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In-depth Study Guide​ (due when we finish the book)

Smaller discussion questions

Unit 1 Part 1 (1-7)

Why do you think “nobody much cares who sees the face of a Martha” but there is so much
concern about the clothes of handmaids?
● I feel like the reason is because of the different roles that they have. While handmaids are women who
are fertile, Marthas are infertile and so they don't really attract men. Because they don't really attract
men nobody would care what they look like. When we look back at handmaids, their role is to attract
men and become pregnant for them, specifically the commander. Because of this the handmaids have
to wear specific clothes in order to attract the commander.

​ What do you believe is the purpose of having such visible uniforms for everyone?
● In this book one of the biggest things seen is everyone's societal roles. In order to distinguish who is
who in the social hierarchy.
​
What do you think “The Colonies” or “the Unwomen” are?
 ● people who are useless
​
Why is it dangerous for Janine to be out if she’s pregnant?
● Since this is based on a specific dystopian society, having children is incredibly rare. If handmaids are
unable to bear children then they are sent to the colonies and so many handmaids could be jealous of
Janine since she was very fortunate.
​
Why do you think so many people are being watched? (The Eyes, the pairs of
handmaids, etc.)
● I am not too sure but I think the reason is because society should be kept in order and the same.
​
Why do you think there are no children, lawyers, or universities?
● Lawyers and universities can contribute to education which could have some ideals that could go
against society. Lawyers in particular are meant to fight for people's rights and so having them in this
society would change a lot of things.
What are the different kinds of freedom the Handmaid talks about? Which ones do you
think are real freedom?
● The different kinds of freedom the Handmaid talks about is freedom to and freedom from that was
mentioned by Aunt Lydia. I think they both are fine but for me freedom from is better. Freedom from is
more negative and they are basically restrictions placed on us by other people. The more negative
freedom you have then the less obstacles you would have to encounter. This is why I feel freedom
from is more real.
​
What do you think of what Aunt Lydia says about modesty? Is there modesty for men
in Gilead?
● Page 39: Modesty is invisibility. Talks about the

​ Do you think that you could believe that what is happening in this book is “ordinary”?
● As surprising as it may sound, I think it could be considered ordinary. I think this because if we look
back in history there have been a lot of occasions in which what was happening in the past seemed
crazy now but was ordinary then.

​ Do you think the burning books the Handmaid remembers are a sign of what led to Gilead,
or are they something unrelated?

Unit 1 Part 2 (8-13)

​ Why don’t the Econowives like the handmaids?

​ What do you think Rita means when she says the Handmaid isn’t common? What do you
think the Handmaid means when she says Rita thinks she really is common?
​ Why do you think someone tried to steal the Handmaid’s daughter? What do you think
must have been happening in Gilead?

​ Why do you think the Handmaid’s mementos of her daughter were confiscated?

​ What do you think the Handmaid means when she says she is a national resource?

Unit 2 Part 1 (14-20)

Why do you think the Handmaid wants to steal from the sitting room?
● She wants to go against authority and show that she has power
What kind of war do you think is being fought in Gilead?
● I think there is a nuclear war being fought due to the constant mentioning of "radiation". Since this
book is also based a lot on religion and the Gilead government has opposing religious point of views
compared to a lot of people in society, it could be based on a religious war and war of where people
have different ideas about certain things.

​ Why do you think the Handmaid tells the story of the Ceremony at the same time that she
tells the story of Moira’s escape?
● I think the reason why the Handmaid tells the story of the ceremony at the same time that she tells the
story of Moira's escape because maybe both those stories show the feelings of both Offred and Moira.
Both of them have the feeling of wanting to escape.

​ It seems obvious that one of the things removed from sex by the Ceremony is love. It may be
obvious why the laws of Gilead try to eliminate sex for pleasure, but why do you think
Gilead would want to turn to have children into a duty instead of an act of love?
● If handmaids were having children in the form of love then taking the children away from them would
cause serious pain to the handmaid and would not be right. If they set it as a duty then the handmaids
would focus on just their duty and would not be hurt by their children being taken away, however that
is inevitable.

​ Do you think there is any love left in Gilead?

● I feel like romantic love is inevitable and there are some couples in Gilead. There are definitely
commanders and wives who still love each other before the republic of Gilead was established.

​ Why do you think the handmaids are not allowed to have names, even though the Marthas
Are?
 ● I feel like handmaids don't have names because they are basically not treated as humans at all. They
are only allowed to have one function

Unit 2 Part 2 (21-24)

Why do you think the Aunts are allowed to read and write?

​ What do you think of the reaction at the Centre to learning that Moira had escaped?

​ Had it occurred to you before Cora’s conversation with the handmaids that the Marthas
depended on the Handmaid as well as the Commander? What do you think this reveals
about the Handmaid’s standing in the house? Has it changed your mind about it?
​
Why do you think the handmaids are not allowed to have conversations or friendships with
their Commander?
​
Do you think Scrabble would be more fun if it were illegal or less fun?

​ Why do you think the Handmaid ‘reconstructs’ the telling of her story?

​ Do you think that the Handmaid and Cora are building a sort of alliance like the one
described at the Centre? How is it the same? How is it different?

​ Do you think magazines are trivial now? What would change if they were banned?

Unit 3 (25 - 30)

​ Do you think that the Handmaid has become friends with the Commander?

​ Were you surprised that Ofglen is part of a resistance? Were there any clues?

​ What do you think the difference is between the “jobs” women have and the “jobs” men
have in Gilead?

​ Do you think the Handmaid was happy about any of the changes that started to happen
after the attack on Congress?

​ How do you think it was possible for the changes in the law about women to be a surprise to
the Handmaid?

​ What do you think it takes for life to be bearable?

Unit 4 Part 1 (31-36)

Why do you think the Handmaid would fantasize about having a fight with Luke?
​
How much do you think Serena Joy knows about the Handmaid, if she knows about her
daughter?
​
Who do you think can watch television in Gilead? Is it only Commanders and their Wives?
​
Why do you think the Handmaid treats Janine’s attitude toward losing the baby as an
attempt to give her life meaning? Do you think she’s right?
​
Why do you think that nuns would be “more broken” than the rest of the handmaids?
​
How do you think Ofglen is able to learn so many things about the Handmaid’s life?
​
Based on how she feels about the way she’s dressed in the outfit from the Commander, and how Nick looks at
her, how much do you think the Handmaid believes the things she’s been conditioned to believe about things
like modesty and her role?

Unit 4 Part 2 (37-39)

​ What do you think of Jezebel’s? Are the Commander’s hypocrites? Why? Why not?

​ Why do you think the Handmaid believes she needs to look stupid?

​ Why do you think the women in Jezebel’s are tagged, like the Handmaid?

​ Why do you think the Aunts and the Centre were secrets?

Unit 5

Free discussion!

Unit Questions

Five ​Unit questions