canadian Explorer narrative emphasizes the limits of human endurance and the ultimate futility of trying to "conquer" the land.

4. Q: Explain Atwood's concept of the "violent duality" in Canadian literature and how it relates to the theme of survival.

   A: "Violent duality" in Atwood's analysis refers to the split between civilization and wilderness in Canadian literature. Characters often feel torn between these two worlds, unable to fully inhabit either. This duality creates internal conflict and external tension, as characters struggle to reconcile their civilized selves with the demands of a harsh, uncivilized environment. The violence of this duality comes from the forced choice between two seemingly incompatible ways of being. This concept relates to survival because characters must navigate this duality to survive both physically and psychologically, often at great personal cost.

5. Q: Discuss Atwood's analysis of the "Immigrant Experience" in Canadian literature and how it relates to the overall theme of survival.

   A: Atwood portrays the immigrant experience in Canadian literature as often marked by disillusionment and a struggle for survival in a new, often hostile environment. Immigrants in these narratives frequently face not only physical challenges (harsh climate, unfamiliar landscape) but also cultural and psychological ones (isolation, loss of identity). The immigrant experience becomes a microcosm of the broader Canadian theme of survival, with characters striving to maintain their cultural identity while adapting to new surroundings. This struggle often results in a sense of being caught between two worlds, unable to fully belong to either - another manifestation of the "violent duality" Atwood identifies in Canadian literature.

In-depth Analysis - Essay Question:

Analyze how Atwood's concept of "survival" manifests in different aspects of Canadian literature, considering her discussion of nature, explorers, immigrants, and artists. How does this central theme reflect and shape Canadian cultural identity according to Atwood?

Essay Answer:

Let's begin with an introduction:

Margaret Atwood's "Survival" posits that the theme of survival is central to Canadian literature and, by extension, to Canadian cultural identity. This essay will examine how the concept of survival manifests in various aspects of Canadian literature as discussed by Atwood, focusing on the portrayal of nature, explorers, immigrants, and artists. Through this analysis, we will explore how the survival theme reflects and shapes Canadian cultural identity.

I. Nature and Survival

Atwood argues that in Canadian literature, nature is often portrayed as a hostile or indifferent force that humans must struggle against to survive. This differs from the American tradition of conquering nature or the British tradition of nature as a benevolent garden.

- Examples of harsh, unforgiving landscapes in Canadian literature

- The "Garrison Mentality" and its impact on Canadian writing

- How this portrayal of nature reflects a distinctly Canadian perspective

II. Explorers and Survival

The figure of the explorer in Canadian literature, according to Atwood, often fails or dies, contrasting with the triumphant American frontier hero.

- Analysis of specific explorer narratives in Canadian literature

- The theme of being lost or trapped in the wilderness

- How these explorer stories contribute to a Canadian identity of endurance rather than conquest

III. Immigrants and Survival

Atwood's discussion of the immigrant experience in Canadian literature focuses on the struggle to survive in a new and often hostile environment.

- The disillusionment and hardship faced by immigrant characters

- The struggle to maintain cultural identity while adapting to new surroundings

- How the immigrant narrative reflects broader themes of survival in Canadian culture

IV. Artists and Survival

Atwood identifies a recurring figure of the "paralyzed artist" in Canadian literature, struggling to survive creatively in a challenging cultural landscape.

- The challenges faced by artist characters in Canadian literature

- The theme of artistic or creative survival in a perceived cultural vacuum

- How this reflects Canada's struggle to establish a distinct cultural identity

V. Survival and Canadian Cultural Identity

Examining how the pervasive theme of survival, as identified by Atwood, shapes and reflects Canadian cultural identity.

- The impact of the survival theme on Canada's self-perception

- How this theme distinguishes Canadian literature and identity from American and British counterparts

- The potential limitations and criticisms of Atwood's survival thesis

Conclusion:

Atwood's concept of survival as a unifying theme in Canadian literature provides a compelling framework for understanding Canadian cultural identity. Through her analysis of nature, explorers, immigrants, and artists, Atwood illustrates how the struggle for survival permeates Canadian writing and, by extension, the Canadian psyche. While this perspective offers valuable insights into Canadian literature and culture, it also raises questions about the evolving nature of Canadian identity in a changing global context. Ultimately, Atwood's "Survival" remains a crucial text for understanding the unique characteristics of Canadian literature and its role in shaping national identity.