1984 vs The handmaid's tale

F.A.B.

I just finished reading these two novels and next week i have to make a proposal to my english teacher. I am in gr.12 by the way.On this proposal i have to write my thesis and 3 directionals. I want to write the lack of freedom and rights. But i need to think of my directionals. So far the only one i've thought about is language restrictions. I need two more directionals, so can anyone please help me.

Reply 1

Anonomiss

I've just finished reading the handmaids tale also. But I haven't read the other one, so 'll try help you, based on my knowledge of The Handmaids tale.

few ideas:
• Roles of women
• The way language is used to represent feelings and emotions

Reply 2

Steph!

1984 = centralised control by one person(BB)

Handmaid = Large group of controllers

Talk about general restrictions imposed, and yes Anonomiss is right, roles of women.

Also you can talk about the segregation, all the diff roles in HMT and arn't there two diff sections of people in 1984... ( havn't read it in ages)

You could also talk about propoganda and compare the room 101 place with the Red centre and secret sex and loyalties between lovers under suppression? That's all I can think of atm...

Reply 3

F.A.B.

I could do roles of women but what could i compare it to in 1984. I almost forgot shouldnt i keep my directionals focused on one aspect of both novels. If i do language restrictions, room 101 and red centre and something else what am i going to write for my thesis.

Reply 4

Dhesi

Ive only read 1984 so I don't know how helpful my comments will be but one way to look at the book is the oppression of the individual.

Reply 5

supercat

Oh my, I've not read these novels in a long time, but if I remember rightly isn't there the "No sex league" in 1984? And then there's Julia (is that her name?) who plays a huge role in the novel, who you could compare to Offred if you wanted to talk about roles of women.

I love these novels by the way. Wish I could read them again but I have so many other things to read!

Reply 6

Happy1

Are you sure you can do the handmaid's tale? I was told we couldnt do books hat are on the AS syllabus.

Reply 7

*starry_eyed_*

I may be reading this for my yr 13 coursework...one concept I'll be thinking about when reading these two ,is the presence of dystopia.

Reply 8

F.A.B.

ya thats the concept i want to talk about too. But i need three directionals for it one of which is language restrictions, i could also do freedom to live by ones choice and talk about room 101 and the red centre, but leaves one more directional. i could do role of women but i dont know how i could use it. I'll use that if i cant think of another idea. But does anyone else have any other suggestions

Reply 9

Steph!

I love these books too and would love to do them as coursework, but I did HT last year :frown:

... so I'm doing a different Atwood :biggrin:

how about methods of control?

Reply 10

F.A.B.

what are some examples of methods of control?

Reply 11

hannah88

In both, they are constantly being watched- there are the Thought Police and the Eyes (and there is lots of eye imagery in HM). They have no privacy.

You could talk about love in an atmosphere of opression- Julia and Winston and Offred and Nick and how feelings of love and passion are heightened in such a situation and the ways the affairs end.

They are possibly my two favourite books in the world! x