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The Handmaid’s Tale
Margaret Atwood
Study Guide
Summary
Plot Overview
Five Key Questions
What Does the Ending Mean?
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
Characters
Character List
Offred
The Commander
Serena Joy
Moira
Luke
Aunt Lydia
Main Ideas
Themes
Plot Analysis
Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Motifs
Symbols
Genre
Style
Point of View
Tone
Foreshadowing
Key Facts
Is Offred a rebel?
Quotes
Important Quotations Explained
Quotes By Theme
Complacency
Identity
Role of Women
Imprisonment
Quotes By Section
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
Quotes By Character
Offred
The Commander
Serena Joy
Moira
Aunt Lydia
Further Study
Context
Feminism in the 1980s
Feminist science fiction
Movie Adaptations
Full Book Quiz
Section Quizzes
Context
Plot Overview
Character List
Analysis of Major Characters
Themes, Motifs & Symbols
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
Study Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Companion Texts
Writing Help
How to Write Literary Analysis
Suggested Essay Topics
How to Cite This SparkNote
Further study
Themes, Motifs & Symbols Quiz
Themes, Motifs & Symbols Quiz
1
of 5
Ultimately, Gilead wants to turn the female gender into ___.
Sex slaves
Carriers of the next generation
Educated and independent beings
Equals to men
2
of 5
How does Gilead maintain its control over women’s bodies?
Maintaining control over language
Scheduled physical beatings
Implanting futuristic chips
Complicated brainwash from birth
3
of 5
What is ironic about Gilead’s goal of preventing sexual violence against women?
It wasn’t problematic beforehand
Nothing
It’s actually men that need protection
Gilead officially institutionalized it
4
of 5
What theocratic slogan shows the importance of religion within Gilead?
“God’s a National Resource”
“God votes for you”
“With God, we build”
“God protects this nation”
5
of 5
What about Cambridge, Massachusetts makes it a perfect place for Gilead’s power to be based?
History of resistance movements
Proximity to Plymouth Rock
Regressive modern-day policies
Puritan Church’s legacy
Previous section
Analysis of Major Characters Quick Quiz
Next section
Chapters 1–5 Quick Quiz
The Handmaid’s Tale: Popular pages
CHARACTERS
Character List
CHARACTERS
Offred: Character Analysis
MAIN IDEAS
Plot Analysis
MAIN IDEAS
Is Offred a rebel?
QUOTES
Quotes by Theme
FURTHER STUDY
Review Quiz
