Chapters Flashcards
I. Night
Past
Identity
Begins and ends with Night - cyclical
Revealing
Chapter 1
Introduced to Aunts and Angels
Set in old gym
Restrictive and dystopian themes
Past
II. Shopping
Shops with Ofglen
Introduced to Nick, Ofglen and Serena Joy
Increased understanding of society
Shopping - stereotypical female activity
Chapter 2
Setting - Offred’s room and house
Introduced to Marthas and Handmaids
Offred leaves to go shopping
Chapter 3
Introduced to Serena Joy
Flash back to first meeting
Chapter 4
Introduced to Nick
First mention of Eyes
Meet Ofglen
Go through checkpoint
Wiggles hips
Chapter 5
Learn of ‘The Republic of Gilead’
Shopping in town
Remembers old days and lack of women’s safety
Not allowed to read
Ofwarren/Janine is pregnant
Introduced to daughter and Luke
Tourists
Chapter 6
Walk past church
See Wall - used to be Harvard
Men hanging due to aiding abortions
III. Night
Fear
Regret
Transparency
Chapter 7
Remembers past life
Introduced to Moira
Mother and protests
Daughter taken
Writing is forbidden
IV. Waiting Room
Slow part
Build understanding of surroundings
Doctors rooms - reflective
Chapter 8
3 new bodies hanging
Econowives introduced
Funeral for embryo
Nick breaks rules talking to her
Serena Joy in garden
Learn of Serena’s part in making Gilead
Commander found outside room but retreats
Chapter 9
Learn of Luke’s affair with her
Latin phrase in closet found
Learn of multiple handmaids before her
Chapter 10
Most music forbidden
Flash back to Moira, unrestricting clothes and gender based violence
Sits with ‘faith’ pillow
Chapter 11
Monthly doctor visit
Not allowed to talk to or see each other
Doctor often impregnating her
Chapter 12
Required bath day
Remembers daughter
Handmaid tattoo
Eats dinner and steals butter
V. Nap
Break in day
Moment of reflection
Chapter 13
Contemplates eroticism of bored women
Flash back to Moira’s arrival at Red Centre
Janine testifies to gang rape and is accused
Body is uterus
Remembers running away with daughter
VI. Household
Household dynamics
Their role
Household not family - impersonalised
Chapter 14
Beginning of ceremony
Nick persists after Offred
Remembers planned escape
Chapter 15
Commander reads bible
Remembers Moira’s attempted escape and punishment
Chapter 16
Ceremony takes place
Chapter 17
Beauty products forbidden
Uses butter
Kisses Nick
Told to visit Commander tomorrow
VI. Night
Second
Past
Remember
Personal
Chapter 18
Remembers Luke
Imagines his present situation
VIII. Birth Day
Day Janine gives birth
Ritual
Chapter 19
Offred dreams about mother and daughter
Birthmobile comes
Janine is in labour
Learn of Jezebels - women unable to have children
Chapter 20
Handmaids sit around Janine as she gives birth
Remembers videos the Aunts showed them
Remembers mother
Chapter 21
Handmaids chant through birth
Offred looks for Moira
Baby girl born
Chapter 22
Remembers Moira’s escape
Chapter 23
Visits Commander
Learn of his loneliness
IX. Night
Third
Past
Personal
Short
Chapter 24
Plans to forget past
Plans to see Commander
Remembers Holocaust interview
Falls asleep on floor
X. Soul Scrolls
Chapter 25
Cora thinks Offred killed herself
Continues visiting Commander
Reads Vogue
Given lotion
Chapter 26
Ceremony
Feels more uncomfortable
Commander needs personal connection
Chapter 27
Ofglen and Offred become closer
Pollution worsens
Thinks of Luke
Finds trust in Ofglen
Witness the Eyes
Chapter 28
Learn of Moira’s disapproval of Luke’s affair
Moira’s sexuality
Remembers fall of USA
Remembers mother
Chapter 29
Learns of Latin quote
Learns of past handmaids
Of commander’s guilt
Ask to know what’s going on
XI. Night
Fourth
Remembers
Past
Personal
Depressive
Chapter 30
Notices sexual tension between her and Nick
Remembers failed escape attempt with Luke
Prays and contemplates suicide
XII. Jezebel’s
Chapter 31
2 new hung bodies
Learns of MayDay
Serena offers photo of Offred’s daughter if she sleeps with Nick
Agrees and rewarded with cigarette
Chapter 32
Learn of Commanders high rank with Ofglen
Commander discusses old Gilead - sex
Unafraid of Commander
Wish to sit with Marthas
Imagines dead handmaid
Chapter 33
Prayvaganza
Janine’s baby’s birth defects - slept with doctor
Remembers Janine’s weird episode at Red Centre
Chapter 34
Discusses arranged marriages
Commander defends Gilead
Dismisses love
Told to learn as much as possible from Commander by Ofglen
Chapter 35
Remembers escape attempt
Sees picture of daughter
Discuss love
Past
Chapter 36
Commander drunk
Wants to take her out
She accepts
Chapter 37
Go to club
Pleasure house
Sees Moira
Chapter 38
Learns Moira’s story
Last time she sees Moira
Chapter 39
Goes to room with Commander
Reminded of Luke’s affair
Learn mother is in colonies
Fakes orgasm
XIII. Night
Fifth
I chapter
Her own world
First time with others
Chapter 40
Returns home
Meets Serena Joy at midnight to sleep with Nick
Tells two versions of intercourse
XIV. Salvaging
Chapter 41
Apologises for story’s pain
Continues seeing Nick without Serena Joy knowing - selfish and guilty
Beginning to care less about leaving
Growing closer to Nick
Chapter 42
Large scale execution
Aunt Lydia is there
3 women hung
Chapter 43
Handmaids given rapist to murder
Ofglen knocks him out - he’s part of rebellion
Janine’s mental stability declining
Chapter 44
Go shopping
Ofglen swapped
Attempts to see if new one is part of resistance - she’s not
Learns Ofglen saw Eyes coming and hung herself
Chapter 45
Serena learns of Offred’s relationship with Commander
Learn he did it with previous ones
XV. Night
Seventh
Last
Cyclical
1 chapter
Chapter 46
Van comes to take her away
Nick says it’s MayDay
Cliffhanger
Historical Notes
Impersonalises it
History vs herstory
Adds to fragmentation
Reduces female’s voice
