Margaret Atwood: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Margaret Atwood's map runs from British dystopia and Grimm through the mythic criticism of Northrop Frye, her teacher at Victoria College, and the settler journals of nineteenth-century Ontario. A Toronto poet before she was a global novelist, she built a Canadian canon partly by naming it in Survival. Her inheritance now shapes a generation of speculative feminist fiction.

The Kynda mix for Margaret Atwood

• Key Influence · Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (1949). Atwood has written and spoken repeatedly about reading Orwell young and about Nineteen Eighty-Four as the structural model for The Handmaid's Tale — including its appended scholarly apparatus, which she echoed in the "Historical Notes on The Handmaid's Tale" closing her novel. She has described Orwell's Appendix on Newspeak as evidence Gilead-style regimes end, and framed her own dystopia as a deliberate answer to his.
• Influencia Obscura · Roughing It in the Bush by Susanna Moodie (1852). Moodie's account of a genteel Englishwoman failing at Ontario pioneer life is the direct source of Atwood's 1970 poem cycle The Journals of Susanna Moodie, which she has said arrived partly through a dream. Moodie's split voice — appalled by the wilderness, unable to leave it — became Atwood's template for Canadian "violent duality," the argument she later generalized in Survival.
• Local Roots · The Shadow-Maker by Gwendolyn MacEwen (1969). MacEwen was Atwood's close contemporary in the Toronto poetry world of the 1960s, reading in the same coffeehouses and publishing with the same small presses. Her Governor General's Award–winning collection of mythic, alchemical lyrics maps the same terrain Atwood was working in with The Animals in That Country. After MacEwen's death Atwood wrote about her with evident protectiveness about a Toronto scene they shared.
• Beyond the Medium · Anatomy of Criticism by Northrop Frye (1957). Frye taught Atwood at Victoria College, University of Toronto, and famously advised her that she would be more use to Canada as a writer than as a scholar. His system of archetypes and seasonal myth-modes underwrites Survival's thematic method and the mythic scaffolding of Surfacing and The Penelopiad. Atwood has spoken warmly of him as the teacher who gave her a usable theory of story.
• Peer · Lives of Girls and Women by Alice Munro (1971). Munro and Atwood rose together as the two defining voices of Canadian fiction's 1970s breakthrough, and Atwood has written admiringly about Munro's work, including after her Nobel. This linked story cycle about a girl growing up in small-town Ontario is the realist counterpart to Atwood's Cat's Eye: same province, same era, same scrutiny of how girls police one another into womanhood.
• From the Canon · Surfacing by Margaret Atwood (1972). Published the same year as Survival, this second novel enacts the thesis: a woman returns to the Quebec bush to search for her vanished father and descends into a wilderness that strips away language and civility. The narrator-as-victim refusing victimhood is Atwood's core structure in embryo, and the northern landscape here is the one she grew up in with her entomologist father.
• Key Collaborator · Five Legs by Graeme Gibson (1969). Gibson was Atwood's partner for almost five decades, co-founder with her of the Writers' Trust of Canada and a fellow birder and conservationist; they shared the Anansi milieu where Five Legs became an unlikely bestseller. His experimental, stream-of-consciousness novel of academic Ontario is the work that made his name before he turned largely to editing, advocacy and natural history writing.
• Legacy · The Power by Naomi Alderman (2016). Alderman was paired with Atwood through the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, and has spoken about how that mentorship shaped The Power — a novel that inverts The Handmaid's Tale by giving women a physical power over men. It won the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction, and the two writers also collaborated on the serialized zombie fiction project The Happy Zombie Sunrise Home.

What influenced Margaret Atwood

• Northrop Frye. Frye was one of Atwood’s professors. (also via Anatomy of Criticism) “Her professors included Jay Macpherson and Northrop Frye .” (Wikipedia)
• Roughing It in the Bush by Susanna Moodie (1852). Roughing It in the Bush (Susanna Moodie) — ghost for Margaret Atwood “Atwood published six collections of poetry over the course of the decade: The Journals of Susanna Moodie (1970), Procedures for Underground (1970), Power Politics (1971), You Are Happy (1974), Selected Poems 1965–1975 (1976), and Two-Hea…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Anatomy of Criticism by Northrop Frye (1957). Anatomy of Criticism (Northrop Frye) — culture for Margaret Atwood “Her professors included Jay Macpherson and Northrop Frye.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Pauline Johnson. City Opera Vancouver identifies Johnson’s life as the basis for the opera with Atwood’s libretto. “Music by Tobin Stokes Libretto by Margaret Atwood Pauline is City Opera Vancouver’s second commissioned work. It is based on the life and final days of Canadian writer, poet, and actress Pauline Johnson.” (City Opera Vancouver)
• Jay Macpherson. Macpherson was one of Atwood’s professors. “Her professors included Jay Macpherson and Northrop Frye .” (Wikipedia)
• George Orwell. The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood) — legacy for George Orwell (via The Handmaid's Tale, Nineteen Eighty-Four) (openlibrary.org)
• Wacousta by John Richardson (1832). Wacousta (John Richardson) — ghost for Margaret Atwood (openlibrary.org)
• On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin (1859). On the Origin of Species (Charles Darwin) — culture for Margaret Atwood (openlibrary.org)
• Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (1949). Nineteen Eighty-Four (George Orwell) — titan for Margaret Atwood (openlibrary.org)
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley) — titan for Margaret Atwood (openlibrary.org)
• The King James Bible by Translators of the King James Version (1611). The King James Bible (Translators of the King James Version) — culture for Margaret Atwood
• Grimm's Fairy Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (1812). Grimm's Fairy Tales (Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm) — titan for Margaret Atwood

Peers and kindred spirits

• Naomi Alderman. Atwood and Alderman co-wrote a story. (also via The Handmaid's Tale) “We co-wrote a serial story together on the literacy-encouraging site Wattpad. Atwood guest-starred in the zombie running game app I co‑created.” (The Guardian)
• Rare Bird Club by BirdLife International. BirdLife states that Atwood and Graeme Gibson served as joint presidents of its Rare Bird Club. “As former joint presidents of our Rare Bird Club , Graeme and Margaret played a crucial role in championing BirdLife at home in Canada, throughout the Americas, and globally.” (BirdLife International)
• Tobin Stokes. Stokes composed Pauline using Atwood’s libretto. “Pauline (composer) A collaboration with author Margaret Atwood.” (Tobin Stokes)
• Massey College. Atwood is a senior fellow of Massey College. “Senior Fellow Margaret Atwood holds an event for her new book in Edmonton.” (Massey College)
• Johnnie Christmas. Atwood and Christmas co-created Angel Catbird. “Lauded novelist Margaret Atwood and acclaimed artist Johnnie Christmas collaborate on one of the most highly anticipated comic book and literary events of the year!” (Margaret Atwood)
• Equality Now. Atwood partnered with Equality Now for the book’s release. “At the beginning of September we were honored to launched a partnership with Margaret Atwood, Fane Productions, and VINTAGE around the highly anticipated sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, Atwood’s newest novel, The Testaments.” (Equality Now)
• Graeme Gibson. BirdLife documents Atwood and Gibson’s joint leadership of the Rare Bird Club. (also via Five Legs) “As former joint presidents of our Rare Bird Club , Graeme and Margaret played a crucial role in championing BirdLife at home in Canada, throughout the Americas, and globally.” (BirdLife International)
• PEN Canada. Atwood helped found the Canadian English-speaking PEN chapter, identified here as PEN Canada. “Margaret Atwood was asked to lead the English-language PEN Canada, and asked Eugene Benson to assist in the set-up. Initial meetings took place in the homes of PEN members, and a mailing list was created.” (PEN Canada)
• University of Alberta. Atwood taught at the University of Alberta. “and taught at the University of Alberta in Edmonton from 1969 to 1970.” (Wikipedia)
• Writers' Union of Canada. Atwood chaired the Writers’ Union of Canada. “Atwood has been chair of the Writers' Union of Canada and helped to found the Canadian English-speaking chapter of PEN International” (Wikipedia)
• The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (1969). The Left Hand of Darkness (Ursula K. Le Guin) — peer for Margaret Atwood “A public memorial service, which included speeches by the writers Margaret Atwood, Molly Gloss, and Walidah Imarisha, was held in Portland on June 13, 2018.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• New York University. Atwood held an English professorship at New York University. “the Berg Professor of English, New York University , 1986;” (Wikipedia)
• The Handmaid's Tale by Volker Schlöndorff (1990). The Handmaid's Tale (Volker Schlöndorff) — collaborator for Margaret Atwood “A 1990 film, directed by Volker Schlöndorff, with a screenplay by Harold Pinter, received mixed reviews.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Sir George Williams University. Atwood was an English instructor at Sir George Williams University. “Instructor in English at the Sir George Williams University in Montreal from 1967 to 1968,” (Wikipedia)
• The Shadow-Maker by Gwendolyn MacEwen (1969). The Shadow-Maker (Gwendolyn MacEwen) — geography for Margaret Atwood “MacEwen was thus in touch with James Reaney, Margaret Atwood, Dennis Lee, etc.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Trinity University. Atwood was writer-in-residence at Trinity University. “and Writer-in-Residence, Trinity University , San Antonio, Texas, 1989.” (Wikipedia)
• York University. Atwood taught at York University. “Atwood taught at York University in Toronto from 1971 to 1972 and was a writer in residence at the University of Toronto during the 1972/1973 academic year.” (Wikipedia)
• Griffin Poetry Prize. Atwood is identified as a founder of the Griffin Poetry Prize. “Atwood is a founder of the Griffin Poetry Prize and the Writers' Trust of Canada .” (Wikipedia)
• The Handmaid's Tale by Bruce Miller (2017). The Handmaid's Tale (Bruce Miller) — collaborator for Margaret Atwood “A television series by Bruce Miller began airing on the streaming service Hulu in 2017.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Unotchit Inc.. Atwood founded Unotchit Inc. “She quickly founded a company, Unotchit Inc., to develop, produce and distribute this technology.” (Wikipedia)
• Macquarie University. Atwood was writer-in-residence at Macquarie University. “Writer-in-Residence, Macquarie University , Australia, 1987;” (Wikipedia)
• Lives of Girls and Women by Alice Munro (1971). Lives of Girls and Women (Alice Munro) — peer for Margaret Atwood “Munro's longtime friend Margaret Atwood said Munro was deeply dependent on Fremlin.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• University of British Columbia. Atwood lectured at the University of British Columbia. “Atwood was a lecturer in English at the University of British Columbia , Vancouver, from 1964 to 1965,” (Wikipedia)
• Writers' Trust of Canada. Atwood is identified as a founder of the Writers’ Trust of Canada. “Atwood is a founder of the Griffin Poetry Prize and the Writers' Trust of Canada .” (Wikipedia)
• University of Toronto. Atwood held a writer-in-residence post at the University of Toronto. “Atwood taught at York University in Toronto from 1971 to 1972 and was a writer in residence at the University of Toronto during the 1972/1973 academic year.” (Wikipedia)
• University of Alabama. Atwood held an MFA honorary chair at the University of Alabama. “During the 1980s, Atwood continued to teach, serving as the MFA Honorary Chair at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa , 1985;” (Wikipedia)
• Five Legs by Graeme Gibson (1969). Five Legs (Graeme Gibson) — collaborator for Margaret Atwood “Atwood has strong views on environmental issues, and she and Graeme Gibson were the joint honorary presidents of the Rare Bird Club within BirdLife International.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing (1962). The Golden Notebook (Doris Lessing) — peer for Margaret Atwood (openlibrary.org)
• The Cariboo Horses by Al Purdy (1965). The Cariboo Horses (Al Purdy) — geography for Margaret Atwood (openlibrary.org)
• Civil Elegies by Dennis Lee (1968). Civil Elegies (Dennis Lee) — geography for Margaret Atwood (openlibrary.org)

Who Margaret Atwood influenced

• The Atwood Stories. The series adapts six stories by Atwood; the stories are not individually named. “The first of the Gemini nominated anthology series taken from Canadian authors – a dramatic anthology of six stories from Margaret Atwood aired on Bravo in 2003, again produced with Shaftesbury Films.” (Original Pictures Inc.)
• The Power. The article explicitly describes Atwood as an influence on the novel. “Alderman's fourth novel, The Power , was published in 2016. [ 26 ] The Power is dedicated to and influenced by Atwood.” (Wikipedia)
• Surfacing (film). The 1981 film adapts Atwood’s novel Surfacing. (via Surfacing) “Atwood's novel Surfacing (1972) was adapted into a 1981 film of the same name written by Bernard Gordon and directed by Claude Jutra .” (Wikipedia)
• The Handmaid's Tale (film). The 1990 film adapts Atwood’s novel. (via The Handmaid's Tale) “Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale (1985) has been adapted several times. A 1990 film , directed by Volker Schlöndorff , with a screenplay by Harold Pinter , received mixed reviews.” (Wikipedia)
• The Handmaid's Tale (opera). The opera is a musical adaptation of the novel. (via The Handmaid's Tale) “A musical adaptation resulted in the 2000 opera , written by Poul Ruders , with a libretto by Paul Bentley .” (Wikipedia)
• The Handmaid's Tale (TV series). The passage identifies adaptations of the novel, though it does not itself name the television series. (via The Handmaid's Tale) “Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale (1985) has been adapted several times. A 1990 film , directed by Volker Schlöndorff , with a screenplay by Harold Pinter , received mixed reviews. [ 135 ] [ 136 ] A musical adaptation resulted in the 20…” (Wikipedia)
• The Handmaid's Tale (graphic novel). Renée Nault’s graphic novel is based on Atwood’s book. (via The Handmaid's Tale) “In 2019, a graphic novel ( ISBN 9780224101936 ) based on the book and with the same title was published by Renée Nault.” (Wikipedia)
• Alias Grace (miniseries). The miniseries adapts Atwood’s novel Alias Grace. (via Alias Grace) “The novel Alias Grace (1996) was adapted into a six-part 2017 miniseries directed by Mary Harron and adapted by Sarah Polley .” (Wikipedia)
• The Wide World of Wandering Wenda. The television series adapts Atwood’s children’s book. (via Wandering Wenda and Widow Wallop's Wunderground Washery) “Atwood's children's book Wandering Wenda and Widow Wallop's Wunderground Washery (2011) was adapted into the children's television series The Wide World of Wandering Wenda , broadcast on CBC beginning in the spring of 2017.” (Wikipedia)
• Payback (2012 film). The documentary adapts Atwood’s Massey Lectures, published as Payback. (via Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth) “Atwood's 2008 Massey Lectures were adapted into the documentary Payback (2012), by director Jennifer Baichwal .” (Wikipedia)
• In the Wake of the Flood. The documentary follows the tour for The Year of the Flood, rather than adapting the novel. (via The Year of the Flood) “In the Wake of the Flood (released in October 2010), a documentary film by the Canadian director Ron Mann , followed Atwood on the unusual book tour for her novel The Year of the Flood (2009).” (Wikipedia)
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Station Eleven (Emily St. John Mandel) — legacy for Margaret Atwood (openlibrary.org)
• Red Clocks by Leni Zumas (2018). Red Clocks (Leni Zumas) — legacy for Margaret Atwood (openlibrary.org)
• Gloria Steinem. The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood) — culture for Gloria Steinem (via The Handmaid's Tale) (openlibrary.org)