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Literature
The Handmaid’s Tale
Plot Overview Quick Quiz
The Handmaid’s Tale
by:
Margaret Atwood
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
Table of Contents
Plot Overview Quiz
Further study
Plot Overview Quiz
1
of 5
Within the Republic of Gilead, why are Handmaids so important?
Reproduction rates are low
Sex cannot be pleasurable
Other women are sterilized
They are members of the upper class
2
of 5
What led to the lowered fertility rates in the old world, before Gilead?
Nuclear war
Scientific experimentation
Chemical spills and pollution
Systematic government sterilization
3
of 5
At the end of their secret Scrabble meetings, what does the Commander ask Offred to do?
Sleep with Nick
Sleep with the Doctor
Tuck him into bed
Kiss him
4
of 5
What is the purpose of the organization “Mayday”?
To expose false pregnancies
To overthrow Gilead
To push government programs further
To hide the identity of Commanders
5
of 5
What is Offred’s ultimate fate?
She escapes to England
She escapes to Canada
She is recaptured
It is unknown
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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
