Handmaid Easy
What is the narrator's assigned name in Gilead?
Offred
What role do memories of Luke play in these chapters?
They help Offred preserve her identity and remind her of life before Gilead.
Why does Offred choose not to accept the doctor's offer?
She fears it may be a trap or that she could be executed if discovered.
Why does the doctor offer to impregnate Offred?
Because the Commander may be sterile and Offred risks punishment if she does not become pregnant.
What does Aunt Lydia say Gilead offers women instead of freedom to choose?
"Freedom from."
What are the white wings attached to the Handmaids' bonnets called?
wings
Why does Offred often think about her mother?
She reflects on women's rights before Gilead and wonders what happened to her
Which two opposing emotions best describe Offred by the end of Chapter 20?
Hope and fear; longing and resignation; loneliness and determination.
What does Offred secretly use as skin lotion?
Butter
Why can't men officially be declared sterile in Gilead?
Gilead refuses to admit that men can be infertile.
What phrase do Handmaids commonly use to greet one another?
"Blessed be the fruit."
What does Aunt Lydia mean when she says, "There is more than one kind of freedom"?
She argues that Gilead provides "freedom from" danger, even though it removes personal freedom and choice.
What is one symbol from Chapters 11–20 that best represents resistance? Explain your choice.
Butter, Nolite te bastardes carborundorum, memories of Luke, or Nick's kiss—each represents a small act of resistance or the preservation of identity.
Which Handmaid gives birth?
Janine (Ofwarren)
What is the purpose of the Ceremony?
To attempt reproduction between the Commander and the Handmaid under religious rules.
Who is Offred's shopping partner?
Ofglen
Why is the Ceremony disturbing despite being presented as a religious ritual?
It strips women of autonomy, reduces them to reproductive objects, and uses religion to justify oppression.
Who wrote the Latin phrase?
The previous Handmaid
What flower is repeatedly described in Serena Joy's garden?
Tulips
Explain one way that Gilead controls language.
Gilead limits greetings, reading, writing, and names, reducing people's ability to think independently.
What do the tulips symbolize?
Fertility, femininity, sexuality, beauty, and the cycle of life and death.
In one or two sentences, explain how Chapters 11–20 develop the theme of control. Use one specific example from the novel.
Gilead controls every aspect of women's lives, including their bodies and relationships. For example, the Ceremony forces Handmaids to participate in state-controlled reproduction without consent.
Who offers to secretly impregnate Offred?
Doctor
Who unexpectedly kisses Offred?
Nick
Why are the Eyes so effective even when they are not present?
People fear constant surveillance and begin to police their own behaviour.