Handmaid's Tale

Question 1

“What was in them was a promise.” 3

Answer 1

• Context
  o Offred speaks of the old women’s magazines when the Commander gives one to her
• Analysis
  o “Promise” – hopeful tone
   Hints at freedom of embracing femininity
   Hidden in magazine – women are seeking for freedom in metaphorical & unusual places – very limited
  o Contrast with the stereotypical view that women’s magazines are shallow & sexist
   Like how the feminist movement before Gilead burned magazines
• Impact on reader
  o Wishing for freedom – even something as trivial as a magazine becomes coveted because of freedom it represents
  o Ordinary things should be cherished
• Themes
  o Feminism, hope, freedom

Question 2

“Women were not protected then” 3

Answer 2

• Context
  o Offred speaks about how life for women used to also be dangerous before Gilead
• Analysis
  o “not protected” – tries finding an upside in Gilead – a justification that the regime uses
   Simple syntax – states as fact, almost as if a memorised line of ideology
  o Debates whether protection is more important than freedom
   Juxtaposition
  o Freedom to vs Freedom from
  o Paternalism – I know better – imposing undemocratic policies
   Women’s need to be protected
• Impact on reader
  o Shows that Gilead may think itself justified
  o Debates protection over freedom – what is more important
• Themes
  o Freedom, repression, society

Question 3

“There’s more than one kind of freedom, said Aunt Lydia. Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from. Don’t underrate it.” 2

Answer 3

• Context
  o Offred remembers life before Gilead and the dangers for women then
• Analysis
  o “anarchy” – describe freedom before Gilead as anarchy – shows their belief that control is the only way of governance
  o “freedom to” – type of freedom that Offred longs – true freedom of making your own decisions & being autonomous
  o “freedom from” – alliteration – Gilead considers what is being given as freedom
   Not true freedom but repression
  o “Don’t underrate it” – order-like syntax – Handmaids have no choice but to accept it
   Negative sentence form – not “appreciate it” – but rather don’t do something – in line with limitations of Gilead
  o Paternalism – I know better – imposing undemocratic policies
   Women’s need to be protected
  o Who defines good governance?
• Impact on reader
  o Explores idea of true freedom
  o Shows repression of Gilead but how the Aunts try to justify it
• Themes
  o Freedom, control

Question 4

“Under His Eye” 3

Answer 4

• Context
  o Said at first by Ofglen – then by Ofglen’s replacement once she has died
• Analysis
  o Religious allusion – Biblical text
   Shows how even dialogue in Gilead is religious – religion is pervasive in all of society
  o “Eye” – allusion to surveillance organisation – even farewell is a note to not do anything against Gilead – always being watched
   Synecdoche – sight & idea of control – control was all encompassing
• Single part of “Eye” but includes everything
• Impact on reader
  o Understands how religion is pervasive in Gilead
  o Understands fear of always being watched – normalised in society under guise of religion
• Themes
  o Freedom, religion

Question 5

“This is freedom, an eyeblink of it” 3

Answer 5

• Context
  o Offred recounts her experience with the Commander playing Scrabble for the first time
• Analysis
  o “This is” – statement repeated multiple times throughout – almost like realisations that she has during the experience
  o “Eyeblink” – covets freedom, even if just for a short time
   “Eye” – allusion to surveillance and constant danger – “eyeblink” – just out of the sight of surveillance
   “eyeblink” – too short, may be a bit of freedom but doesn’t make up for repression
• Impact on reader
  o Shows how Offred covets freedom – willing to be in danger for it
  o Something as simple as playing Scrabble – becomes altering experience of freedom
• Themes
  o Freedom, danger

Question 6

“I had my choice, they said, this or the Colonies.” 3

Answer 6

• Context
  o Moira explains the choice given to her after her attempted escape – Jezebels or the Colonies
• Analysis
  o “had my choice” – implies there was some sort of freedom – false
  o “they said” – Gilead can claim giving a choice and freedom – in reality it is a choice between exploitation and death
• Impact on reader
  o Shows that women are being given the illusion of choice – no actual freedom
  o Freedom isn’t just a choice but full autonomy
• Themes
  o Freedom, choice

Question 7

“Blessed be the fruit. May the Lord open. Praise be.” 3

Answer 7

• Context
  o Formulaic answers that are used in conversation
• Analysis
  o Religious allusions – texts taken from religion and the Bible
  o Regime has forbidden normal conversation – stripped of all identity & freedom
  o Constant reminder to the citizens of their role and power of religion
  o Religion used not as freedom but at a method of control
• Impact on reader
  o Understands the pervasiveness of religion in Gilead
  o Understands how identity has been fully stripped to create an obedient population
• Themes
  o Religion, individuality, freedom, identity

Question 8

“I try not the think too much. Like other things now, thought must be rationed.” 2

Answer 8

• Context
  o Offred is describing her room
• Analysis
  o “like other things” – doesn’t even name it, list is too long
   Shows the repressive nature of the regime
  o “rationed” – connotations of times of war, something done to survive
   Almost like she is at war for survival
  o “thought” – the one thing that should be free is limited – reach of regime gets even into the most personal
• Impact on reader
  o Understands the true extent of Gilead repression
  o Understands the value of free thought
• Themes
  o Freedom, repression, survival

Question 9

“It’s the choice that terrifies me. A way out, a salvation.” 3

Answer 9

• Context
  o The Doctor offers to help Offred get pregnant, but she denies
• Analysis
  o “choice” and “salvation” – freedom to choose and to decide on matters of her own body is portrayed as ‘salvation’ – hope for survival
  o “terrifies me” – Gilead has repressed all of them – simple choice is terrifying – especially because the consequences of it (described in paragraph above quote)
  o “way out” – freedom to choose is a way of resisting and saving herself
• Impact on reader
  o Understands the power of choice and how it can save some
  o Understands the power of choice being repressed
• Themes
  o Freedom, choice, survival

Question 10

“Offred”, “Ofglen”, “Ofwarren” 3

Answer 10

• Context
  o Names of the Handmaids
• Analysis
  o Name is a combination of the Commander’s name and “of”
  o “Of” – directly shows ownership – Handmaid is like the Commander’s property
  o Names rotate with posts – does not matter who is serving a Commander only that she is able to do her job
  o Connotation of slavery – allusion to slave masters giving slaves their last names
• Impact on reader
  o Understands that the very identity of the Handmaids has been stripped
  o Understands the power Commanders hold
• Themes
  o Power, identity

Question 11

“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum” 3

Answer 11

• Context
  o Offred reads this scratched by the previous Handmaid in the cupboard of her room
• Analysis
  o “Don’t let the bastards grind you down” – mantra for strength
   Repeated throughout the book – something that keeps Offred strong to resist
   Tragic meaning when it is considered that the previous Handmaid committed suicide
• Shows she was still strong & resistance
  o Passed as a message – shows solidarity between Handmaids for strength
   Solidarity and understanding in experience
• Impact on reader
  o Understand the hope & determination to keep strong
   Message gives Offred hope
  o Shows strength sometimes isn’t enough to survive – Handmaid committed suicide
  o Shows solidarity in shared hardship and how knowledge that someone else is there can help survive
• Themes
  o Solidarity, strength, resistance, hope

Question 12

“Particicution” 3

Answer 12

• Context
  o Gileadean execution of the ‘rapist’ which involves the participation of the Handmaids
• Analysis
  o Neologism – combination of ‘participating’ and ‘execution’
  o Shows how Gilead distributes blame to all taking part – can claim consent and benefit from regime
  o Way of controlling the population – small, limited ‘freedoms’ to let off steam and be compliant later
  o Claim to be giving power to the Handmaids – can execute their own justice
• Impact on reader
  o Understands the false claims of justice & freedom
  o Involvement becomes a form of repression
  o Brutality against those who oppose
• Themes
  o Power, freedom, death, repression, brutality

Question 13

“I enjoy the power; power of a dog bone, passive but there.” 3

Answer 13

• Context
  o Offred moves her hips and makes eye contact with the Guardians
• Analysis
  o “enjoy the power” – despite the limits of her circumstances – she still manages to find a way to resist
   Feels powerful
  o Only way for her to resist is to use her body – takes back what Gilead took but also shows that really her body is the only thing she has
   Normally – using body for power is a last resort
  o “dog bone” – metaphor – shows the power she has isn’t real – only really a promise
  o “but there” – still excited at this power – takes back the little things
• Impact on reader
  o Understands that Offred is not passive – tried to resist in the small ways she can
  o Understands that power is desired & coveted – something special
• Themes
  o Resistance, power

Question 14

“I visit the Commander (…) only when I get the signal” 1

Answer 14

• Context
  o Offred describes her understanding with the Commander
• Analysis
  o “only when” – added as a second part of the sentence – almost an afterthought
  o “signal” – even though the deal is two sided and dangerous for Offred – Commander still has the ultimate power
  o “I get” – she is summoned – at the end of the day she has no decision power – is still exploited
• Impact on reader
  o Realises that Offred ultimately still has no power – subject to the whims of the Commander
• Themes
  o Power, danger, exploitation

Question 15

“I feel, for the first time, their true power” 3

Answer 15

• Context
  o Offred finds out about Ofglen’s death before the Eyes came for her
• Analysis
  o “first time” – shows that even though she experienced so much she kept some sort of hope
  o “true power” – shows fear as the true power of Gilead
   “true” – implies that power may have different forms but only fear can’t really be resisted
  o Decides to comply to “keep on living”
   Fear induces compliance
• Impact on reader
  o Offred has felt fear before – finally she is in danger herself & it is real – true power is personal & unavoidable fear
  o Gilead’s power is derived from fear
• Themes
  o Society, fear, power

Question 16

“who’s fault is it? Her fault, her fault, her fault. Teach her a lesson, teach her a lesson, teach her a lesson.” 3

Answer 16

• Context
  o Janine testifies about her gang rape and abortion. The Aunts and other Handmaids respond this way.
• Analysis
  o “her fault” – repetition – almost mechanical response of the Handmaids – repeating what has been taught for them to say
  o “teach her a lesson” – also similar repetition
  o Repetitive – really demeaning but also sounds like a memorised formula – almost robotic
• Impact on reader
  o Understands the attitude towards sexual violence in Gilead – becomes the fault of the woman
  o Shows how the Handmaids are indoctrinated to repeat formulaic answers – no own thinking
• Themes
  o Violence, indoctrination, fault

Question 17

“We’re supposed to look: this is what they are there for, hanging on the Wall” 3

Answer 17

• Context
  o Offred and Ofglen are on the walk through town and stop next to the bodies hanging on the wall
• Analysis
  o “supposed” – purposeful – Gilead want the people to look – incites fear
  o “hanging on the Wall” – bodies are displayed publicly
  o “Wall” – capitalised – proper thing which is known
• Impact on reader
  o Understands that Gilead is built upon fear & terror
  o Fear is used as a method of controlling the population
• Themes
  o Fear, violence, power

Question 18

“Give me children or else I die. There’s more than one meaning to it” 3

Answer 18

• Context
  o Said by Offred when the doctor offers to impregnate her
• Analysis
  o “Give me children or else I die” – taken from Bible – Genesis, 30:1-3
   Quoted also in Epigraph
   Portrays Offred’s desperation to have a child – to save herself
   Society has driven her to the point of almost accepting personal and dangerous help from a stranger to save herself
  o “There’s more than one meaning” – demonstrates that Gilead has taken the Bible verse as basis for society
   Took it too far – Offred may get sent to Colonies and literally die
   Biblical meaning has been twisted to something more sinister
• Impact on reader
  o Understands desperation of Handmaids to save themselves
   Either have children or die
  o Understands how Gilead is built around the Bible – but taken too far
• Themes
  o Desperation, religion, oppression

Question 19

“I’ll accept my lot. I’ll sacrifice. I’ll repent.” 3

Answer 19

• Context
  o Offred finds out about Ofglen’s death before the Eyes came for her
• Analysis
  o “I’ll” – repetition & anaphora – creates sense of panic
   Focus on herself – sense of self-preservation & introspective
   Decides to accept Gilead – still keeps her sense of herself as a human
  o “sacrifice”, “repent” – religious allusions – is now turning to religion in times of panic
   Hoping religion will save her from a theocratic regime
   Almost like a confession
   Willing to accept to survive
• Impact on reader
  o Understand Offred’s fear and planned complacency out of self-preservation
  o Offred may have survivor’s guilt
  o Religion so implanted into regime that it is a way for Offred to save herself
• Themes
  o Religion, sacrifice, guilt, confession, identity

Question 20

“I would like to believe this is a story I’m telling. I need to believe it. I must believe it. Those who can believe such stories are only stories have a better chance.” 3

Answer 20

• Context
  o Offred reminisces about her time with her mother and daughter
• Analysis
  o “I would like” – “I need” – “I must”
   Cascade order of urgency – each one has more resolve and urgency
   Almost as if she is trying to convince herself of it
   Determination – her only way to survive
  o “have a better chance” – a necessity for survival – portrays Offred as willing to do anything to survive
  o “stories” - metafiction
• Impact on reader
  o Understands Offred’s resolve to survive
  o Understands that stories and detachment from reality is the only way for her to bare what is happening to her
• Themes
  o Storytelling, repression, survival

Question 21

“I should have taken things into my own hands while I had the chance. I should have stolen a knife.” 3

Answer 21

• Context
  o Offred sees the van of the Eyes and realises it has come for her
• Analysis
  o “I should have” – repetition – shows panic and how in last moments she wishes to have resisted
   Panicked regrets
  o “knife” – stole butter before but now wishes she stole an actual weapon instead of ‘luxury’
   ‘luxury’ doesn’t matter when survival is at stake
  o “while I had the chance” - shows Offred wishes to have found the strength to resist
   Moments pass to quickly
  o For all her loneliness – she still wants to live and is terrified at being taken away
• Impact on reader
  o Understands power of regret of passivity
   Passive is fine until they come for you
  o Power of regret – wishes to have done something – too late now
• Themes
  o Regret, panic, desperation, passivity

Question 22

“She has died so that I may live” 3

Answer 22

• Context
  o Offred believes that Ofglen has died to also protect her
• Analysis
  o “died” & “live” – contrast – past and present tense – Ofglen’s story has finished but Offred has another chance
  o “I may live” – Offred feels that Ofglen sacrificed herself
   Later makes resolutions to not waste this chance – survivor’s guilt
• Impact on reader
  o Fear of being taken has become real – really hits Offred
  o Desperation for survival
  o Understands survivor’s guilt
• Themes
  o Sacrifice, guilt

Question 23

“What I feel is relief. It wasn’t me” 2

Answer 23

• Context
  o Offred and Ofglen see someone getting taken in the Eye van
• Analysis
  o “relief” – normalised these experiences – no longer feels horror at what is happening
  o “wasn’t me” – sense of self-preservation – worried about herself instead of others
   Prompted by suspicion and fear in regime
  o “relief” – living in constant fear – fear as power
• Impact on reader
  o Understand pervasive fear in Gilead
  o Understand sense of self-preservation and surveillance
• Themes
  o Guilt, relief, self-preservation

Question 24

“Otherwise, you live in the moment. Which is not where I want to be.” 3

Answer 24

• Context
  o Offred describes her surroundings with very figurative & creative language
  o Takes her room and compares her surroundings to other things
• Analysis
  o “Otherwise” – repetition – implies there is no other solution for her
  o “not where I want to be” – alliteration of “where” and “want”
   Makes words hit harder – shows that Offred doesn’t even get to chose how she lives
  o “live in the moment” – popular phrase and seen as a desirable mindset
   Turns it around – shows desperation of her situation – she cannot enjoy anything – nothing left for her
• Impact on reader
  o Understands the desperation and loneliness of Offred
  o Shows she has no company & no other option
  o Turns popular phrase into something undesirable – shows how different her situation
• Themes
  o Loneliness, time, coping

Question 25

“University of Denay, Nunavit.” 3

Answer 25

• Context
  o University at which Pieixoto speaks in the Historical Notes
• Analysis
  o Neologism – Atwood makes up new words
  o Sound like “deny” and “none of it”
  o Ironic when considered with “University” – meant to be a place of knowledge but is actually a place of ignorance
  o Ignorance of history – complemented by the fact that Atwood uses only historical events as the basis for her work
• Impact on reader
  o Shows that society does not learn from past mistakes
  o Continues to ignore history – will lead to repetition of past mistakes
  o As time passes – history will be forgotten
• Themes
  o Society, ignorance, time

Question 26

“That is a reconstruction, too” 3

Answer 26

• Context
  o Offred recounts her first night playing Scrabble with the Commander but mentions it is only a reconstruction
• Analysis
  o “reconstruction” – makes the reader doubt the truth of what has just been said
   What is truth? Is it facts or feelings?
  o “too” – makes the reader wonder what else is a reconstruction
  o “that is” – anaphora throughout the paragraph – continuous revelations
• Impact on reader
  o Questions truthfulness of stories – causes question whether truth is fact or emotion
• Themes
  o Truth, storytelling, experience