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