Suggestions
The Handmaid’s Tale is a novel by Margaret Atwood that was first published in 1985.
Read a Plot Overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis.
See a complete list of the characters in The Handmaid’s Tale and in-depth analyses of Offred, The Commander, Serena Joy, Moira, Luke, and Aunt Lydia.
Here's where you'll find analysis about the book as a whole, from the major themes and ideas to analysis of style, tone, point of view, and more.
Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of the book by reading these key quotes.
Test your knowledge of The Handmaid’s Tale with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on context, background, and movie adaptations, plus links to the best resources around the web.
Get ready to write your paper on The Handmaid’s Tale with our suggested essay topics, sample essays, and more.
Teachers, check out our ideas for how you can creatively incorporate SparkNotes materials into your classroom instruction.
Buy The Handmaid’s Tale from Barnes and Noble.