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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. What of Serena Joy’s does Offred covet?

2. Where did Moira see Offred’s mother?

3. According to Chapter 9, what does Offred think about what the Commander has done?

4. What happened to the last of the Commander’s Handmaids?

5. To what mythical figure does the professor compare Offred?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the Commander offer Offred a gift in Chapter 10?

2. In Chapter 10, what becomes different about Offred’s relationship to Luke, after the changes?

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

4. What has happened to former nuns?

5. How does the professor describe Nick’s role?

6. What form do Offred's prayers take in Chapter 11?

7. What is one sign in Chapter 14 that Offred might not actually be having a baby?

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

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

10. Why is Nick becoming a significant character by Chapter 11?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Each role in the novel has a particular color associated with it – red for Handmaids, blue for Wives, and so on. Why are these colors important? Examine the importance and symbolism of various colors throughout the book, tying them to characterizations.

Essay Topic 2

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”?

Essay Topic 3

Along with her daughter, Offred thinks about Luke quite a lot. What were Luke’s dominant characteristics? How do these support or go against characteristics prevalent in the society of Gilead? Finally, what (in your opinion) was Luke’s fate?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 516 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample