Discussion Questions for The Handmaid's Tale 1. Discuss the meanings of the epigraphs and their relationship to the novel. Are the epigraphs familiar enough to help you start the book? If you didn't understand the epigraphs, how did they affect your understanding of the book as you started?. 2. How credible does the novel seem? Can you find connections between present reality and the fictional future depicted in the novel? 3. What mechanisms of repression are used to ensure social compliance in lead? What are some the reasons Gilead was formed? 4. Discuss sisterhood in this novel. Who are the important women in Offred's life? Describe her relationship with them. Describe Offred's relationship with and feelings about Serena Joy, her mother, Moira, Ofglen, etc.