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An Inspector Calls
Death of a Salesman
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The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood
Study Guide
Infographic
Study Guide
Infographic
Summary
Summary & Analysis
Chapters 1–3
Chapters 4–6
Chapters 7–9
Chapters 10–12
Chapters 13–15
Chapters 16–21
Chapters 22–25
Chapters 26–28
Chapters 29–32
Chapters 33–36
Chapters 37–40
Chapters 41-44
Chapters 45–46 & Historical Notes on The Handmaid’s Tale
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Offred
The Commander
Serena Joy
Moira
Luke
Aunt Lydia
Literary Devices
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Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Genre
Allusions
Style
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Questions & Answers
What is a Handmaid?
Why does the Commander want to see Offred alone?
Why does Offred agree to have sex with Nick?
What happened to Offred’s daughter?
Who are the Eyes?
How did Offred become a handmaid?
What does Offred’s name mean?
Why are women forbidden to read or write?
What is the significance of Cambridge, Massachusetts, in The Handmaid’s Tale?
What is significant about the words that Offred plays in Scrabble with the Commander?
What is the purpose of the Japanese tourists Offred and Ofglen meet while shopping?
What is the significance of Offred’s tattoo?
Why doesn’t Offred reveal her name when she records her story?
What was Ofglen’s role in Mayday?
What is the function of the chapter titled “Historical Notes”?
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Important Quotes Explained
By Theme
Complacency
Identity
Role of Women
Imprisonment
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Chapters 1-3
Chapters 4-6
Chapters 7-9
Chapters 10-12
Chapters 13-15
Chapters 16-21
Chapters 22-25
Chapters 26-28
Chapters 29-32
Chapters 33-36
Chapters 37-40
Chapters 41-44
Chapters 45-46
By Character
Offred
The Commander
Serena Joy
Moira
Aunt Lydia
By Symbol
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Harvard University
The Handmaids’ Red Habits
A Palimpsest
The Eyes
By Setting
Gilead (formerly Cambridge, Massachusetts)
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Full Book Quiz
Chapters 1-5
Chapters 4-6
Chapters 7-9
Chapters 10-12
Chapters 13-15
Chapters 16-21
Chapters 22-25
Chapters 26-28
Chapters 29-32
Chapters 33-36
Chapters 37-40
Chapters 41-44
Chapters 45-46 & Historical Notes on The Handmaid's Tale
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Context
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Analysis of Major Characters
Themes, Motifs & Symbols
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Historical Context Essay
Literary Context Essay
Central Idea Essay
Mini Essays
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What Does the Ending Mean?
Further Study
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Related Links
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Margaret Atwood and The Handmaid's Tale Background
Quizzes
Character List Quiz
Quizzes
Character List Quiz
1
of 5
How are the names of the Handmaids formed?
"Of" plus Commander's name
Chosen from the Bible
Their commander chooses their name
Their real name spelled backwards
2
of 5
While the Commander seems like a victim of Gilead, what does the reader learn?
He secretly opposes Gilead
He helped design Gilead
He is being blackmailed
He has been brainwashed
3
of 5
Sitting at the top of the female social ladder within Gilead, Serena Joy feels what about her life?
She loves life completely
She is indifferent
She is desperately unhappy
She is incredibly grateful
4
of 5
At the beginning of the novel, how does Moira compare to the other women?
She's very similar
She's much more defiant
She's more resigned
She's less independent
5
of 5
What is the purpose of the Aunts class of women within the novel?
To make women accept fate
To encourage women to resist
To assist women with reading
To coach women through childbirth
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