REGISTER TO VOTE! Make your voice heard on Election Day

The Handmaid’s Tale

Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid’s Tale is a novel by Margaret Atwood that was first published in 1985.

Summary

Read a Plot Overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis.

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in The Handmaid’s Tale and in-depth analyses of Offred, The Commander, Serena Joy, Moira, Luke, and Aunt Lydia.

Main Ideas

Here's where you'll find analysis about the book as a whole, from the major themes and ideas to analysis of style, tone, point of view, and more.

Quotes

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

Further Study

Test your knowledge of The Handmaid’s Tale with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on context, background, and movie adaptations, plus links to the best resources around the web.

Writing Help

Get ready to write your paper on The Handmaid’s Tale with our suggested essay topics, sample essays, and more.

Purchase on BN.com

The Handmaid's Tale SparkNotes Literature Guide

Print edition

Buy The Handmaid’s Tale from Barnes and Noble.

Buy Now on BN.com

Take a Study Break