The Handmaid's Tale (OCR A Level English Literature): Flashcards
Exam code: H472
1/100Still learning
Know0
Fill in the gap: "Everything except the ＿＿＿＿＿ around my face is red"
Offred, Chapter 2
Was this flashcard helpful?
Cards in this collection (10)
Fill in the gap: "Everything except the ＿＿＿＿＿ around my face is red"
Offred, Chapter 2
Answer: "Everything except the wings around my face is red"
Fill in the gap: "Remember that ＿＿＿＿＿ too is a power"
Offred, Chapter 23
Answer: "Remember that forgiveness too is a power"
Fill in the gap: "I want to ＿＿＿＿＿ something"
Offred, Chapter 17
Answer: "I want to steal something"
Fill in the gap: "I think of this name as ＿＿＿＿＿"
Offred, Chapter 14
Answer: "I think of this name as buried"
Key quote: "It's difficult for me to believe I have power over him, of any sort, but I do; although it's of an equivocal kind"
Offred, Chapter 32
Analysis
Offred recognises that she holds some power over the Commander but cannot say what kind. The word "equivocal" captures how uncertain and unsafe that power is to use.
Key quote: "She's looking straight at me. We can see into each other's eyes"
Offred, Chapter 27
Analysis
A moment of eye contact makes the two women equals in a state that forbids connection. Simply being seen becomes a small act of resistance against Gilead's control.
Key quote: "I didn't go on any of the marches. Luke said it would be futile... I started doing more housework, more baking"
Offred, Chapter 28
Analysis
A supposedly modern husband talks his wife out of protesting. The slide into more housework shows patriarchy returning quietly, so Gilead grows out of everyday gender roles.
Key quote: "I don't want to look at something that determines me so completely"
Offred, Chapter 12
Analysis
Offred avoids her own reflection because her body now decides her whole future. Her identity has been reduced to her fertility.
Key quote: "My name isn't Offred. I have another name, which nobody uses now because it's forbidden"
Offred, Chapter 14
Analysis
The name Offred marks her as belonging to a man, like a label on property. Keeping her real name hidden preserves the last piece of her identity.
Key quote: "I would like to believe this is a story I'm telling. I need to believe it. I must believe it"
Offred, Chapter 7
Analysis
The three verbs move from wish to necessity across three short sentences. Telling the story is how Offred survives what is happening to her.
Sign up to unlock flashcards
or