When it Happens

1
When it Happens
By Margaret Atwood
A Rapid Fire Study Guide
2
Summery of the Plot When It Happens opens up
with an elderly woman named Mrs. Burridge, while
she is pickling green tomatoes. We learn from the
narrator that she lives with her husband Frank on
a small farm in the country. She has picked up an
odd habit of standing by the backdoor and looking
for columns of smoke and she worries more than
she used to.   Throughout her various tasks of
pickling and, later, writing out a grocery list,
Mrs. Burridges mind wanders to her fears. The
plot switches from reality to glimpses from her
imagination. At first, she thinks about her life
with Frank when they were younger and how theyve
aged. This reminds her of the fear she has
(related to the anticipated columns of smoke) of
a war starting again (possibly something to do
with Armageddon) and that she has no protection
anymore. The story concludes when Mrs. Burridge
is finished writing her list.
3
Character Descriptions

• Mrs. Burridge- An old, practical farm-wife
  immersed in the process of storing food and
  saving money. Always quietly obsessing over
  being being prepared, and constantly
  entertaining her mind with paranoid thoughts that
  something bad might happen.
• Frank Burridge- Mrs. Burridges husband. A
  relaxed, reserved old man. Conveys mixed outward
  emotions, but inside holds a genuine concern and
  love for his wife.
• Henry Clark- A local neighbor and former
  business partner of Frank Burridge.

4
Critical Commentary
Purpose Convey the tendency of human nature to
worry reveal human actions in different
situations Theme Fear of unknown/future.
Techniques Symbolism, Character description,
Internal Monologue Mood Suspenseful,
dark Tone tender, fearful
5
Critical Commentary Continued...

• Symbolism gun safety, control and survival
• pickles readiness, security
• old age lack of
  protection/security
• list reference to reality,
  tie to responsibility
• columns of smoke war,
  disaster
• country/farm isolation
• fantasy of rape expectations of the worst

6
Discussion Questions

• 1. Who in society does Mrs. Burridge represent?
• 2. How does the time period that When it
  Happens was written effect the story? (written
  in 1977)
• 3. In what ways does the author portray the
  current state of the society?
• 4. What is the significance of the relationship
  between Mrs. Burridge and her husband?
• 5. What affect does the point of view have on the
  story?

7
A.P. Style Question
When it Happens is said to be a comment on
society at the time. What techniques and devices
does the author use to achieve this purpose?