The Handmaid's Tale (Cliffs Notes)
by Mary Ellen Snodgrass
List Price:
Our Price: $2.29
You Save: $3.70 (62%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.87 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Mary Ellen SnodgrassEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1994-10-31
ISBN: 0822005727
Number of pages: 88
Publisher: Cliffs Notes
Book Reviews of The Handmaid's Tale (Cliffs Notes)
Book Review: A very helpful guide to understand Atwood's dystopic novel
Summary: 5 Stars
This review is actually of Mary Ellen Snodgrass' Cliff Notes for "The Handmaid's Tale" and not Margaret Atwood's novel, which is one of the few late 20th-century works for which there is a little yellow book. Snodgrass begins with a concise review of Atwood's life, background and published works. By way of setting up the novel, Snodgrass takes the rather unusual step of providing comments from various reviewers of "The Handmaid's Tale." Establishing it as work of speculative fiction that warns (predicts?) of a triumph of totalitarianism, Snodgrass puts the novel in the tradition of dystopian novels such as "1984," "Brave New World," "A Clockwork Orange," "Fahrenheit 451," etc. (all of which would serve as interesting analogs for students to compare/contrast). We are then provided a list of characters, a very useful time line covering the events in the novel, and a brief synopsis of the novel. In terms of Critical Commentaries, Snodgrass looks at the three epigraphs than open the novels and then each of the fifteen chapters and the "historical notes," offering brief descriptions and then commentary. Two of the strengths of her approach are that Snodgrass puts literary concepts in boldface and "translates" difficult words and phrases that are important in the novel. A Genealogy of Offred and Janine (Ofwarren) is included, along with a small map of New England. For Critical Essays, Snodgrass focuses on Literary Analysis (existential apologia, oral history, speculative fiction, confession, dystopia), over a dozen Literary Devices (simile, symbol, historical and cultural lore, literary allusion, parody, etc.), and the idea of women in "The Handmaid's Tale," as well as the traditional elements of themes and settings. She even offers 15 points of significant differences between Atwood's novel and the 1990 film version directed by David Ray (perhaps the most useful information for teachers who are using this book in class to have). Snodgrass' notes for Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" is an above average Cliffs Notes volume, because it does a nice job of putting the book in literary perspective as a dystopic novel, takes pains to define words/phrases for readers unique to the culture of Gilead, and integrates dozens of literary concepts into its analysis. "The Handmaid's Tale" has the advantage of being speculative fiction, what many students will insist on thinking of as "science fiction," which will entice more students to be interested in reading the novel, at which point I do not think they can help but be engaged by the world Atwood creates and the issues she raises. Snodgrass' notes will allow students to see it as "literature" as well.
Summary of The Handmaid's Tale (Cliffs Notes)
The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.In CliffsNotes on The Handmaid's Tale, you come to realize that for every utopia, there's a corresponding dystopia. This tale of a bleak future depicts a time where women are valued only for their reproductive capacities. While this cautionary tale of repression and totalitarianism is horrifying, there are moments of poetic warmth and humor. It is a brilliant satire.
This concise supplement to Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale helps you understand the overall structure of the novel, actions and motivations of the characters, and the social and cultural perspectives of the author. Features that help you study include
- Chapter-by-chapter summaries and commentaries
- A timeline of critical events that leads to the climax of the novel
- A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
- Critical essays on women's roles in the novel, and the use of literary devices, themes, and settings
- A review section that tests your knowledge
Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure ? you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.
Art History Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Art History Books
Learn to Paint Oil Pastelsby Jacqueline Black
HarperCollins; Published: 1993-07-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $28.91
Oil Painting (Collins Artist's Guides)by ANGELA GAIR (EDITOR)
COLLINS; Published: 1998; Paperback; Book
Collins Artist's Guide: Making Pictures Pb (Artists Guides)by Angela Gair
Harpercollins; Published: 1997-07; Paperback; Book
Colour Mixing: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started (Collins Learn to Paint Series)by Judy Martin
HarperCollins UK; Published: 1998-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $699.99
Learn to Draw Dogs Pbby David Brown
Harpercollins; Published: 1996-02-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.95
Garfield Sits Around the House (Garfield (Numbered Paperback))by Jim Davis
Ballantine Books; Published: 1984-10-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.99
Sargent's Veniceby Richard Ormond, Warren Adelson
Yale University Press; Published: 2006-12-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $383.98
Farewell to an Idea: Episodes from a History of Modernismby Timothy J. Clark
Yale University Press; Published: 1999-03-11; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $35.10
Price in other shops:
Basquiat: A Quick Killing in Artby Phoebe Hoban
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 1999-09-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.94
Price in other shops:
The Illustrator in America: 1860-2000by Walt Reed
Collins Design; Published: 2003-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $339.10
Similar Books and other products
Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale (Readers Guide)by Gina Wisker
Continuum; Published: 2010-08-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.15
Price in other shops:
Spark Notes: The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood)Spark Publishing; Published: 2002-07-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.11
Huxley's Brave New World (Cliffs Notes)by Charles Ph.D.; Higgins, Regina Higgins
Cliffs Notes; Published: 2000-06-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.23
Price in other shops:
1984 (Cliffs Notes)by Nikki Moustaki, Gilbert Borman
Cliffs Notes; Published: 2000-06-19; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.24
Price in other shops:
The Handmaid's Tale (MAXNotes Literature Guides)by Malcolm Foster, English Literature Study Guides
Research & Education Association; Published: 1999-04-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.80
Price in other shops:
The Handmaid's TaleRelease date: 2001-12-11; DVD
Best price: $74.99
The Handmaid's Tale (Everyman's Library)by Margaret Atwood
Everyman's Library; Published: 2006-10-17; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $15.33
Price in other shops:
Handmaid's Tale By Margaret Atwood (York Notes Advanced)by Margaret Atwood
Pearson York Notes; Published: 2003-08-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.66
The Handmaid's Tale 1st (first) edition Text Onlyby Margaret Atwood
Published: 1999; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.16
The Handmaid's Taleby Margaret Atwood
Anchor; Published: 1998-03-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops: