THE HANDMAID’S TALE, Chapters 10-22

Please READ the following EXAMPLES from Period One, 2021 Graduates:

Chapter 13:
Grecia Garcia: On page 72, where Janine is describing her sexual assault, Offred says
“For a moment, even though we knew what was being done to her, we despised her.”
Why are the handmaids jealous?
-The handmaids are jealous of Janine’s need for attention. She is willing to comply
to anything that the Aunts ask of her, which angers the other handmaids.

Madison Nieves: When the handmaids are chanting at the top of page 72, “her” and
“she” are italicized in “her fault” and “she did,” but why is “lesson” italicised in the next
line, “teach her a lesson”? Why isn’t “her” italicized instead?
-Teach humility- emphasize her pronouns to make sure Janine knows it was her
fault.

Chapter 14:
Bryson Cruz: Why does Nick flirt with Offred like a child in elementary school would in
the first grade? Nick tends to act really immature like a little kid or adolescent but why is
he this way?
-He has never had any experience with women before–which is why he acts so
immature and childish when he tries to flirt with Offred.

Chapter 16:

Brady Thompson: On page 94, paragraph 2, when contemplating what words would best
describe the ceremony, Offred states, “Nor does rape cover it: Nothing is going on here
that I haven’t signed up for. There wasn’t a lot of choice, but there was some, and this is
what I chose.” I was under the impression that Offred had no choice in the role she was
given, could you help explain this to me? What choice did she have?
-Offred was given the choice of being a handmaid or facing death, so she has
chosen to become a handmaid in hopes of giving herself time to eventually find her
daughter.

Christina Rosales: On page 95, in the second to last paragraph, she mentions resting her
legs up to increase chances. What is the purpose of her resting her legs?
-This behavior, in theory, is done in order to increase chances of pregnancy.
According to https://uscfertility.org/diy-improve-chances-getting-pregnant/, this is seen
as a myth or traditional belief because of lack of evidence showing elevating legs
improve chances of pregnancy. In theory it would allow for an easier semination. There
are 2 reasons why Serena Joy tells Offred to leave. It is Serena’s bed and Serena knows
Fred is sterile so nothing will be produced.

Chapter 18
Anise Alcala : Who is “they” in the last paragraph on page 104? “He hasn’t shaved for a
year, though they cut his hair short whenever they feel like it”
-“They” are the people in charge
-Offred wonders if Luke is still alive or not (she has 3 versions) because she
doesn't know what has truly happened to him.

Chapter 20:
Kayla Weiss: What is the significance behind the phrase “Take back the night”? (pg 119,
bottom of the page)
-This phrase was particularly famous in the 60’s and 70’s: It was used as a mantra
for women going against men who had raped them in the past; it was an organization
that advocated for equality and justice. Offred’s mom was part of this movement.

NOW: WHAT ARE YOUR THREE QUESTIONS ABOUT CHAPTERS 10-22? Place your
NAME FIRST, the page number and the paragraph: THEN, POSE YOUR QUESTION,
please.

Chapter 10:
Sandy Ayala - I noticed that on page 54, paragraph 2, Offred sings a Christian song, “Amazing
Grace how sweet the sound”, and I was curious as to why they are not allowed to listen to at
least Christian music, since their society is religious based.

Celine Ly: On page 56 continuing onto page 57 WHAT PARAGRAPH?, Offred mentions
something along the lines of, “The newspaper stories were like dreams to us” (Atwood 56-57).
When Offred says, “us,” what does she mean? Does she mean the general idea of women or
did she mean a specific group of women like the protesting group her mom was a part of?

Chapter 11: WHERE IS YOUR NAME? In Pages 60-61, FINISH, PLEASE…

Celine Ly: On page 61 in paragraph 9, Offred affirms that the obgyn doctor “could fake the tests''
of her check-up (Atwood 61). If the obgyn chose to fake Offred’s medical records, does that
mean his documentation would not be questioned at all by the higher-ups and he would not
have to prove whether the information was forged?

Chapter 12:
Amber Vidaurri: On page 66, in the last paragraph, in preparation for the ceremony, Offred
needs to compose herself since “what [she] must present is a made thing, not something born.”
What is the made thing? Is she talking about her own body?
Robert Lee: On page 65 in the first paragraph, Offred has a tattoo on her ankle that has “four
digits and an eye, a passport in reverse” (Atwood 65). Is this supposed to be an allusion to the
holocaust CAPITALIZE, PLEASE and how the Jewish people had numbers also. Also, how does
the four digits and an eye resemble a passport in reverse? A PASSPORT LETS YOU GO TO
OTHER COUNTRIES; THIS PASSPORT LETS YOU WALK ONLY TO RESTRICTED AREAS,
WITH THE REMINDER YOU HAVE NO IDENTITY AND THE UBIQUITY OF SOMEONE
WATCHING YOU 24/7.

Sandy Ayala: On page 63, paragraph 2, Offred talks about her body being shameful, because
she feel like it defines her. Would this WHAT IS THIS? have been led to because of what she
was taught in her classes she had to take before becoming a handmaid?

Celine Ly: On page 65 in paragraph 6, Offred mentions that there are no “potted plants” to “put
the food” into (Atwood 65). Does she just mean that she would have wanted to secretly throw
the food away into the potted plants?

Chapter 13:
Lauren Gray: On page 75, WHAT PARAGRAPH? Offred wakes up after her nap and is shaken
by her dream, saying that “[o]f all the dreams this the worst.” Is this a dream or another
memory? Can we distinguish what has been a dream or memory thus far? Why is this the
worst?

Amber Vidaurri: On page 71, paragraph 8, Offred mentions that her and the other handmaids
must go to “Testifying.” What are they testifying?

Amber Vidaurri: On page 74, paragraph 1, Offred speaks about her body and says that “every
month there is a moon, gigantic, round, heavy, an omen.” Is she talking about her period?

Robert Lee: On page 70 in the first paragraph, Offred talks about the pigeons and how the 3
group of pigeons “peck themselves to death” (Atwood 70). Is this supposed to directly
foreshadow what may happen to the people in Gilead?
SHE IS POSTURING HOW MANY POSSIBILITIES THERE SEEM TO BE IN ORDER TO
‘DEAL WITH’ AND ENDURE LIVING IN GILEAD. WILL SHE BE IN THIS LAST GROUP? SHE
HONESTLY DOESN’T KNOW. SHE CAN ONLY CONTINUE BEHAVING AS SHE SEES
TENABLE. THE GROUP OF PIGEONS DEFINITELY FORESHADOWS A LATER SCENE.

Evelyn Leon: On page 70, did Offred go to college ? Paragraph 1 “I read about that in
Introduction to Psychology”
Estella Jones: Chapter 13, Paragraph 1-3 page 74 - This is one of Offred’s dreams/vignettes
about her past life with Luke. Why doesn’t Offred recognize her own clothes? Why won’t Luke
look at her? Is he mad about the divorce/cheating on his wife?[

Chapter 14:
Celine Ly: On page 79 in paragraph 2, there’s a snippet of Offred saying, “Serena Joy will
shortly enthrone herself” (Atwood 79). I related this diction to a Queen-like persona; was this
intentional on Offred’s part in terms of maybe a tyrannical figure or does she just mean a leading
female figure within the household?

Lauren Gray: On page 80, WHAT PARAGRAPH? “convincingly domestic”

Celine Ly: On page 80 in paragraph 1, Offred describes a rug where women have “narrowed
eyes” (Atwood 80). Does she mean to say that they have eyes that are similarly shaped to a cat
or was that just a general description?

Celine Ly: On page 81 in paragraph 9, Offred notices that Serena is walking on the rug with her
“good foot” (Atwood 81). What’s wrong with Serena’s foot?

Celine Ly: On page 82 in paragraph 4, Offred describes the male choir as having
“greenish-yellow skin” (Atwood 82). What does that mean?

Amber Vidaurri: On page 84, paragraph 1, when the handmaids are watching the news, Offred
mentions that the “Farm, is the theory.” What is the significance of the farm?

Amber Vidaurri: On page 85, paragraph 8, Offred mentions from her memory that they have
been “warned not to look too happy.” How have they been warned? Is it in preparation for
something?

Alyssa Martinez: On page 83, third paragraph, when Offred is talking about what she sees on
the television, the anchorman tells the viewers that “Everything will be alright soon. I promise.
There will be peace. You must trust. You must go to sleep like little children.” What is the
anchorman truly saying to them? Is this government conspiring? Is he manipulating them?
Since they only get limited television time, why would the channels say this?

Chapter 15:
Estella Jones: Page 87, Paragraph 6 (this goes onto the 2 paragraph of pg. 88): Offred repeats,
“To have them” at the beginning of almost every sentence in this paragraph. Is she referring to
women when she says “them”? Is she wondering what it feels like to be checked out by women
as a man?
Nicholas Gutierrez: Page 88, Paragraph 10, Offred reveals to the audience that before the
Ceremony, he “as if reluctantly, begins to read. He isn’t very good at it”. Are men not educated in
Gilead? If women are prevented from receiving an education and men are not allowed to as
well, who is educated/how do the men have power?

Amber vidaurri: On page 88, paragraph 3, Offred speaks in her head to the commander that
“one false move and [she’s] dead.” What kind of control does she have? Will something happen
to the Commander?

Kade Mendoza: On page 87, paragraph 2, Offred says that “The Bible is kept locked up, the
way people once kept tea locked up, so the servants wouldn’t steal it.”. Why does the
commander think the handmaidens would steal it? Why is he reading to them like children?

Ivan Chavarin: Page 87, paragraph 4, Offred describes the Commander reading like a “bedtime
story”, insinuating that the women in the room are like children. Is this a means of treating the
handmaids as pure, innocent beings for men? Are they meant to be looked at as naive children
rather than grown adults? Does this tie into the ceremony and how the handmaids have to
cleanse their body, becoming pure just for the Commanders?

Celine Ly: On page 89 in paragraph 7, Moira says she is “[l]arge as life and twice as ugly”
(Atwood 89). Was this just a joke or was there another significance to the “ugly” aspect (Atwood
89)?

Niki Camarena: Page 91 in paragraph 5, “For our purposes your feet and your hands are not
essential.”
Aunt Lydia has no compassion towards the handmaids but does she actually enjoy their
sufferings. Does she ever feel empathetic to Moira for the toture she inflicts upon her?

Chapter 16:
Celine Ly: On page 93 in paragraph 2, Offred indicates that there are “tiny drops of silver rain”
which turned out to be “four-petaled flowers” (Atwood 93). What were the “tiny drops of silver
rain” and the “four-petaled flowers” referring to (Atwood 93)? I assumed the flowers were
dogwood flowers.

Amber Vidaurri: On page 95, paragraph 6, Offred mentions that “one detaches oneself. One
describes.” What is she talking about here?

Chapter 17:
Celine Ly: Is there any particular reason Offred sneaks out of her room at night on page 97 in
paragraph 7? Or did she just feel a gush of rebellion on the spot that provoked her to sneak
out?
Aubrey Piwowar: On pages 98 to 99, paragraph 5,Offred runs into Nick in Serena’s Parlor and
then tells her that the “He wants to see you. In his office” (99). How does Nick find her? Why
does the Commander want to see her?

Evelyn Leon: On page 98, paragraph 3, Nick said that the commander sent him to go tell Offred
that he wants to see her. If she wasn’t in her room does that mean the commander knew she
was roaming around, if so will she get punished? “He wants to see you. In his office.” “What do
you mean? I say. The Commander.”

Sam Duda: On page 99, Paragraph 2, Offred states that she “think[s] of the hanged men,
hooked on the Wall. [She] can hardly stand up. [She] h[as] to get away”. This stance appears to
be in direct contradiction to Chapter 13, in which she “does not feel”. Is this evidence of her
changing, or is it only different because of her current circumstances? SHE IS NOW IN THE
POSITION OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMEONE ELSE POTENTIALLY HANGING ON
THE WALL FOR GOING INTO HER ROOM, SUMMONS BY THE COMMANDER. SHE AND
NICK DEFINITELY HAVE CHEMISTRY. AND, BECAUSE SHE MISSES LUKE SO MUCH,
NICK MAY BECOME A VESSEL, LIKE HERSELF, AND FILL UP HER LONGING. YOU WILL
HAVE TO KEEP ON TRACKING HOW SHE EMOTIONALLY RESPONDS. I DON’T WANT TO
GIVE ANYTHING AWAY.

Chapter 16:
Jere Echeverria:
How could the Commander follow Biblical ‘traditions’ from the Bible if he is committing an
adultery when having s** with Ofread?

Chapter 17:
Amber Vidaurri: On page 96, paragraph 4, Offred mentions the deprivation of basic hygiene
products for women because “they don't want [them] to look attractive.” Why? How would that
affect anything?

Nicki Camarena: On page 98 in paragraph 3 “Leave it there, for the next woman, the one who
comes after me, to find.”
In this quote offered she knows she will be replaced. Does that mean she believes she will be
sent to the colonies? Has she lost hope?

Celine Ly: On page 96 in paragraph 4, Offred declares that the Wives did not “want [the
Handmaids] to look attractive” (Atwood 96). Have the Wives made any other rules to restrict the
Handmaids’ appearances, such as making them wear red dresses?

Chapter 18
Celine Ly: On page 104 paragraph 3, Offred mentions a “hole” in who I assume is Luke’s
clothing (Atwood 104). Why is she praying that a hole is shot through someone’s skull?
Sam Duda: On page 106, the last lines state “In Hope. Why did they put that above a dead
person? Was it the corpse hoping, or those still alive? Does Luke hope?” Is this a portrayal of
her confusion about how she views Luke (as dead or alive), or is this admission that she
believes he is dead? I BELIEVE SHE CAN ONLY ‘HOPE’ THAT HE IS STILL ALIVE. SHE HAS
ALREADY LOST HER MOTHER AND HER DAUGHTER. LOSING LUKE WOULD BE, AS
MCDUFF SAYS IN ‘MACBETH’ AFTER HEARING THAT HIS ENTIRE FAMILY HAS BEEN
DECIMATED BY MACBETH, A LOSS LIKE ‘ONE FELL SWOOP’. PERHAPS THE
GRAVESTONE MEANS THEY HOPE THEY WILL SEE THE PERSON AGAIN, THEY HOPE
THE PERSON WENT TO AN AFTERLIFE….AND, OFFRED HOPES THAT LUKE IS STILL
ALIVE…

Aidan Chiu: On pages 104 to 105, from the bottom half of page 104 to the entirety of page
105, Offred is constantly coming up with these fake scenarios in her head about Luke.
For instance, she declares, “I also believe that they didn’t catch him or catch up with him
after all, that he made it, reached the bank, swam the river, crossed the border,” and
escaped the war-torn country (Offred 105). By coming up with possible scenarios in her
head, is the only reason why she is doing this is to give herself hope or simply a reason
to live in the horrendous conditions of Gilead?

Alyssa Martinez: On page 105, paragraph 5, Offred is dreaming about Luke and what his life is
like without her and she states, “I believe in this resistance as I believe there can be no light
without shadow; rather, no shadow unless there is also light.” She is referring to a government
in exile, but what does this saying represent in this case? Why does she implement this here?

Amber Vidaurri: On page 104, paragraph 5, Offred hopes that “one hole, or two or three,
there was more than one shot, they were close together…” What’s the hole? Is she
talking about her memories?

Chapter 19
Nicholas Gutierrez: on page 109 the last paragraph. Offred says “Sanity is a valuable
possession; I hoard it the way people once hoarded money. I will save it, so I will have enough
when the time comes”. What is she planning for? Will there be a revolution of some kind?

Celine Ly: On page 110 paragraph 2, is Offred evolving as a character when she admits that she
walks out of her room “not looking down” (Atwood 110)? Handmaids are told to look down when
in public so I was wondering if this was some category of defiance.

Aidan Chiu: On Page 110 on the sixth paragraph to the first two paragraphs at the top of page
111, Offred uses eggs to compare them to God, and believes that “If I have an egg, what more
can I want?” Are these eggs supposed to represent the handmaid’s minimalist mindset, in which
they are expected to be happy when given the bare minimum?

Celine Ly: On page 111 paragraph 3, is Offred being sarcastic when she notes, “Joy to the
world,” when she sees the Birthmobile (Atwood 111)?

Celine Ly: On pages 111 paragraph 7 continuing onto 112, Offred mentions a day where the
Handmaids are allowed to do “anything we want” (Atwood 112). Are there actually days where
the Handmaids are allowed to do anything they want? Like hour lunch on Fridays?

Chapter 20:
Nicki Camaena: On page 116 paragraph 1 “To the left, the double doors to the dining room are
folded back, and inside I can see the long table, covered with a white cloth and spread with a
buffet: Tam, cheese, oranges - they have oranges! And fresh baked breads and cakes.”
Why are oranges so significant to her, does it relate to the color?

Celine Ly: On page 116 paragraph 2, Offred says that the Commander “is nowhere in sight’
(Atwood 116). Is there a location that the Commanders specifically go to in their free time? Or
what do they do with their free time? Do they have jobs?

Celine Ly: On page 117 paragraph 6, Offred mentions a “nap” (Atwood 117). Do the Handmaids
take scheduled naps throughout the day?

Chapter 21:
Celine Ly: On page 124 paragraph 5, why does Alma ask Offred, “[w]hat’s your real name?”
(Atwood 124).

Amber Vidaurri: On page 125, paragraph 6, when Janine is preparing to give birth, Serena Joy
“scrambles onto the birthing stool, sits on the seat behind and above Janine…” Why is she
sitting on the stool? Why isn’t the Wife of the Commander that Janine is assigned to with her
instead?

Nicholas Gutierrez: on page 125 the second paragraph. After Janine gives birth, Offred says
that “someone has spiked the grape juice. Someone has pinched a bottle from downstairs. It
won’t be the first time at such a gathering; but they’ll turn a blind eye. We too need our orgies”.
I’m so confused…about the whole thing.

Kade Mendoza: On page 124 at the bottom of the page. While Janine is in the process of giving
birth, many handmaidens gather around and start chanting “Pant! pant! pant!”. What’s the
purpose of having other handmaidens there? Why are they chanting for Janine?

Ivan Chavarin: Page 127, paragraph 2 from this page. Janine is only “allowed to nurse the baby,
for a few months” then Janine will be sent away. Will the baby stay in this household as a result?
Since the baby is a girl, is there a possibility she can become a handmaid even though she is a
part of the commander’s family?

Celine Ly: On page 127 paragraph 5, Offred says she is emitting “[f]ake milk” (Atwood 127).
What does that mean?

Chapter 22:
Aubrey Piwowar: On page 133, paragraph 4, Offred says that Moira is “now a loose woman.” I
was wondering if this is another category such as “unwomen” or if it is just a one time saying
used to describe Moira’s new found freedom?

Ivan Chavarin: Page 132, paragraph 2 on this page. Moira tells Aunt Elizabeth “I could kill you”
when she takes her hostage. Why doesn’t Moira kill her? Is it due to morals, as a means to
ensure her escape, or both? Why aren’t the rest punished as “an example” due to her escape?

Chapter 17
Jere Echeverria:
I noticed there was a lot of chemistry between Ofread and Nick, but would they eventually share
intimacy since the Commander is infertile. Will she become pregnant with his baby?

Chapter 19
Jere Echeverria
What does the “J.H loves B.P. 1954 O.R loves L.T” (113) mean?

Chapter [ANSWERED ALREADY]

Jere Echeverria
What does Ofglen mean when there are people watching everything? Is she in trouble or is
there something that Offred doesn't know, but only Ofglen knows?