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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How were the Aunts’ names chosen?

2. What is the signal to begin the second part of the Salvaging?

3. What does the Latin phrase really mean?

4. How old is Offred?

5. What is the small thing that Serena Joy offers Offred in Chapter 12?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Janine’s behavior at the Salvaging.

2. Why does Offred think about her age and height in Chapter 9?

3. What are Offred's plans in Chapter 9?

4. Why is Ofglen’s question about Soul Scrolls subversive?

5. Why does Offred pray in Chapter 11?

6. What is Serena’s reaction to the cape in Chapter 14?

7. Where does Offred take the new Ofglen in Chapter 14? Why?

8. What happened to Luke, according to the professor?

9. How do women come to work at Jezebel’s?

10. What is the rumor about how Janine got pregnant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Though the novel focuses on Handmaids, other characters, in other roles, also permeate the book. Describe one role in-depth. What are some of the advantages of this role? Disadvantages?

Essay Topic 2

Gilead might seem to be a cold and terrifying society at first glance. Explore the basis of this society. What came before, and what were the factors that caused Gilead to arise? How has it organized itself, and for what reasons?

Essay Topic 3

Make-up is no longer available to any of the women in Gilead, except for those who work at Jezebel’s. In what way is make-up a significant symbol in “The Handmaid’s Tale”?

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This section contains 425 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample