V. Nap

Question 1

‘I wait, washed, brushed, fed, like a prize pig.’

Answer 1

• Offred feels dormant, like livestock, waiting to be slaughtered
• A prize pig as she holds an element of status among other women, in some way.

Question 2

‘Pig balls, for pigs who were being fattened in pens. Pig balls were large colored balls, the pigs rolled them around with their snouts. The pig marketers said this improved their muscle tone; the pigs were curious, they liked to have something to think about.’

Answer 2

• She feels like a pig being fattened up, for someone elses purpose
• growing boredom

Question 3

‘caged rats who’d give themselves electric shocks for something to do.’

Answer 3

• boredom goes to self-harm in her mind

Question 4

‘And the one on the pigeons, trained to peck a button which made a grain of corn appear. Three groups of them: the 1st got one grain per peck, the 2nd one grain every other peck, the third was random. When they cut out the grain, the 1st and 2nd groups gave up quite soon.