Handmaid and Frankenstein Key Scenes

There are a number of key scenes in each novel which can be used to compare themes, characters, language techniques,
structure, authorial intention and form. Choose these carefully to ensure recall and revision is effective.

Theme Handmaid Key Frankenstein Key Compare/Contrast TECHNIQUE

Use literary
Scene & Scene & vocabulary to
QUOTATION QUOTATION identify aspects of
language, structure
or form in each
scene/quotation
SCIENCE Doctor scene Creation of the monster - Both manipulate
"'I could help you', he ‘A new species would science believing
says. Whispers... Is that bless me as its creator and they can control
his hand sliding up my source; many happy and natural order – use
leg? He's taken off the excellent natures would their power in
glove. 'The door's owe their being to me. No society to affect
locked. No one will father could claim the science
come in. They'll never gratitude of his child so
know it isn't his...'" completely as I should
deserve theirs’

WOMEN The ceremony Destruction of the female - Both are physically

‘my red skirt is hitched creature affecting the
up to my waist, through ‘tore to pieces the thing women through
 no higher’. Below it the on which i was engaged’ male actions –
Commander is fucking’ projecting their
own agenda and
beliefs onto the
women
- In Handmaids
women are harmed
through the
systematic
oppression in
Gilead
- Whereas in
Frankenstein
women are harmed
through outbursts
of violence

POWER Ceremony scene Creatures power of - Power over women

‘there wasn’t a lot of Victors life – murder of - Power through
choice but there was Elizabeth violence
some, and this is what I ‘I heard a shrill and a
chose’ dreadfull scream’

FREEDOM
LOVE

FULFILLMEN
T