Section 3 (pages 35-46) Summary

Snowman dislikes the glare and humidity of noon, so at around 11 o'clock he retreats into the forest. He remembers that he had initially made himself a lean-to in which to sleep and avoid the sun, but he has switched to the tree because of the rakunks, pigoons and wolvogs that prowl at night.

Snowman worries that he is forgetting things. He thinks that carving a chessboard and playing chess may help his mind. He considers keeping a journal, but he knows that no future human beings will be able to read.

In the afternoon a storm comes, and Snowman goes to a pile of rubber tires for shelter. He drinks water out of beer bottles and wishes for actual beer. He then regrets torturing himself with impossible thoughts.

Section 3 (pages 35-46) Analysis

Section 3 illustrates Atwood's capacity for creating suspense...