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An Inspector Calls
Animal Farm
Heart of Darkness
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Twelfth Night
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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
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Antagonist
Setting
Genre
Allusions
Style
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Tone
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Special Terms
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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”?
Quotes
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)
Quick Quizzes
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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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Character List
Analysis of Major Characters
Themes, Motifs & Symbols
Essays
Historical Context Essay
Literary Context Essay
Central Idea Essay
Mini Essays
Suggested Essay Topics
What Does the Ending Mean?
Further Study
Suggestions for Further Reading
Related Links
Movie Adaptations
Margaret Atwood and The Handmaid's Tale Background
Quick Quizzes
Chapters 10-12 Quiz
Quick Quizzes
Chapters 10-12 Quiz
1
of 5
How does Offred remember feeling, in her old life, when she read newspaper stories about rape and violence?
Incredibly scared
Deeply connected to victims
Distant and unrelated
Inspired to take action
2
of 5
What is the only object that Offred has been given to read in her room?
Pillow embroidered with "Faith"
Handkerchief saying "Purity"
Painting of the word "God"
Novel entitled "Gilead's Greatness"
3
of 5
As he cheerfully chats with her, what offer does the doctor make to Offred?
He can poison her
He can impregnate her
He can hide her
He can help her escape
4
of 5
What would happen to Offred if the doctor falsely reported her as having a medical problem?
She'd be publicly hanged
They'd harvest her organs
She'd go to the Colonies
She'd become a Guardian
5
of 5
As she sits naked in the bathtub, how does Offred feel?
Free and sexual
Strange and somewhat exposed
Oppressed and sad
Happy and carefree
Previous section
Chapters 7-9 Quick Quiz
Next section
Chapters 13-15 Quick Quiz
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The Handmaid's Tale
Full Book Analysis
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Offred
CHARACTERS
Themes
LITERARY DEVICES
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Every Shakespeare Play Summed Up in a Quote from
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