Comparison of 'Anon' and 'Handmaid's Tale'
Idea 1 - Both Atwood and Duffy present the domestication of female identity as a result of the oppressive regime of
society.
Handmaid’s Analysis ‘Anon’ Analysis
Tale Quotation
Quotation
“I used to - Lack of humanity “maybe a - "maybe" - Ambiguity - again
think of my - Domestication of female identity nurse, a highlighting the lack of identity due to
body as an - Domestic role of women - nurture and nanny, lack of recognition by men. - Uncertainty
care for nature - substitute for maternal maybe a of future - Duffy is critical of women's
instrument, of
care of a child. nun –”
pleasure,” identity being defined by men.
“Now...I’m a - "nurse", "nanny", "nun" - Educators /
cloud, Educated - Stereotypical female roles -
congealed women were limited to a few, often
around a domestic, jobs. (Not writers) - Selfless
central roles - Connected to female education -
object...which
passing down knowledge. All symbolise
a subservient role in society. - Maybe the
is hard and
"she" belongs to this category -
more real
highlights the uncertainty of female
than I am and
identity.
glows red - Establishes the importance of writing as
within its nuns were the only women taught how to
translucent write. - Loss of the literary history of
wrapping.”. women.
- Consonance 'n' - Cohesion with poem
and emblematic of female presence in
communities even if they aren't
recognised. - Harsh alliteration - links to
the 'n' sound in 'anon'. - Sets up the loss
of the female community.
Idea 2 - Both Duffy and Atwood are critical of the oppression of female identity, notably through the restriction of literature,
free thought and expression.
Handmaid’s Analysis ‘Anon’ Analysis
Tale Quotation
Quotation
Nolite te “A woman I - "A" - No identity - erasing of female
Bastardes knew kept literature - universal
Carborundo her skull - "On a shelf" - Left to get old and dusty -
rum on a shelf Duffy could be suggesting the idea of
in a room
single women being left - criticism of how
–”
society views single women.
- No identifiers, makes the women and
'anon' sound like the same person -
Female Erasure.
- "Skull" - gothic imagery - Allusion to
Hamlet - used to contemplate the
temporary nature of life - Yorick's skull
symbolizes death and rotting away of the
person. - Image of living death - link to
theme of time. - Could represent an older
generation of women. Highlighting the
tragedy of wasted talent.
Idea 1 - Both Atwood and Duffy present the domestication of female identity as a result of the oppressive regime of
society.
Handmaid’s Analysis ‘Anon’ Analysis
Tale Quotation
Quotation
“I used to - Lack of humanity “maybe a - "maybe" - Ambiguity - again
think of my - Domestication of female identity nurse, a highlighting the lack of identity due to
body as an - Domestic role of women - nurture and nanny, lack of recognition by men. - Uncertainty
care for nature - substitute for maternal maybe a of future - Duffy is critical of women's
instrument, of
care of a child. nun –”
pleasure,” identity being defined by men.
“Now...I’m a - "nurse", "nanny", "nun" - Educators /
cloud, Educated - Stereotypical female roles -
congealed women were limited to a few, often
around a domestic, jobs. (Not writers) - Selfless
central roles - Connected to female education -
object...which
passing down knowledge. All symbolise
a subservient role in society. - Maybe the
is hard and
"she" belongs to this category -
more real
highlights the uncertainty of female
than I am and
identity.
glows red - Establishes the importance of writing as
within its nuns were the only women taught how to
translucent write. - Loss of the literary history of
wrapping.”. women.
- Consonance 'n' - Cohesion with poem
and emblematic of female presence in
communities even if they aren't
recognised. - Harsh alliteration - links to
the 'n' sound in 'anon'. - Sets up the loss
of the female community.
Idea 2 - Both Duffy and Atwood are critical of the oppression of female identity, notably through the restriction of literature,
free thought and expression.
Handmaid’s Analysis ‘Anon’ Analysis
Tale Quotation
Quotation
Nolite te “A woman I - "A" - No identity - erasing of female
Bastardes knew kept literature - universal
Carborundo her skull - "On a shelf" - Left to get old and dusty -
rum on a shelf Duffy could be suggesting the idea of
in a room
single women being left - criticism of how
–”
society views single women.
- No identifiers, makes the women and
'anon' sound like the same person -
Female Erasure.
- "Skull" - gothic imagery - Allusion to
Hamlet - used to contemplate the
temporary nature of life - Yorick's skull
symbolizes death and rotting away of the
person. - Image of living death - link to
theme of time. - Could represent an older
generation of women. Highlighting the
tragedy of wasted talent.
