ENG311

Writing in Context: Speculative Fiction

Directions: Use this document to write your answers to the guiding “Reader Response” questions that have been posed here about each of your readings. Then, use these responses to help you formulate your response to the Quizzes.

“The Handmaid’s Tale”

1. What is the hierarchy of Gilead?

a. List as many rungs on the ladder as possible and place them in order.

b. Why is this hierarchy important?

c. Does it resemble other hierarchies created to control/enslave people?

i. Explain.

2. What is the situation in Gilead?

a. How did it begin?

b. How bad are things for the Handmaids?

c. How do you know?

3. What evidence do you have that the people in charge of Gilead know that what they are doing is wrong or will be resisted?

4. Is there evidence in our culture of a possible Gilead in the future?

a. Explain and provide correlating examples from life and the text.

5. What is the significance of Offred's name?

a. Do some research into the marriage naming practices.

i. Why do we use the term Mrs. or refer to a woman as Mrs. John Smith, for example?

ii. Why do women continue to change their names when they get married? 

iii. Does the history behind the tradition matter? Why or why not?

6. What is Nick's role in the story so far?

a. How do the Guardians react to the Handmaids?

b. What laws govern their behaviors?

c. Why do they have to be controlled as well?

7. What do you make of Serena Joy? 

a. How does she feel about her position? 

b. About her handmaid?

8. What do the tourists represent?

a. Why is this group of tourists ironic?

9. Why do you think the Commander wants to meet with Offred?  What is he looking for that the structure of Gilead does not permit or has discounted?

10. What are the various traditions outlined in the novel? 

a. What purpose do traditions serve in our society? 

b. Why do you think tradition is a part of this society at all? 

11. What does Offred realize when she sees the picture of her daughter?

a. What do we learn from this scene about history and progress and the way generational mindsets are formed?  

12. What is the issue surrounding "freedom from" and "freedom to?"

a. Are these both forms of freedom?

13. What is the racial makeup of this culture?

a. Why is that important?