OCR A Level English Literature: The Handmaids Tale Context Connections can be drawn between The Handmaid’s Tale and many other examples of dystopian fiction, not just those on the set text list You should always consider the contextual links between texts as determined by the focus of the exam question
The Handmaids Tale: Themes - SparkNotes Dystopian novels about the dangers of totalitarian society frequently explore the connection between a state’s repression of its subjects and its perversion of language (“Newspeak” in George Orwell’s 1984 is the most famous example), and The Handmaid’s Tale carries on this tradition
Similarities Between The Handmaids Tale And 1984 | ipl. org Books like 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale show a strong government figure or idea by showing an appeal to fear Both have a problem with propaganda through corrupted education The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, has a strong focus on religion and using it to justify rape
Comparing The Handmaid’s Tale with other texts Approaching . . . Compare the ways in which the writers of your two chosen texts present scientifically advanced societies or societies filled with doubts and fears You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors Or: Much dystopian fiction explores a futuristic world of controlled misery
The Handmaids Tale (L21) Dystopian Comparisons Identify key similarities and differences between The Handmaid’s Tale and other dystopian texts Understand how Atwood reflects and subverts traditional dystopian elements Develop skills to compare and contrast multiple dystopian texts in a structured essay
Engaging with The Handmaids Tale » The Handmaids Tale Study . . . trace the development of a character or a relationship between characters This requires a separate section because examiners often report that students know the beginning of a play or novel very well, but are less familiar with the later parts of the text