Below are a series of questions for you to consider as you read. Always offer page numbers for your written responses (give the edition of the book you are using at the top of your paper by the title, and provide the name and number of the chapter by the page numbers).
1. The narrator of this book, Offred, “reveals to us the dark corners behind the establishmen’ts calm facade, as certain tendencies now in existence are carried to their logical conclusions.” (–from the front cover flap of the 1986 Houghton Mifflin hardback edition. ) Though this novel was written in 1986, many readers claim the book is as relevant now–if not even more so–than then. What “certain tendencies now in existence” do you find detailed in this novel?
2. What seems to have happened to the physical world in this novel, and what evidence do you have for your response?
3. “The regime takes the Book of Genesis absolutely at its word, with bizarre consequences for the women and men of its population.” (–also from the front cover flap of the 1986 Houghton Mifflin hardback edition.) You may consider this claim as you read and provide page numbers (as noted above) for what you find. Or you might choose this to become your final paper and do a more in-depth study of Genesis and this book.
4. Alternately to #3 above, keep track of the religious references throughout this book and determine how they ae used to keep the Republic’s power intact. ( i.e., How does the Republic and Gilead use religion to keep its power intact?)
5. How are the women designated in this book? Into what categories are they divided and why? Give specific, developed examples of each category. ** Why do the women accept these categories and conditions?
6. How are the men designated in this book? Into what categories are they divided and why? Give specific, developed examples of each category.
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