Handmaid’s Tale - Questions Chapters 1-6

pages 1-33
Directions: Please answer the following questions in complete sentences. Make sure to
use textual evidence.

Chapters 1-2

1. Aunt Sara and Aunt Elizabeth patrol at night with “electric cattle prods slung on
thongs from their leather belts.” What does this detail, along with others, reveal
about the situation thus far? More important, what does it reveal about the
narrator?
a. The situation thus far seems to be one of imprisonment. The group of people in
the same area as the narrator seem to have their humanity stripped from them,
being used per convenience of those above them. This reveals to the reader that
the narrator who speaks from first person, is a part of the group that is being
mistreated. She quotes that “we yearn for the future” showing that there is an
imprisonment situation occurring around them, making them dream of a better
life.
2. Who are the Angels? What is the narrator’s hope regarding them?
a. The angels are the guards who watch the Handmaids during their walks. The
narrator hopes that there could be a sort of “tradeoff” and wants to offer them a
sexual deal in return for help.
3. The narrator remains unnamed for a large portion of the novel. For the purposes
of clarity and simplicity in this teaching unit, her name will be revealed now as
Offred. Why do you think, though, that the author would choose to keep the
narrator unnamed for over half of the novel?
a. The narrator stays unnamed throughout the novel as a way to show the reader
the unimportance of her identity to the world around her. In ideal settings, the
narrator introduces themselves and their place in society, allowing the reader to
reach a conclusion about the type of narrator they read. However, in this case,
Offred is in an environment in which their names don’t matter, indirectly showing
the reader the negligence that the Handmaids face.
4. Why has anything to which a rope could be tied been removed?
a. This insight into the setting that the narrator is around as well as offering the
image of “when a window is partly open, it opens partly” and not fully. This
insinuates suicide and that the environment around the women is so intense that
people have tried (and maybe succeeded) in suicide. Things that could have
been tied to by a rope and the window’s half-openness shows that the
Handmaids are stripped from any sort of freedom, even freedom in death. In
addition, this also shows the intense demand that there is for fertile women in this
society.
 5. The reader first begins to notice Offred’s internal fascination with language in
Chapter 2. Provide an example and explain why she might be so intent upon the
way words work with and play upon each other.
a. Offred has given much insight to the oppressive setting around her. The
Handmaids are mere objects used to the pleasure and convenience of
Commanders. The lack of the ability to speak out loud may add on to Offred’s
fascination with words and wordplay. She quotes “waste not, want not. I am not
being wasted, why do I want?” The repetition of thoughts and her play on words
signifies the pressure that the Handmaids have to keep quiet. She may do this in
order to keep her mental sanity throughout her situation. If she cannot outwardly
express herself, she can do so inwardly.
6. Describe Offred’s clothing. What color is it, and how is the color symbolic? What
is the significance of the elements of her clothing?
a. Offred’s clothing is described as a long ankle length dress, “dipped in blood”, “flat
heeled shoes for sensibility” and a hood to shield her face, all in the color red.
Red can be considered a powerful, yet conflicting color. It can resemble danger
and status, but also brings feelings of anger, rage, and conflict. These details can
characterize the Handmaids as powerful for their fertility, yet full of rage because
of their treatment.

Chapters 3-4

7. What information does Offred offer the reader about the place of Handmaids in
general?
a. In general, the Handmaid's class is a conflicting group of people. Although they
have the upper hand due to their fertility, they can be looked at as “sluts or
usurpers” if they cannot bear children. Their place is debated as they are treated
like prisoners yet have the ability to be revered as powerful women due to their
ability to bear children for the greater good of the society.
8. Who is the Commander’s wife? Where does Offred remember her from?
a. The commander’s wife is introduced as “Serena Joy…[who Offred saw as a child]
on a gospel show on television.” She was able to show her emotions with ease,
“cry and smile at the same time.”
9. Who is the Commander’s Guardian? How does he, from the very beginning,
demonstrate imperfect behavior with Offred?
a. The commander’s guardian’s name is Nick. He is seen to demonstrate imperfect
behavior with Offred through “winking, whistling, and flirting.” However, Offred
approaches him with caution as she doesn't know if he is an Eye or not.
10. Offred’s shopping companion’s name is Ofglen. How do the names of the
Handmaids seem to have been formed?
a. The Handmaid's name seems to be formed by attaching the name of their
respective commander to themselves. If Offred’s companion’s name is “Ofglen”
then her commander is “Glen” and she is “of him.” This formation of names
 continues to show the character’s lack of identity in the novel. They are stripped
of their real names and are referred to as the property of a commander.
11. What do you suppose is the function of the black painted vans?
a. Perhaps the black vans function as the Eye. These may be workers of the Eye
who travel around and spy on the Handmaids to ensure loyalty in the society. If
the Handmaids are seen to betray what’s expected of them, they may be taken
away. The black on the vans might symbol mystery as the characters are
unaware of the identity of the van-goers.

Chapters 5-6

12. What are the women’s reactions to the pregnant Handmaid?

a. The women react to the pregnant Handmaid by calling her a “show off.” This act
of insecurity shows the intense competition that is present between the
Handmaids. Each wishes to fulfill their duty of bearing children, but when one
does so, the urgency rises in each handmaid causing them to turn on each other.
13. What is the purpose of the Wall? Who or what is currently on the Wall?
a. The purpose of the Wall is to shield the Handmaids from the outside world and
keep them locked in Gilead. On the wall are the “salvage, people who have been
killed” and they are shown off.