1. Similarities and differences?
Offred • Julia • Winston • Moira
Thought Police • Eyes • Telescreens • Angels
Room 101 • The Red House • The Wall • The Ministry of Love
Offred’s child • Winston’s mother • Luke • Rutherford, Aaronson and Jones
Hand cream • The ornament • Scrabble • “Golding’s” book

2. Comparing 1984 and THT
LO: What links and comparisons can I make between the major themes in 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale?

3. STRETCH: can you link it to evidence?
Key Moments
Working in pairs, one person on 1984 and the other on THT. From memory, working as fast as you can, write down a selection of key moments from the novels. Which moments link most appropriately, in terms of their themes and context? Group the post-its and make a note of the groupings in your book.
STRETCH: can you link it to evidence?

4. Linking at a Textual Level
What links and comparisons can you make between the quotations provided from the texts?
How do the purposes of Atwood and Orwell link to the contexts in which the novels were written?
The Handmaid’s Tale
Palimpsest (p. 13)
Offred going into and emerging from memory (p. 113, p. 132)
Offred’s surprise at Ofglen’s disappearance (p. 294)
Offred’s small comforts (p. 164)
Offred and Nick (p 280 onwards)
The Commander’s attitude towards the affair (ch. 29)
nolite bastardes (p. 156)
The symposium – moral judgements are culture-specific (p. 314)
1984
Palimpsest (p 47)
Winston emerging from memory (p. 35 then p. 341)
Winson recognising who will be vaporised (p. 70)
Winston in Charrington’s shop (p.109)
Winston and Julia (p. 145 and later)
Julia’s lover killing himself (p. 151)
The grain of dust on the diary (p )
Winston loved BB (p.342)
Students find links between 1 and 1, then 2 and 2, etc
If students are strong enough, they could generate their own bank in the first place

5. Creating Comparisons
In groups create sugar paper resource which we can photograph/scan in and share.
It must contain information about:
The comparison (expressed as a signpost sentence)
Evidence from the text
Links to context of production
Links to context of reception
Each group has a different theme, such as fear, surveillance, memory, love, women, etc

6. How would you assess your comparison, in terms of the mark scheme?
Excellent comparative analysis (6)
Good comparative analysis (5)
Competent comparative discussion (4)
An attempt to develop comparative discussion (3)

7. Making Excellent Comparisons
LO: How can I make sure that the comparisons I make are ‘excellent’?

8. Just a Minute
You have one minute to speak on the topic which appears on the board! You must make comparisons between the two texts, without hesitation, repetition or deviation: Personal freedom Relationships Memory and the past
Can change topics as suits your class

9. What makes an ‘excellent’ comparison? What makes a poor comparison?
Original – beyond the obvious
Brings in different ‘shades’ of meaning, of the argument
Precise clarity
Limited to specific examples
Equally weighted
Use of precise language to show a depth of understanding of the author’s views

10. Level these comparisons, as to what potential you think they have to be competent, good, excellent, etc. Improve the ones which are less than excellent!
Both protagonists seek small comforts which are also rebellions.
The evident lack of control in Winston’s memories makes you far more terrified for his safety, in comparison to Offred’s seeming control.
THT is more biblical than Their society is more full of metaphors, whereas 1984 is full of oxymorons.
Both protagonists are kept under control.
The time since the revolutions is important when it comes to the attitudes of the protagonists. Offred lives in the generation who were adults in the revolution, whereas Winston was a child.
The relative freedom of the proles offers some hope for an egalitarian future, whereas in THT it is the innate need for human contact which could undermine Gilead’s reign.
There is surveillance and fear in both of the books.
The sexual drive is the most powerful rebellious force in both of the societies.

11. How confident are you?
What themes are there in the texts? Rate out of 5 how confident you would be in making excellent comparisons between the two texts. In a minute, you will be ‘speed dating’ with people who have rated highly the ones you have given a low rating.

12. Revisit: what makes an ‘excellent’ comparison?