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The Handmaid’s Tale
Margaret Atwood
Study Guide
Summary
Plot Overview
Key Questions and Answers
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
Allusions
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
Quotes By Symbol
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Harvard University
The Handmaids’ Red Habits
A Palimpsest
The Eyes
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
Chapters 41-44 Quiz
Further Study
Chapters 41-44 Quiz
1
of 5
What happens at the women's Salvaging event?
Women can pick clothing
Women are publicly hanged
Handmaids get traded
Handmaids exchange birthing information
2
of 5
In order to show their consent, what must the women in the Salvaging crowd do?
Cheer and scream
Hold a rope
Sign a paper
Take turns being executioner
3
of 5
What happens during a Particicution?
Handmaids rip old clothing
Wives burn old prayers
Commanders publicly execute Wives
Handmaids savagely beat rapists
4
of 5
According to what she says, why was Ofglen so violent with the supposed rapist?
She was stressed
She hates rapists
He was rebellion member
She wants to fit in
5
of 5
According to the new Ofglen, what happened to the old Ofglen?
She hanged herself
She was arrested
She escaped
She joined rebel camp
Previous section
Chapters 37-40 Quick Quiz
Next section
Chapters 45-46 & Historical Notes on The Handmaid's Tale Quick Quiz
Popular pages:
The Handmaid’s Tale
Character List
CHARACTERS
Offred: Character Analysis
CHARACTERS
Plot Analysis
MAIN IDEAS
Is Offred a rebel?
MAIN IDEAS
Quotes by Theme
QUOTES
Themes
MAIN IDEAS
Review Quiz
FURTHER STUDY
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