Search all of SparkNotes
Search
Suggestions
Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.
A Christmas Carol
An Inspector Calls
Lord of the Flies
Much Ado About Nothing
The Outsiders
Menu
No Fear Shakespeare
Literature
Other Subjects
Teacher
Blog
Search
Help
Search all of SparkNotes
Search
Suggestions
Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.
A Christmas Carol
An Inspector Calls
Lord of the Flies
Much Ado About Nothing
The Outsiders
No Fear Shakespeare
Literature
Other Subjects
Teacher
Blog
Help
The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood
Study Guide
Infographic
Study Guide
Infographic
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
Motifs
Symbols
Plot Analysis
Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Genre
Allusions
Style
Point of View
Tone
Foreshadowing
Key Facts
Special Terms
Metaphors and Similes
Is Offred a rebel?
Quotes
Important Quotes 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
Quotes by Setting
Gilead (formerly Cambridge, Massachusetts)
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
Glossary of Literary Terms
How to Cite This SparkNote
Suggested Essay Topics
Teacher's Handbook
Further Study
Chapters 10-12 Quiz
Further Study
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
Popular pages:
The Handmaid's Tale
Character List
CHARACTERS
Offred
CHARACTERS
Themes
MAIN IDEAS
Plot Analysis
MAIN IDEAS
Is Offred a rebel?
MAIN IDEAS
Role of Women
QUOTES
Full Book Quiz
FURTHER STUDY
Take a Study Break
Every Shakespeare Play Summed Up in a Quote from
The Office
Every Marvel Movie Summed Up in a Single Sentence
QUIZ: Are You a Hero, a Villain, or an Anti-Hero?
QUIZ: Is This a Mark Twain Quote or a Line from
The Office
?
QUIZ: Which Greek God Are You?
60 YA Movie Adaptations, Ranked
Pick 10 Books and We'll Guess Whether You're an Introvert or an Extrovert