Surfacing is a novel by Margaret Atwood that was first published in 1972. Explore a list of characters, a plot summary, and important quotes.

Summary

Read a plot summary of the entire book. 

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in Surfacing and in-depth analysis of the narrator, Joe, and more.

Literary Devices

Here is where you will find analysis of the key themes, motifs, and symbols in Surfacing, as well as descriptions of other literary devices used in the work.

Quotes

Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of the book by reading these key quotes.

Further Study

Go further in your study of Surfacing with background information, movie adaptations, and links to the best resources around the web.