Cat's Eye

Choose one of Elaine’s paintings and explore what it represents in the context of the novel.

The novel frequently mentions twins. Explore the similarities and differences between Elaine and Cordelia with the idea of twins in mind.

Margaret Atwood has written many novels addressing climate change and the environment. What role does the environment play in Cat’s Eye? Is there anything about the novel’s historical context that can inform your analysis?

Elaine’s family expected her to become a biologist, not a painter. What is the relationship between science and art in the novel, and why does Elaine choose the latter?

Cat’s Eye depicts Elaine at various stages of her life. What does the novel say about aging? Does it suggest that aging is different for women than it is for men?

Very little is said about Cordelia’s motivations for persecuting Elaine. What does the novel suggest about her motivations? Was Elaine particularly vulnerable to her cruelty? What might Atwood be trying to convey about senseless violence?

Elaine has hated Toronto her whole life. Discuss the importance of setting in the novel. You might wish to refer to Toronto, Vancouver, and the novel’s other locations.

Cat’s Eye takes place over many years, jumping back and forth in time. Explore the depiction of time in the novel in relation to its opening, which states that “time is not a line but a dimension, like the dimensions of space [. . .] if you knew enough and could move faster than light you could travel backward in time and exist in two places at once” (3).