Welcome to your Study Guide for 'When It Happens' by Margaret Atwood

Hello! This short story by Margaret Atwood is one of the most compelling pieces of prose on your IGCSE syllabus. Don't worry if the setting feels confusing or frightening—that's exactly what Atwood intends! We will break down this story, focusing on the characters, the themes of fear and change, and the powerful techniques Atwood uses to make us think.

Understanding this story will help you demonstrate excellent AO2 (Understanding Themes) and AO3 (Analysing Methods) skills in your exam. Let's get started!

Part 1: The Core Story & Setting (AO1)

'When It Happens' is a short story set in an unnamed location in the near future, where society is on the brink of collapse due to an impending, vague 'The Change' or 'The War'. It is a brilliant example of dystopian literature, focusing not on the chaos itself, but on the quiet anxiety and preparations leading up to it.

Setting the Scene: A Quiet Dystopia

The story takes place primarily at the home of the two main characters. The setting feels isolated and tense:
1. The world outside is suffering from failing electricity, food shortages, and harsh winters.
2. Everything is viewed through the narrator’s house-bound perspective, making the potential collapse feel both intimate and overwhelming.
3. The overall atmosphere is one of stagnant fear—things haven't completely broken down yet, but everyone knows they will.

Key Plot Points: What Actually Happens?

Not much happens externally, which is key to the story's tension.

  • The Waiting: The unnamed female narrator and her partner, Luke, are preparing for 'The Change'. Luke is building a woodpile and storing supplies.

  • The Conflict: Their preparations highlight their drastically different coping mechanisms. Luke is practical and in denial; the narrator is reflective and resigned.

  • The Neighbors: The narrator mentions their neighbors (like the 'Morley family' and the 'Hendersons') who have either fled or are preparing differently, showing the fragmented nature of society.

  • The Revelation: The narrator believes Luke is preparing to protect himself and his resources, but not necessarily her, acknowledging the potential breakdown of their relationship when survival instincts kick in.

Quick Takeaway: The story is about the psychological effects of anticipating disaster, not the disaster itself. It’s about internal conflict and the failure of human connection under extreme pressure.

Part 2: Understanding the Characters (AO2)

The story relies heavily on the dynamics between the two main figures. They represent two very different ways of reacting to inevitable disaster.

Character A: The Narrator (The Woman)

The narrator is unnamed, which makes her feel like an "everywoman," someone we can easily identify with.

Key Traits:

  • Observational: She watches Luke constantly, noting his actions (AO1: "Luke's chopping wood") and analyzing his motives.

  • Realistic/Resigned: She has accepted the gravity of 'The Change' and feels powerless. She understands that the old ways (gender roles, safety) are meaningless.

  • Cynical: She sees through Luke's busywork. She understands that when resources run out, she is vulnerable, particularly if she is seen as less useful or weaker (AO2: Focus on her fear of being left behind).

Analogy: Think of the narrator as the student who knows the exam is tomorrow, and instead of cramming useless facts, she is just quietly accepting her fate. She has moved past denial.

Character B: Luke (The Man)

Luke is the active, busy character, desperately trying to maintain control.

Key Traits:

  • Denial: He focuses obsessively on physical tasks (the woodpile, the garden, securing the door). This busy effort is a way to avoid thinking about the terrifying reality.

  • Practical: He values physical labor and useful skills. He believes preparation means safety.

  • Traditional/Masculine Role: He is trying to fulfil the traditional role of the protector and provider, even though that role is rapidly becoming obsolete in the face of widespread social collapse.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't assume Luke is evil or malicious. He is simply terrified and reacting by trying to impose order on chaos, which tragically blinds him to the emotional and relational needs of his partner.

Part 3: Exploring Key Themes (AO2)

1. Fear, Anxiety, and Anticipation

This is the story's driving force. The narrator lives in a constant state of low-level panic. Atwood shows that the anticipation of disaster can be as damaging as the disaster itself.
The narrator repeatedly says "when it happens," implying inevitability. The fear isn't of a sudden bomb, but of a slow, grinding decline into a primitive, hostile state.
Did you know? Atwood is famous for her dystopian writing, where societies crumble due to political, environmental, or social failures. This story is a micro-version of that vision.

2. Gender Roles and Vulnerability

This is the most critical theme for analysis. The narrator questions how gender roles will survive 'The Change'.

  • In peacetime, Luke’s strength provides comfort.

  • In collapse, his strength makes her disposable. The narrator fears that she will be seen as excess baggage or a hindrance when survival requires maximum efficiency.

  • She sees her value diminishing because she lacks the brute physical skills Luke possesses (AO2/AO4: This encourages us to reflect on societal constructs of strength).

Key Quote Analysis: Look for the passage where the narrator imagines what Luke might do—she sees him as someone who will prioritize wood and defense over her emotional needs or even her life if supplies run low.

3. The Breakdown of Relationships and Trust

The war doesn't just destroy infrastructure; it destroys human bonds. The narrator and Luke are physically together but psychologically isolated. The narrator’s growing realization that Luke might abandon her reveals a deep fissure in their trust. Survival instinct overrides love.
Memory Aid: R.A.G.E. (Roles, Anxiety, Gender, Ego/Instinct) – the four corners of their broken relationship.

Part 4: Atwood's Literary Methods (AO3)

Atwood uses specific techniques to draw the reader into the narrator's anxious world.

1. First-Person Narrative and Tone

The story is told entirely from the unnamed woman’s perspective. This allows us to access her private fears and anxieties.
The tone is often ironic (saying one thing but meaning the opposite) and detached. She observes Luke almost clinically, as if he is a specimen under a microscope, rather than a loved one. This detachment shows her emotional preparation for potential trauma.

2. Symbolism: The Woodpile and the Snow

The Woodpile:

The massive woodpile Luke builds is a central symbol.

  • What Luke thinks it is: Security, preparation, a sign of his usefulness.

  • What the Narrator thinks it is: A symbol of Luke's denial and obsession. It’s also potentially a weapon or a barrier—something he values more than her. (AO3: Analyze how the same object holds different meaning for each character.)

The Snow:

The constant winter and snow symbolize the frozen stillness of their existence and the lack of hope. It is a harsh, unforgiving backdrop that matches the emotional coldness creeping into their relationship.

3. Language and Imagery

Atwood uses simple, sparse language, which adds to the feeling of bleakness.

  • Concrete Detail: The descriptions focus on essentials: food, heat, tools, clothing. This reflects their primitive, survival-focused existence.

  • Vague Threat: The use of phrases like 'The Change' or 'When It Happens' keeps the exact nature of the disaster vague. This makes the threat more universal and allows the reader to project their own fears onto the story.

Quick Review: Essential Study Checklist

When you analyze a passage, ask yourself these questions:


AO1 (Content): What specific action is Luke performing here? What detail does the narrator give about the outside world?
AO2 (Themes): How does this passage show the difference in coping styles between the two characters? Is the narrator expressing fear or resentment?
AO3 (Methods): Why did Atwood choose to focus on this object (e.g., the axe, the door)? What does the narrator's flat, unadorned language suggest about her emotions?
AO4 (Response): How do you feel about Luke’s actions? Do you sympathize more with the narrator’s sense of helplessness or Luke’s effort to survive? (Remember, an informed personal response is key!)

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! The power of 'When It Happens' is in its subtlety. Focus on the relationship dynamics, and you will unlock the main themes of survival and gender in a crisis. You've got this!