Characters
The narrator of the story.
Who is Offred
Red symbolizes what in the book?
Sexuality, fertility, blood
The weekly event where Handmaids participate in a public execution.
What is the Salvaging
This group enforces Gilead’s laws and trains the Handmaids.
What are the Aunts
This theme explores how society controls women’s bodies.
What are Gender and Oppression
Offred's shopping partner.
Who is Ofglen
Serena Joy grows these flowers which symbolize fertility and woundedness.
What are tulips
Offred meets Moira again in this forbidden place.
What is Jezebel's
Handmaids are allowed out only for this purpose.
What is shopping
Power is wielded in Gilead through primarily what medium/tool?
What is fear
Once rebellious and brave, she became a symbol of rebellion for the Handmaid's.
Who is Moira
The Ceremony is compared to this object “cut loose at the top.”
What is an elevator
Serena Joy offers Offred this in exchange for sleeping with Nick.
What is a photo of her daughter
This everyday skill is forbidden to women because it gives independence.
What is Reading
Offred’s memories of Luke and her daughter symbolize this concept.
What is hope
Cold, strict and jealous, she is married to the Commander.
Who is Serena Joy
This recurring image represents Gilead’s constant surveillance.
What are eyes
Offred loses her job and bank account because of this new law.
What is A law banning women from working or owning property
Nolite te bastardes carborundorum” is found here.
What is the floor of Offred's closet
The Handmaids' names, e.g. Offred, are applied in Gilead to remove what from the characters?
What is personal identity
He works as a Guardian and becomes Offred's lover.
Who is Nick
Offred’s memory of jeans symbolizes what?
What is freedom or individuality
The novel ends with Offred entering a van. What question does this raise?
Is she being rescued or arrested?
Gilead was created mainly as a response to what crisis?
What is Falling fertility rates
The government of Gilead uses a distorted version of what to legitimize its oppressive theocracy?
What is religion/Bible