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Don Quixote
Heart of Darkness
Julius Caesar
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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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Key Facts
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Character List
Offred
The Commander
Serena Joy
Moira
Luke
Aunt Lydia
Literary Devices
Themes
Motifs
Symbols
Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Genre
Allusions
Style
Point of View
Tone
Foreshadowing
Special Terms
Metaphors and Similes
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
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
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
Book
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
More
Context
Plot Overview
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 26-28 Quiz
Quick Quizzes
Chapters 26-28 Quiz
1
of 5
After developing a friendship with the Commander, how does Offred feel regarding having sex with him?
Excited
Embarrassed
Repulsed
Proud
2
of 5
What did Aunt Lydia say would happen to Handmaids as soon as the population reached an acceptable level?
They'd be assassinated
They'd be sterilized
They'd become like daughters
They'd become Wives
3
of 5
When Offred says she doesn't believe the prayer machines work, what do Ofglen and Offred realize?
They are both trustworthy
They are both spies
They are both revolutionaries
They were once friends
4
of 5
When she was an adolescent, how did Offred feel about her mother's activism?
Indifferent
Proud
Scared
Ashamed
5
of 5
Why didn't Offred want to make love to Luke the night after she lost her job?
She was incredibly depressed
She had fallen ill
She felt a power imbalance
He openly patronized her
Previous section
Chapters 22-25 Quick Quiz
Next section
Chapters 29-32 Quick Quiz
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The Handmaid's Tale
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