The Handmaid's Tale audiobook cover - A Dystopian Novel Set in a Totalitarian, Loveless Police State
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The Handmaid's Tale

A Dystopian Novel Set in a Totalitarian, Loveless Police State

Margaret Atwood

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The Handmaid's Tale
The Republic of Gilead+
Social Hierarchy of Women+
Offred's Journey+
Real-World Themes+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
What group overthrew the United States government to establish the Republic of Gilead?
  • A. A military faction called the Guardians
  • B. A religious fundamentalist group called the Sons of Jacob
  • C. A secret police force known as the Eyes
  • D. A coalition of high-ranking Commanders
Question 2 of 8
In the society of Gilead, which class of women is the only one permitted to read and write?
  • A. Wives, due to their high social status as spouses of Commanders
  • B. Marthas, because they need to manage household affairs and recipes
  • C. Aunts, as they are responsible for the religious education and supervision of Handmaids
  • D. Handmaids, so they can study biblical texts regarding fertility
Question 3 of 8
How do Handmaids receive their names in Gilead?
  • A. They are assigned traditional biblical names at the Red Centre.
  • B. They are referred to by the prefix 'Of-' followed by the first name of the Commander they serve.
  • C. They retain their birth names to serve as a reminder of their past lives.
  • D. They take on the surname of the Wife in the household they are assigned to.
Question 4 of 8
What argument does Aunt Lydia use at the Red Centre to justify Gilead's treatment of women?
  • A. She argues that Gilead protects and respects women, contrasting it with the pornography and sexual violence of the former USA.
  • B. She claims that the declining birth rate is God's punishment and women must repent through servitude.
  • C. She promises that obedient Handmaids will eventually be promoted to the status of Wives.
  • D. She states that women are inherently inferior and require the strict guidance of the Commanders.
Question 5 of 8
Which of the following real-world historical events inspired Margaret Atwood's creation of Gilead's ruthlessly puritanical politics?
  • A. The Victorian era and the Industrial Revolution
  • B. The French Revolution and the Reign of Terror
  • C. World War II, the Iron Curtain, and the Salem witch trials
  • D. The American Civil War and the Reconstruction era
Question 6 of 8
Before the coup that established Gilead, what was Serena Joy's profession?
  • A. A leading Aunt at the Rachel and Leah Re-education Centre
  • B. A prominent televangelist associated with the Sons of Jacob
  • C. A politician who helped draft the initial laws of Gilead
  • D. A college professor who taught religious history
Question 7 of 8
During the monthly Ceremony, what is the symbolic purpose of Serena Joy twining her arms with Offred?
  • A. To physically restrain Offred and prevent her from fighting back
  • B. To symbolize that they are one being, meaning any child born to Offred will belong to Serena
  • C. To provide a gesture of solidarity and comfort to the Handmaid
  • D. To complete a mandatory religious ritual monitored by the Eyes
Question 8 of 8
What happened to Offred and her family when they attempted to flee the country before Gilead was fully established?
  • A. They successfully crossed the border but were later extradited back to Gilead.
  • B. They willingly surrendered to the Sons of Jacob in exchange for a lighter punishment.
  • C. Luke was killed by the Guardians, and Offred and her daughter were sent to the Colonies.
  • D. They were caught after abandoning their car near the border, separated, and Offred's daughter was given to another family.

The Handmaid's Tale — Full Chapter Overview

The Handmaid's Tale Summary & Overview

The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) is a contemporary classic – the story of a patriarchal dystopia that inspired the hit television series of the same name and remains as relevant today as it did when it was first published.

Who Should Listen to The Handmaid's Tale?

  • Literature lovers who want to brush up on a modern classic
  • Feminists seeking an introduction to this iconic critique of the patriarchy
  • Speculative fiction fans who want to learn more about a notable literary dystopia

About the Author: Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood has published more than 50 books, including The Blind Assassin, winner of the Man Booker Prize in 2000, and The Testaments, cowinner of the Man Booker Prize in 2019.

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