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Search all of SparkNotes
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Fahrenheit 451
Heart of Darkness
King Lear
Macbeth
The Outsiders
No Fear Shakespeare
Literature
Other Subjects
Teacher
Blog
Help
The Handmaid’s Tale
Margaret Atwood
Study Guide
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 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
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
Teacher's Handbook
Further Study
Chapters 29-32 Quiz
Further Study
Chapters 29-32 Quiz
1
of 5
Why did the Commander's former handmaid hang herself?
The Commander forced her to
Serena discovered their nighttime liasons
Serena blackmailed her
She was barren
2
of 5
When the Commander asks how to make her life better, what does Offred ask for?
A supply of cosmetics
Extra portions of dessert
Knowledge about what's happening
A mirror for her room
3
of 5
What word do the subversives in Gilead use as a password?
"Geronimo"
"Command"
"Mayday"
"Blackbird"
4
of 5
What does Serena offer to give Offred if she sleeps with Nick?
A picture of her daughter
Papers granting her freedom
Lifetime supply of cigarettes
A way to escape Gilead
5
of 5
According to the Commander, where did the true problem lie in the old world?
Women's promiscuity
Government's incompetence
Religion's fall from prominence
Men's lack of stimulation
Previous section
Chapters 26-28 Quick Quiz
Next section
Chapters 33-36 Quick Quiz
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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
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