Overview & Key Scenes

• When was The Handmaid’s Tale written?

  1984
• Where does The Handmaid’s Tale take place?

  In Gilead, a totalitarian state
• What has led to the decreasing fertility rate in Gilead?

  Environmental decline
• Who are the Handmaids in Gilead?

  Fertile women assigned to upper-class couples
• Who is the main character of The Handmaid’s Tale?

  Offred
• How is the story of The Handmaid’s Tale narrated?

  Using a non-linear narrative with flashbacks
• Who does Offred serve as a Handmaid?

  The Commander and his Wife
• What is the Red Center?

  A training center for Handmaids
• What themes does Atwood explore in The Handmaid’s Tale?

  Patriarchy, class, and religious extremism
• What genres does The Handmaid’s Tale combine?

  Speculative fiction, dystopian fiction, and tragedy
• Why is The Handmaid’s Tale considered speculative fiction?

  It speculates about possible future events
• What does Gilead represent in the context of the 1980s?

  A warning against the rise of the religious far right
• What is a key characteristic of dystopian fiction?

  Focus on injustice and human suffering
• How does The Handmaid’s Tale relate to George Orwell's 1984?

  Both depict totalitarian regimes
• What defines tragedy in literature?

  Concern with human suffering and hardship
• How is the novel structured?

  Split into parts and chapters
• What is the significance of the 'Historical Notes' chapter?

  It provides context about Gilead in 2195
• What does Offred's name signify?

  She belongs to the Commander, Fred
• What does Offred's fading sense of self represent?

  The loss of identity under the regime
• How does Offred cope with her situation?

  By developing mental strategies for survival
• What does patriarchy mean in the context of Gilead?

  Men hold power and exclude others
• How are women categorized in Gilead?

  As Wives, Marthas, or Handmaids
• What is the role of reproduction in Gilead?

  It is the primary function of Handmaids
• How does Offred feel about her bodily autonomy?

  She lacks control over her own body
• What does the character Ofglen represent?

  A member of the underground resistance, Mayday
• What does the character Moira symbolize?

  Defiance against the regime
• What does Offred's relationship with Nick signify?

  A regaining of some autonomy
• What does the character Serena Joy represent?

  The complexities of women's roles in Gilead
• How does Atwood depict class and oppression in Gilead?

  Through pre-existing class lines and discrimination
• What historical context influenced The Handmaid’s Tale?

  The Cold War and political unrest in the 1980s
• What impact did the AIDS pandemic have on Atwood's writing?

  It influenced her vision of Gilead's struggles
• How does Offred's mother influence her character?

  She represents feminist activism from the past
• What does the character Cora represent?

  A Martha who accepts the regime's rules
• What does the character Janine symbolize?

  The consequences of envy and competition
• What does the character Luke represent in Offred's life?

  Her past life and lost freedom
• What does the character Aunt Lydia symbolize?

  The indoctrination of women into Gilead's ideology
• What does the character Professor Piexoto represent in the epilogue?

  A scholarly analysis of Offred's narrative
• What are the key themes in The Handmaid’s Tale?

  • Survival
  • Patriarchy
  • Identity & Autonomy
  • Reproduction
  • Class & Oppression
• What are the main characters in The Handmaid’s Tale?

  • Offred
  • Serena Joy
  • The Commander
  • Aunt Lydia
  • Moira
  • Nick
  • Ofglen
  • Cora
  • Janine
  • Luke
  • Aunt Elizabeth
  • Offred’s mother
  • Rita
  • Professor Piexoto
• What historical events influenced The Handmaid’s Tale?

  • The Cold War
  • The AIDS pandemic
  • Political unrest in the 1980s
  • Environmental decline and climate change