handmaids tale context

• autobiographical

• literary

• historical

• religious

• political

• what are 5 types of context

autobiographical context

Born- O___, C____ on November 18,19___

•  Having being born at the start of what, lived through it and its aftermath, Atwood experienced what

• Connection to The Handmaid’s Tale:  s____ g___ roles are n____ evident Gilead, where women’s identities are reduced to what

• through her c____ nationality, Atwood occupies a unique position of both proximity and distance from the United States, allowing her to critically examine American culture, its political and religious extremes—while remaining outside its direct influence.

• she critiques American political and religious extremism , as seen in Gilead.

autobiographical context

Born- Ottawa, Canada on November 18,1939

•  Having being born at the start of the war, lived through it and its aftermath, Atwood experienced contrasting roles for women—from traditional domestic roles to working in factories and public roles.

• Connection to The Handmaid’s Tale:  shifting gender roles are negatively evident Gilead, where women’s identities are reduced to reproductive roles.

• through her Canadian nationality, Atwood occupies a unique position of both proximity and distance from the United States, allowing her to critically examine American culture, its political and religious extremes—while remaining outside its direct influence.

• she critiques American political and religious extremism , as seen in Gilead.

autobiographical context

Margaret Atwood has published poetry, essays, non-fiction, short stories, and novels,

• makes her an informed and authoritative voice on society, culture, and gender

education – undergraduate degree at university of toronto and went to Harvard university in cambridge Massachusetts- the setting of the  handmaids tale

• allowed Atwood to observe American history, religion, and social norms firsthand, giving her insight into the setting she exaggerates in Gilead.

• exposed Atwood to progressive ideas, debates about politics, gender, and society, 

autobiographical context

Margaret Atwood has published poetry, essays, non-fiction, short stories, and novels,

• what does this make her voice/opinion?

education – undergraduate degree at where and went to h___ ufff in cambridge Massachusetts- -why’s this state significant?

• allowed Atwood to observe what firsthand, giving her insight into the s___ she e___ in Gilead.

• exposed Atwood to what

literary context

• Atwood uses what novel as a primary model and has said that O___ was “a d___ m___” for her. 

• 1984’s portrayal of s____, p___, l____ c___, and a___ p___ are reflected in Offred’s f____-p____ narration (contrasting with O___ t___-person), in the novel’s tone and structure, and in its pervasive use of what

literary context

• Atwood uses George Orwell’s 1984 as a primary model and has said that Orwell was “a direct model” for her. 

• 1984’s portrayal of surveillance, propaganda, language control, and authoritarian power are reflected in Offred’s first-person narration (contrasting with Orwell’s third-person), in the novel’s tone and structure, and in its pervasive use of bible scripture

literary context

•    Atwood began writing it when, a time of intense debate over what

• She collected what on real-world assaults on feminism  these. sources fed into the novel’s world, where women are s___ of r___ and defined solely by their r____ f____

literary context

•    Atwood began writing it in the early 1980s, a time of intense debate over women’s roles. 

• She collected newspaper clippings on real-world assaults on feminism  these. sources fed into the novel’s world, where women are stripped of rights and defined solely by their reproductive function. 

literary context

• ·She studied what in academia and blended elements of s___, h____, and the u___ into her work. 

• Offred’s experiences – s___, b___ p___, her u____ f___ – have a nightmarish feel reminiscent of g____ f___

• Scholars note the novel’s “i___ h____ e____, horrifying s___, w____ oppressed by men, [with] a distorted sense of the self,” are h____ of a g____ fiction .

•   Offred’s often-f____, almost g___ n___ (she slips in and out of m____ and present fear) evoke g___ s___.

literary context

• ·She studied 19th-century “Gothic fantasy novels” in academia and blended elements of suspense, horror, and the uncanny into her work. 

• Offred’s experiences – secrets, brutal punishments, her uncertain fate – have a nightmarish feel reminiscent of gothic fiction. 

• Scholars note the novel’s “intense human emotions, horrifying secrets, [and] women oppressed by men, [with] a distorted sense of the self,” are hallmarks of a gothic fiction .

•   Offred’s often-fragmented, almost ghostly narration (she slips in and out of memories and present fear) evoke gothic suspense.

literary context

• According to the H____ N____, the title of the novel - The Handmaid's Tale - is an i____ allusion to what

• what is the significance of ‘tale’?

literary context

• According to the Historical Notes, the title of the novel - The Handmaid's Tale - is an intertextual allusion to Chaucer's work, The Canterbury Tales.

• A "tale" is often fictional, which applies doubt on Offred's authenticity.

historical context

• Infamous S___ W____ T___ (what year?, M____) resulted in the execution of around how many women accused of w____.

• Accusations often targeted who and were fueled by what, reflecting the e___ v____ and limited power of women in p____ s___.

• Connection to The Handmaid’s Tale: how does Giles mirror this historical oppression

• Atwood is reportedly related to who whadding a personal connection to the book and history

historical context

• Infamous Salem Witch Trials (1692, Massachusetts) resulted in the execution of around 25 women accused of witchcraft.

• Accusations often targeted innocent women and were fueled by personal vendettas, reflecting the extreme vulnerability and limited power of women in patriarchal societies.

• Connection to The Handmaid’s Tale: Gilead mirrors this historical oppression, punishing women for alleged transgressions and using fear to maintain control.

• Atwood is reportedly related to a woman who survived the trials, Mary Webster, adding a p_____ c____ to the book and history

historical context

• In the 17____ century, E____ P___ were forced to do what and why? seeking to establish what?

• They f___ to n___ a____where what type of system evolved? ( like gilead)

• These communities enforced what especially over women.

• Puritan society emphasized r___ as law, often punishing women for p____ t___

• Connection to The Handmaid’s Tale: Atwood draws on Puritan values to create Gilead’s o____ t____ system, where women’s roles are n____ d___, s____ is c____, and r____ is h____ p___.

• r___, r___ language, and s___ s___ in Gilead reflect historical Puritan practices, showing how ideology and faith can be used to justify what

historical context

• In the 17th century, English Puritans were forced to flee Europe due to their strict Christian beliefs, seeking to establish communities where they could practice their faith freely.

• They fled to north america where a system of patriarchal theocracy evolved ( like gilead)

• These communities enforced strict moral codes, rigid social hierarchies, and patriarchal control, especially over women.

• Puritan society emphasized religion as law, often punishing women for perceived transgressions

• Connection to The Handmaid’s Tale: Atwood draws on Puritan values to create Gilead’s oppressive theocratic system, where women’s roles are narrowly defined, sexuality is controlled, and rebellion is harshly punished.

• Rituals, religious language, and social surveillance in Gilead reflect historical Puritan practices, showing how ideology and faith can be used to justify gender-based oppression.

Religious context

• Atwood frequently references the B___, particularly the O___ T, to shape Gilead’s ideology and laws.

Key passages influencing the novel include:

• Genesis 3:16 – which says what ?

• Genesis 16:2 – The story of who , illustrating what duty, which p____ the role of Handmaids.

• Atwood exposes how Gilead m____ scripture to justify o___, showing that the regime’s use of religion is s___ and s___-s___ rather than m___ sound.

• highlights the dangers of what

• Atwood created Gilead as a t___- the country is governed by a state that strictly does what

Biblical significance:

• The epigraph at the start of the novel (what verse) signals Gilead’s f___ as a f_____ C___ t____.

• Connection to The Handmaid’s Tale: religion j___ Gilead’s laws, rituals, and h____ control of women, highlighting Atwood’s critique of what

Religious context

• Atwood frequently references the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, to shape Gilead’s ideology and laws.

Key passages influencing the novel include:

• Genesis 3:16 – “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you,” reflecting patriarchal control over women.

• Genesis 16:2 – The story of Hagar and Sarah, illustrating surrogacy and childbearing as a duty, which parallels the role of Handmaids.

• Atwood exposes how Gilead manipulates scripture to justify oppression, showing that the regime’s use of religion is selective and self-serving rather than morally sound.

• highlights the dangers of using religion to enforce social control.

• Atwood created Gilead as a theocracy- the country is governed by a state that strictly enforces the laws and teachings of a particular religion.

Biblical significance:

• The epigraph at the start of the novel (Gensis 30) signals Gilead’s foundation as a fundamentalist Christian theocracy.

• Connection to The Handmaid’s Tale: religion justify Gilead’s laws, rituals, and hierarchical control of women, highlighting Atwood’s critique of using religion to enforce social and gender oppression.

Political context-1980s America and Reagan

• When Atwood wrote The Handmaid’s Tale (1985), who was president of the United States.

• As a d____ c____, Reagan promoted R___, emphasizing c____ s____ v___, e_____ p____ over what, and limited support for who

• This period saw the rise of what type groups, who warned against what, opposed a____ rights, and criticized what growing movement.

• Connection to The Handmaid’s Tale: Atwood draws on these r___-w___ a____ to imagine Gilead, a society where f___ is t___ controlled, women’s bodies are r____, and d___ is punished, reflecting concerns about what

Political context-1980s America and Reagan

• When Atwood wrote The Handmaid’s Tale (1985), Ronald Reagan was the Republican President of the United States.

• As a devout Christian, Reagan promoted Reaganism, emphasizing conservative social values, economic priorities over environmental issues, and limited support for gay rights.

• This period saw the rise of conservative christian fundamentalist groups, who warned against falling birth rates (“birth dearth”), opposed abortion rights, and criticized the growing gay rights movement.

• Connection to The Handmaid’s Tale: Atwood draws on these real-world anxieties to imagine Gilead, a society where fertility is tightly controlled, women’s bodies are regulated, and dissent is punished, reflecting concerns about Reagan-era politics and conservative fundamentalism.

Political context-regimes that controlled reproduction.

• One notable example is C____ R___ in the 19___s–19___s, where women were legally required to do what, a____ and c____ were banned, and the state closely monitored p____.

• This created a climate of f___, s____, and punishment for w____, showing how governments can exert extreme control over what

• Connection to The Handmaid’s Tale: Atwood mirrors these practices in Gilead, where Handmaids are forced to do what, illustrating the dangers of what

Political context-regimes that controlled reproduction.

• One notable example is Ceausescu’s Romania in the 1960s–1980s, where women were legally required to have multiple children, abortion and contraception were banned, and the state closely monitored pregnancies.

• This created a climate of fear, surveillance, and punishment for women, showing how governments can exert extreme control over reproductive rights.

• Connection to The Handmaid’s Tale: Atwood mirrors these practices in Gilead, where Handmaids are forced to bear children for the state, illustrating the dangers of authoritarian control over women’s bodies and autonomy.

Political context-i____ r____

• The I_____ R____ of 19____ resulted in the establishment of whtv

• Women were forced to to do,, faced restrictions on t___ without m___ p____, and were subject to harsh punishments such as p___ s____ for d___.

• Connection to The Handmaid’s Tale: Atwood drew on these r__-w___ examples of r____ a____ to shape Gilead, where women’s bodies and freedoms are strictly c____, and n___-c____ is harshly punished.

• There are parallels between what two things?

Political context-Iranian revolution

• The Iranian Revolution of 1979 resulted in the establishment of an Islamic theocracy, drastically reducing women’s rights.

• Women were forced to adopt mandatory veiling (the hijab), faced restrictions on travel without male permission, and were subject to harsh punishments such as public stoning for dissent.

• Connection to The Handmaid’s Tale: Atwood drew on these real-world examples of religious authoritarianism to shape Gilead, where women’s bodies and freedoms are strictly controlled, and non-compliance is harshly punished.

• There are parallels between the Handmaids' habits and hooded hats and the forced wearing of the Hijab in Iran