1
How old was the narrator at the time described?
Around six or seven years old.
Who was the beautiful woman the narrator loved and who played with her for hours?
Tabitha
What object did the narrator and Tabitha play with for hours?
A dollhouse like their own house
What did the pretend books on the dollhouse shelves contain instead of words?
Blank pages
How did the narrator’s mother explain why the dollhouse books were blank?
Decorations, like vases of flowers
What does the narrator believe her mother had to tell for her sake?
Lies to keep her safe
How many bathrooms were in the dollhouse, and what special type was one of them?
Five bathrooms, including a powder room
What word did the narrator not understand in “powder room”?
What “powder” was
What did the narrator see as they marched along the street?
Handmaids walking two by two with shopping baskets
Why were the narrator and others told not to stare at the Handmaids?
Because it was rude
Who told the narrator it was rude to stare at the Handmaids?
Aunt Estée
What did Aunt Vidala say when asked about the Handmaids?
“You’ll learn about all of that when you’re old enough.”
What impression did the narrator have of the Handmaids?
Something bad or damaging
What made all the Handmaids look the same?
White hats that hid their faces
Which doll did the narrator lock in the cellar while playing with the dollhouse?
Where did the narrator believe the Aunt doll really belonged?
She belonged in a school or at Ardua Hall
What would the Aunt doll do after being locked in the cellar?
Pound and pound on the cellar door and scream “Let me out.”
Who helped lock the Aunt doll in the cellar and then laughed?
The little girl doll and the Martha doll
What personal fault does the narrator admit while recounting the dollhouse cruelty?
A vengeful side of her nature
What does the narrator believe is better to do in an account such as this?
To be scrupulous about faults as well as actions
Who taught the narrator to be honest with herself?
Tabitha
What was the narrator’s favourite stuffed animal?
A whale
Why did the narrator believe it was acceptable to have a whale as a toy?
Because God made whales to play in the sea
What bedtime prayer did Tabitha and the narrator recite at night?
“Now I lay me down to sleep…”
How did the narrator imagine her soul looked?
Like a much smaller version of herself, like the little girl doll