Handmaid's Tale, The (Text Guide)

Insight Text Guides take students into the deeper layers of meaning in a range of popular novels, plays, films, short-story collections and nonfiction texts. They are designed to develop detailed knowledge, in-depth understanding and genuine insight into each text.

The guides are written by practising English teachers, professional writers, reviewers and academics who are experts in their fields. Each guide presents a clear, comprehensive and accessible analysis.

There are over 150 titles in the Insight Text Guides series and new titles are published every year.

Each title features:

• An overview of the text for quick reference, including notes on the author's life and work, a plot synopsis, a character map and brief character summaries
• Discussion of the historical, cultural and social contexts relevant to the text
• Close analysis of each chapter/scene/story, with chapter questions
• Detailed analysis of characters, themes and ideas
• Discussion of different responses to and interpretations of the text
• Guidelines on successful essay writing
• Essay topics, a sample analysis of a topic and a sample essay on the text