The Handmaid's Tale Close Reading Worksheets Bundle

Support the development of close reading skills for high school with this bundle of analysis worksheets for The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. Covering the entire novel, these materials save teachers valuable time at home without sacrificing rigor in the classroom. Answer keys are provided. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. A breakdown of content follows.

Chapters 1 through 5 Close Reading Worksheet. Students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly

• Analyze how complex characters develop and interact

• Explore the significance of a given detail

• Discern the function of a particular chapter

• Analyze differences and nuances in word meanings

• Explore the author's intent

• Articulate the contradictory nature of a given term as it is used in the text

• Isolate an illogical statement from a set of logical statements

• Explore character motivations

• Determine the tone of a given quote

• Apply knowledge of literary devices such as anaphora

• Explore how language is used as a manipulative tool

• Write about literature with clarity and precision

Chapters 6 through 11 Close Reading Worksheet. Students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly

• Explore character motivations

• Analyze how complex characters develop and interact

• Explore the significance of a given detail

• Determine the most prevalent theme in a given chapter

• Discern the function of a particular chapter

• Explore cause-and-effect relationships

• Analyze differences and nuances in word meanings

• Apply knowledge of literary devices such as metaphor

• Explore the author's intent

• Articulate the intended effect of a figurative expression

• Write about literature with clarity and precision

Chapters 12 through 17 Close Reading Worksheet. Students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly

• Explore character motivations

• Analyze how complex characters develop and interact

• Discern the function of a particular character in context

• Explore cause-and-effect relationships

• Analyze differences and nuances in word meanings

• Apply knowledge of literary devices such as pun and metaphor

• Explore the author's intent

• Analyze a shift in narrative technique in chapter 16

• Articulate the intended effect of a figurative expression

• Write about literature with clarity and precision

• Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims

Chapters 18 through 23 Close Reading Worksheet. Students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly

• Explore the author's use of figurative language

• Analyze how complex characters develop and interact

• Articulate the irony associated with the relationship between Offred and her mother

• Explore character motivations

• Discern the function of a particular detail in context

• Analyze differences and nuances in word meanings

• Analyze how theme is developed and reinforced

• Write about literature with clarity and precision

• Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims

• Make a defend a claim about whether Offred is a reliable narrator

Chapters 24 through 27 Close Reading Worksheet. Students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly

• Explain the intended effect of figurative language as it is used in context

• Isolate a false statement about plot among a set of true statements

• Articulate the flaw in a character's logic

• Analyze how complex characters develop and interact

• Explore character motivations

• Discern the function of a given chapter

• Analyze differences and nuances in word meanings

• Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, pun, and dramatic irony

• Write about literature with clarity and precision

• Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims

Chapters 28 through 30 Close Reading Worksheet. Students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly

• Interpret figurative language as it is used in context

• Articulate the intended effect of flashback in the context of a given chapter

• Isolate a false statement about plot among a set of true statements

• Analyze how complex characters develop and interact

• Explore character motivations

• Discern the tone of a given chapter

• Analyze differences and nuances in word meanings

• Explore cause-and-effect relationships

• Determine the function of a given detail

• Apply knowledge of literary devices including allusion

• Explore the development of theme (fear and uncertainty make people easier to control)

• Write about literature with clarity and precision

• Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims

Chapters 31 through 34 Close Reading Worksheet. Students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly

• Articulate how the government has failed in its mission to divide women in the context of chapter 31

• Interpret an idiomatic phrase as it is used in the text

• Isolate a false statement about plot among a set of true statements

• Analyze how complex characters develop and interact

• Compare and contrast characters

• Explore character motivations

• Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor and portmanteau

• Analyze differences and nuances in word meanings

• Explain an example of paradox in the context in chapter 34

• Explore cause-and-effect relationships

• Write about literature with clarity and precision

• Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims

Chapters 35 through 39 Close Reading Worksheet. Students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly

• Isolate a false statement about plot among a set of true statements

• Analyze how complex characters develop and interact

• Explore character motivations

• Explore the psychological state of a given character

• Articulate how several situations are ironic

• Apply knowledge of literary devices including metaphor, situational irony, allusion, and euphemism

• Infer why Offred chose not to "reconstruct" her memory of her final encounter with Moira

• Analyze differences and nuances in word meanings

• Write about literature with clarity and precision

• Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims

Chapters 40 through 46 Close Reading Worksheet. Students will:

• Identify what the text states explicitly and implicitly

• Analyze how complex characters develop and interact

• Explore a character's psychological state

• Isolate a true statement about plot from a series of false statements

• Analyze the author's craft

• Explore cause-and-effect relationships

• Explain how a character's personal history influences their present behavior

• Discern the tone of a remark in context

• Articulate the significance of a given detail

• Explore character motivations

• Apply knowledge of literary devices including ambiguity and anaphora

• Analyze differences and nuances in word meanings

• Write about literature with clarity and precision

• Cite relevant textual evidence in support of claims