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The Handmaid’s Tale Name_________________________________

Ms. Mulligan – 2123 Date_______________________Period______

Notes and Discussion Questions

IB Senior Summer Reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Study Packet

Literary elements employed or terms to apply to the novel:

Point-of-view Symbolism

Irony (verbal and situational) Tone

Paradox Satire

Pun Allusion

Dystopia-a kind of though experiment

which isolates certain social trends and

exaggerates them to make clear their

most negative qualities-not intended to

be realistic

Flashback

Motif In medias res

Things to look for:

Loss of hope/presence of hope

Subtle/not-so-subtle conformity and its effects on society

Fertility/sexual imagery

Paradoxical use of the color red

Very frank/coarse use of sexual language-rape imagery

Biblical use-language, imagery, allusion

Disjointed use of time

Language connoting or denoting duplicity

Description of women as property

Description of sex as a business/commodity

Complacency and its dangers

Symbolism (palimpsest, flowers/fruit, red)

Distinguishing between time and setting (old times/status quo)

Language of protection of women

Look up any vocabulary that you are unsure of as it may be on quizzes.

Your summer reading assignment

is to #1 CAREFULLY read the

novel The Handmaid’s Tale, and

#2 to complete these study

questions, and to #3 complete the

presentation outline that is

indicated on pages 9-10. Each of

these portions will be worth up to

100 points. Parts 1, 2, and 3

will be due on August 15/16,

2019 – whichever day we have

class. There will be, of course, a

summer reading test that will test

all aspects of the novel. This is

one of the two major works

that will be used for our IOCs

in December.

You should also have completed

your college essays for at least

two of your top choice schools – if

the schools you are applying to

have no essays – please complete

the essay for the Common App.

Don’t forget to check your

AP Literature exam score on

Friday, July 5th at 8:00 am!

Although it has won numerous awards, I DO NOT recommend

watching the series The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu. There is much that is inappropriate viewing and also the differences in the novel and the series are striking and may confuse you for the testing and the IOC.

I am looking forward to next year

as I know you are too!

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Example: What is a palimpsest and why does the narrator describe the gym as being

one? How is it significant to the themes of this novel?

Answer: From the Greek palimpsestos ("scraped again"), a palimpsest is reused writing

support material from which the underlying text has been erased (by washing in the case

of papyrus and by using scraping devices in the case of parchment). Erasure was not

always complete and an underlying text can often be read with the assistance of

ultraviolet light. The narrator indicates that although the past images appear to be gone

from the gymnasium, the memory, while faint, remains behind. It foreshadows that a

change has occurred in the world that seems almost complete.

Major Characters:

Offred: The narrator and central character of the novel. Offred is a Handmaid in the

Republic of Gilead. Handmaids are fertile women forced to bear children for elite,

barren couples. Fertility is rare and highly valued in Gilead. She has one more year left to

have a child before she is determined barren and sent to the Colonies.

Aunt Lydia: The authoritarian head mistress of the Red Center, where the Handmaids are

indoctrinated with rules they must live by. Aunt Lydia is the primary spokesperson for the

ideology of Gilead in the novel. Fragments of her speeches come up throughout Offred's

narration. Aunt Lydia is ruthlessly manipulative under the guise of piety and concern.

Moira: Offred's rebellious, bisexual friend who she has known since college, before

Gilead. Moira is sent to the Red Center along with Offred. She is a staunch feminist and

has a penchant for making lewd jokes.

Serena Joy: The Wife of the Commander. Serena Joy was a gospel singer and an anti-

feminist advocate before the war and formation of Gilead.

Ofglen: Offred's shopping partner who is a Handmaid. Ofglen and Offred are careful to

appear perfectly pious to each other when they first meet.

Commander: Offred's sterile stud and one of the founding fathers of Gilead.

Minor Characters

Janine: A Handmaid who is particularly vulnerable to psychological manipulation.

Rita: A servant in the household of the Commander. She belongs to the class of women

called Marthas, who are infertile but have done nothing to classify them as Unwomen.

Cora: A servant in the household of the Commander. She belongs to the class of women

called Marthas, who are infertile but have done nothing to classify them as Unwomen..

Nick: The Commander's chauffer as well as a double agent in the elite, government

agency of spies called the Eyes. Nick is a member of the underground rebel group

called the Maydays.

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Offred's mother: A radical feminist before Gilead. Offred's mother was a single parent

and an activist. She disapproved of Offred's marriage for the simple reason that she

believed men to be unnecessary.

Offred's daughter: The child Offred had with her husband, Luke, before Gilead. She was

given away to another family when Offred was arrested and forced into service as a

Handmaid. Offred is tortured by thoughts of her daughter.

Luke: Offred's husband. Luke was married when they began their relationship. He

divorced his wife and married Offred. They attempt to escape Gilead, but are caught

and arrested.

Previous Offred: The Handmaid stationed at the Commander's home before Offred.

Aunt Elizabeth: One of the headmistresses of the Red Center. Aunt Elizabeth was

threatened and tied up by Moira.

Professor Pieixoto: The speaker at a symposium described in the epilogue to The

Handmaid's Tale.

Discussion questions: Sorry the numbering is crazy here, but you can answer all anyway.

Parts I - II

1. How have institutions in our culture changed for the narrator’s culture? What is

the similarity that runs through all of those changes?

2. What important information do we learn from the first chapter?

3. What important information is deliberately left out? Why? What is the effect?

4. Why is the sense of smell so important in ch. 1-2?

5. In chapter 2, the narrator talks about how “they” aren’t afraid of the women

running away. Who is “they”? Why is the antecedent to this pronoun

deliberately left vague?

6. Why does the narrator compare the Red Center to a nunnery? What is ironic

about this comparison?

7. What are the different titles for groups of people in the narrator’s world? What is

the significance to each title? Is there significance to the colors they wear?

8. Is there significance to the names Serena Joy and Luke?

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Part III

1. What is the significance of Aunt Lydia comparing the women to seeds?

2. Who holds power in Gilead, men or women? How so?

3. Some scholars think Gilead is Cambridge, Mass. What is significant about this

location? Why might Atwood refrain from directly telling the reader this

information?

4. How is the function of time important?

5. Aunt Lydia discusses different kinds of freedom. What does she mean? What is

the paradox here and what is the effect?

6. Why does the narrator not name her daughter or give us her real name?

7. What happened to her daughter?

Part IV

1. By juxtapositioning Chapter 8 with Chapter 7 containing feminists burning

pornography, what interesting conflation is Atwood making?

2. Is Serena Joy an allusion to someone today?

3. What “sin” would the church accuse Offred of with her current position in

society?

4. Why is the secret message in the cupboard written in Latin? Why is this language

significant?

5. The two songs at the beginning of Chapter 10 are both banned: why is this

amusing?

6. Explain how the symbolism of the gold Eye in the doctor’s office is appropriate

for the time before and Offred’s present.

7. What is significant about Offred’s physical positioning with the sheets in the

doctor’s office?

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8. What is odd about legal definitions about barrenness and fertility?

9. Explain the significance of what has been omitted in Offred’s narrative and what

has already been revealed. What big things are not explained?

10. Why does Atwood use concentration camp references to describe Offred’s

position in society?

11. Why does Offred consistently fear or reference being drugged?

12. Explain the irony surrounding Janine’s “confession”.

13. Why is the character of Moira important? What does she represent?

p. 101-125

1. How does the way Offred’s society deal with Jews mirror history? What is

Atwood’s point?

2. What is significant about the way Gilead deals with religious types?

Why are names given such importance in the novel?

3. Explain the situational irony associated with the “Ceremony.”

p. 126-150

1. Offred gives more clues as to why babies and pregnancy are so rare—what are

they?

2. When did this cataclysmic event occur? Or was there one?

3. What is interesting about the way wives derive their names?

p. 151-175

1. Why is it significant that the Aunts make the Handmaids watch pornography at

the Red Center?

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2. How does Gilead warp feminists’ idea of women’s rights to serve their purposes?

Give examples.

3. What seems completely ridiculous in both the Ceremony and the birthing scene

concerning the Commander’s Wife?

4. What is significant about the way Moira escapes from the Red Center?

p. 176-200

1. Why does Offred call her narrative a “reconstruction”?

2. Why does Offred distinguish between control and forgiveness?

3. Why is the Commander’s request of a game of Scrabble from Offred surprising

yet completely sensical? What is significant about Offred’s choice of words

during the game?

4. The game of Scrabble and the simple kiss have given Offred she didn’t have

before—what is it?

5. Why does Offred recall the memory of the concentration camp documentary

immediately after the scene with the Commander? What is the effect of this

juxtapositioning?

6. Do the descriptions of the flowers have anything to do with the state of Offred’s

fertility?

7. What image do Offred’s words construct when referring to her arrangement with

the Commander? Why is this significant? (Irony)

p. 200-225

1. How do the pictures in the fashion magazines that the Commander offers her

impress her?

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2. How Offred’s feelings changed toward the Commander? How have feelings

changed toward her?

3. Why does Offred feel guilt with regard to Serena Joy?

4. What is ironic about the center of Gilead being a university?

5. What element of dehumanization is present in the Soul Scrolls?

6. How does Ofglen offer hope to Offred?

p. 226-250

1. Explain how the transition is made from our world to Offred’s?

2. Why is Offred surprised at people’s reactions regarding the Constitution and

censorship?

3. Why does Moira criticize Offred for stealing Luke and how does Offred defend

herself?

4. With the loss of her job, why does Offred feel so immobilized? Is there

something else to her feeling?

p. 251-275

1. What is significant about Offred praying The Lord’s Prayer?

2. Explain the situational irony surrounding Serena’s proposition of Nick to Offred?

Why is her incentive particularly effective? What does this incentive reveal about

Serena’s character?

3. How does the Commander justify/rationalize the current predicament of

Handmaids? What does it reveal about the true intentions of Gilead?

p. 276-300

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1. What information does Ofglen share about Janine’s baby?

2. What archaic institution has been revived in terms of marriage? Why does this

institution fit in with what the Commanders want for women?

3. Why is the Commander surprised with what Offred points out as a weakness in

the male/female relations in Gilead?

4. What is the Manhattan Cleanup? What does it resemble in history?

p. 301-325

1. Why do you think Offred is concerned about what Nick thinks?

2. Offred’s outing with the Commander reveal what about the men who created

Gilead?

3. What happened to Moira at the Red Center? How did she end up at Jezebel’s?

4. Again, Atwood uses what analogy for the Colonies? Why does this image

reappear?

p. 326-350

1. Where is Offred’s mother?

2. Why the two distinct stories concerning Offred’s first encounter with Nick?

p. 351-375

1. What is the logic of keeping men and women separated in public places?

2. What is significant about the decision not to share the details of the crimes

committed by the accused? Why the omission?

3. What is a particicution? Ofglen’s reaction? Why?

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4. What happens to the Ofglen that Offred knows? What is significant about

Offred’s reaction?

p. 375-end

YES! You do need to read the Historical Notes – it’s the end of the novel!

1. How does Nick reassure Offred when the black van arrives?

2. What is the point of the historical notes?

Background

Partly an extrapolation of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, attempting to imagine

what kind of values might evolve if environmental pollution rendered most of

humanity sterile. It is also the product of debates within the feminist movement

in the 70s and 80s.

The roots of the book go back to a study of the American Puritans. The society

they founded in America was not a democracy, but a theocracy. It would be ruled

by religious leaders and would not tolerate dissent within itself.

The lesson of this cautionary tale is that no woman can afford to be complacent,

or if she is active in her own affairs, no woman can afford not keep an eye on the

dominant hegemonies of her culture, because reactionary revolutions are

intrinsically patriarchal.

In establishing a fundamentalist religious state, which is supposed to redress the

wickedness of the pre-Gilead society, the Commander and his co-conspirators

have resorted to a totalitarian, fascistic regime, which abuses its “daughters” as

much if not more than the society from which they were supposed to be rescued.

Offred’s mother wants her to take responsibility for her self and for ensuring that

the hard-won right of women are not eroded; Serena Joy believes in a

fundamentalist cultural feminism, which argues that the role of women is in the

domestic sphere from where they can practice biblical moral codes, which will

empower them and control the excesses of men. Both mothers abandon Offred.

Both mothers also suffer badly from the consequences of their own denials.

**** Assignment #3 You will need to do a major presentation on any one aspect

of the novel Come up with your own topic or choose one below. For example:

Religious elements in the novel The significance of the Historical Notes

The role of Serena Joy, Aunt Elizabeth, Nick, Moira, Luke, or the Commander, etc.

The employment of a particular motif: red, flowers, pictures, etc.

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Historical allusions

Important puns and their (religious, political, feminist, historical) meanings

The role of humor or irony in the text

Violence in the novel

Dystopic and Utopic elements

The Historical Notes

And obviously the non-chronological order of this novel, the narrative voice, the

perceived level of narrator reliability, the ending, etc. all play an important role in how

we understand the messages in this novel – each of these topics is well worth considering

and exploring.

So, when you return on August 15 or 16, please have a detailed outline of your topic

– probably at least 2 -3 pages long. And please, strive for individuality as it is

important that we cover all of the important and nuanced elements of the text

before we can consider our IOCs. Write to me if you are not sure if you’ve chosen a

great topic.

Literary Concepts to review in advance of next year

Elements of Plot

Protagonist: This is the central, or main, character. It is the person (animal, robot,

whatever) that the story focuses on. What the protagonist wants or needs drives the story.

Antagonist: This is the person or thing that stands in the way of what the protagonist

wants or needs.

Exposition: This is the first part of a story. In the exposition the author gives the reader

all that is needed to understand what is going on. In the exposition we learn about the

setting (where and when the story takes place), the characters (who is who, and what they

want or need), and the conflict is (what stands in the way of what the central character

wants or needs).

Inciting Incident: This is the precise moment when the reader understands exactly what

the conflict (the problem) is. The protagonist (the central character) wants or needs

something, and someone or something (the antagonist) stands in the way.

Rising Action: This is the longest part of the story where the protagonist (the central

character) tries to resolve the conflict (to get what he/she wants or needs). The tension of

the story is stretched out to keep the reader guessing. Will the hero save the girl? Will the

asteroid destroy the planet? Will she marry Prince Charming and live happily ever after?

Climax: The climax is the moment in a story when it is clear how the conflict will turn

out. At this moment the reader understands whether or not the protagonist (the central

character) will get what is needed or wanted.

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Falling Action: This is the part of a story when the dust settles. Usually the climax

occurs during a scene when there is a lot going on. After the moment when we know if

the protagonist (the central character) wins or loses over the antagonist (whatever or

whoever stands in the way) there is still going to be a little action. This time of the "dust

settling" in the scene of that contains the climax is called the falling action.

Resolution/denouement: The reader wants to know how it all eventually turns out. Do

they get married and have children? Does the bad guy go to jail? Is there going to be

another asteroid? Tying up the loose ends of a story is called the resolution. In a mystery

story it is the part when the detective tells how he figured it all out, and untangles the

knot for us. In fact, "denouement" is French for "the untying." If there is going to be a

sequel, we will get hints about it here.

Types of Conflict

Conflict: The tension of a story comes from the reader not knowing if the protagonist

(the central character) is going to get what he/she wants or needs. What type of obstacle

which stands in the way gives us the type of conflict. Note that conflicts are usually

described as "Man versus ______." This is the universal "Man," not the individual "man."

It is a little sexist, but refers to the central character whether or not he or she is male.

Man vs. Man: If the conflict is one person against another, then the story is being driven

by a Man versus Man conflict.

Man vs. Self: If the central character needs to understand something about him/herself,

grows up, or matures, then the story is being driven by a Man versus Self conflict.

Man vs. Nature: If the central character is fighting with nature, then the story is

probably Man versus Nature. If it is a storm, the dark woods, an earthquake, a wolf,

volcano, or meteor, then the protagonist is battling nature.

Man vs. Supernatural: If the protagonist is battling with God, gods, magical beings, or

ghosts, then the conflict is Man versus Supernatural.

Man vs. Machine: If we find the protagonist is struggling with a machine(s), such as

trying to get a car to run, or is riding a bicycle that seems to always be falling apart, then

the conflict is Man vs. Machine.

Man vs. Society: If the protagonist is fighting a culture or society, then we call the

conflict Man versus Society. An example of this conflict might be a person trying to

escape the Nazi Holocaust.

Literary Tools to Develop the Story

Setting: Setting is the time and place. The author needs to let the reader understand when

and where the story takes place. Is it on a strange planet in the far future? In a magical

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land long ago? Is it summer time in Alabama or on the sea during the early 1800's? The

development of setting takes place during the exposition (the first part of the plot).

Mood: An author will often provide a feeling or state of mind to a story, we call this

mood. Moods vary. The mood of a story can be cheerful, or dark and foreboding.

Characterization: Whenever an author does anything to help the reader understand a

character, that is called "characterization." If we are told that a character is tall, that is

characterization. If the author says she is beautiful, or old, or thin, or smart, that is

characterization. When an author helps us to understand how a character feels, thinks,

walks, talks, or even smiles, that is characterization. Characterization is the creating of a

character.

Rounded character: If the character is complex, or seems like a person we may know,

then it is a rounded character. The main characters of a story tend to be rounded

characters so that we care what happens to them.

Flat character: If a character just seems to be a part of the background, just a supporting

character, and we don't get to know them, then that character is called "flat."

Dynamic character: If a character changes during the story, then we call that a

"dynamic" character. This is the usual character in a Man versus Self conflict. The

protagonist grows up, or comes to understand things in a new way. Change means

dynamic.

Static character: If a character does not change during a story, it is a static character.

"Static" means unmoving. For example, Captain Ahab is a static character in Moby Dick

because he does not learn that it is futile to fight against the great white whale.

Foil: A foil is a character that is very different from another character. The author puts

the two together so the reader comes to understands the characters better. Example: The

only thing Captain Ahab wants is to get Moby Dick. His first mate, Starbuck, just wants

to make a living hunting whales. When we have the two characters together, the

comparison makes Ahab look even crazier. Starbuck is a foil to Ahab because he is a

rational sailor who hunts whales just so he can support his family. Ahab is clearly crazy

because he hunts the whale just for revenge.

Foreshadow: If the author wishes to provide a sense of foreboding, or wants the reader

to keep a particular idea in mind, then foreshadowing might be used. This is when there is

a hint of things to come. It might be an outright prediction, or something subtle in the

background. It is there to help the reader watch for the right things that lie ahead.

Flashback: If the author wishes to remind or show us something that happened in the

past, then the story will jump into the past. This jumping back is called a flashback.

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Frame: A frame is given to provide the reader a reason for the story being told. If there is

a narrator, he is often telling us something that happened in his or her past. This "frame"

is outside of the story, and gives us a reason to listen. For example, in the movie Titanic

the frame is about a treasure hunter who is trying to find a necklace that had gone down

with the ship. To find the necklace he brings an old woman out to the wreck, and we hear

her tell the tale. Her setting (the modern-day hunt for the necklace) is outside of the main

story (the voyage of the Titanic)and gives us a "frame."

Literary Tools to Describe Ideas

Metaphor: When it is implied that the things being discussed are standing for something

else, the author is using a metaphor. Things often stand for things that are bigger. Darth

Vader is a metaphor for evil, for all that is wrong with the universe. He stands for the

dangers of the "Force" and how the dark side is tempting and dangerous. Another

example: "Don't count your chickens before they are hatched," is a metaphor for not

planning on things that you do not yet have. A metaphor is usually unique to the

situation.

Symbol: A symbol is like a metaphor because it stands for something else. The

difference is that a symbol is well-known and people recognize what it means right away.

The U.S. flag is a symbol people understand because it stands for The United States of

America. The swastika is another symbol everyone knows that stands for Nazi Germany.

If something is immediately recognized by people, then it is a symbol.

Simile: Sometimes the author simply wants the reader to compare two things. Usually

there is some quality the two things share. A simple way to recognize when an author is

using a simile is that we will find the words "like" or "as" in the phrase. "She is like a

butterfly." (She is always going from group to group in a party like a butterfly flits from

flower to flower.)

Allusion: An allusion is a reference to another work. In novels allusions are usually to

other books. Movies often make references to other movies. It is a way for the author to

let us know something by referring to something else we already know. Do not confuse

"allusion" with "illusion." An illusion is something that appears to be something that it is

not. Magicians work with illusions, writers work with allusions.

Theme: The author of a novel will often have a theme which is a message or insight

about life or human nature. It may not be directly stated, but left for the reader to infer.

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Literary Tools that Provide Writers with "Voice"

Alliteration: Sometimes a writer will make sounds repeat to give a pattern to their

writing. When a sound repeats it is called "alliteration." Here is an example of alliteration

using "P's": The purple penguin plunged past the pink puffer fish, praying the polka-

dotted parka would protect its pointy nose. If the alliteration uses "S's," then we say it is

"sibilant." Example: The silly snake snuck sideways so Sally should see such sly

serpentine silliness as sneaky.

Appositive: An appositive is a tool the writer uses to give additional information about a

noun. It will follow the noun and will be bracketed with commas. Here is an example:

Mr. Greenleaf, an English teacher at Ackerman Middle School, likes to read a lot. The

words in italics (the slanted letters) is an appositive giving a little more information about

the noun (Mr. Greenleaf). If the appositive were left out the sentence would still make

sense. It gives the reader so more information which might be important to know.

Parallelism: When a writer repeats a word or phrase it is called parallelism. Here is an

example: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your

country." Here is another example: "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and

all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."

The phrases echo each other, lend strength to each other. Parallelism is another way an

author develops a writing "voice."

Irony: When something is different than it would seem to be, that is irony. There are

many types of irony. A verbal irony is when someone says something, but means, or

should say something else. For example, in Huckleberry Finn, Huck says: "I had been to

school and could say the multiplication table up to six times seven is thirty-five." (6 x 7 =

42) A situational irony is when what is happening does not fit the circumstances.

Dramatic irony is when the reader understands something a character does not (careful!

The knife is poisoned!).

I hope you have a wonderful summer and enjoy reading The Handmaid’s Tale.