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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
Chapters 7â9 Quiz
Chapters 7â9 Quiz
1
of 5
What was Offred’s daughter doing in the picture that the authorities showed Offred after taking her daughter away?
Playing with other children
Crying in a dark cell
Holding a strange woman’s hand
Laughing with Offred’s husband
2
of 5
How do Econowives feel about Handmaids?
They dislike them
They envy them
They feel deep sympathy for them
They truly love them
3
of 5
Why is the Commander’s presence outside of Offred’s room peculiar?
He’s holding a package
He’s not supposed to be there
He’s completely naked
He’s supposedly on vacation
4
of 5
When Offred remembers their cheap motel rooms, what does Offred regret about her time with Luke?
Having extramarital sex
Having a child
Not appreciating the freedom of having her own space
Hurting another woman’s feelings
5
of 5
How does Offred imagine the woman who previously occupied her room?
As morose and boring
As content and complacent
As beautiful but evil
As freckled and lively
Previous section
Chapters 4–6 Quick Quiz
Next section
Chapters 10–12 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
MAIN IDEAS
Themes
FURTHER STUDY
Review Quiz
