The Handmaid’s Tale
[Study Notes]
, 2
Table of Contents
Setting………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3
Synopsis……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Structure…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Characters…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
T hemes…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Symbols………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Quotes…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Essay Questions……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Lily Ngulube
, 3
Setting
The setting of "The Handmaid's Tale" is a critical element of the story, creating a chilling
backdrop that amplifies the themes of oppression, control, and societal decay.
Time Period
The novel is set in a dystopian future that seems plausible and yet disconcertingly different
from our present reality. While the exact time frame is not explicitly mentioned, the reader
can infer it as a not-too-distant future from the time the book was written (1985). The
narrative occasionally references events and societal shifts that are recognizable from the 20th
century, indicating that Gilead emerged following a period of societal unrest, political
upheaval, and environmental crises.
Lily Ngulube
[Study Notes]
, 2
Table of Contents
Setting………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3
Synopsis……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Structure…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Characters…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
T hemes…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Symbols………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Quotes…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Essay Questions……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Lily Ngulube
, 3
Setting
The setting of "The Handmaid's Tale" is a critical element of the story, creating a chilling
backdrop that amplifies the themes of oppression, control, and societal decay.
Time Period
The novel is set in a dystopian future that seems plausible and yet disconcertingly different
from our present reality. While the exact time frame is not explicitly mentioned, the reader
can infer it as a not-too-distant future from the time the book was written (1985). The
narrative occasionally references events and societal shifts that are recognizable from the 20th
century, indicating that Gilead emerged following a period of societal unrest, political
upheaval, and environmental crises.
Lily Ngulube
