Characters

Start with the characters together

Begin with the mind map that brings together characters from The Handmaid's Tale. It includes Offred and considers how her identity has been stripped from her, alongside details about her past and the things she wants. Use it to get an overview before focusing on an individual character.

Then choose a character you want to understand more closely. The page includes maps on the Commander, Serena Joy, Nick, Ofglen and others. Looking at one figure at a time can help you organize details before comparing relationships.

Explore individual character maps

The Commander mind map considers his position of power and his relationship with Offred. A separate note, also called The Commander, asks about his role in the novel and how that relationship develops. Read the map first, then use the note's questions to guide a closer look.

The Serena Joy maps include her attitude toward Offred and her position as the Commander's wife. The Nick map considers how he is presented as suspicious. The Ofglen characterisation map looks at dialogue, setting, actions and relationships with others. Compare the kinds of evidence each map uses to describe a character.

Use flashcards alongside maps

There are no quizzes on this page, but there are flashcard decks, including one on the Commander. After studying a map, use a deck to practice recalling character details. You can then return to the map and connect those details to the relationships or descriptions you have been studying.

The resources were made by GoConqr users, so different maps may focus on different details. Comparing them can give you more than one starting point for your own notes.

Connect your study to the unit

Characters is one section of The Handmaid's Tale unit in Literature. As you work through the resources here, keep track of how a character is described and how they relate to others. Choose a map and use its ideas to organize your character notes.