Dystopia
Study Guide
Unseen Analysis; ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by
Margaret Atwood and ‘1984’ by George Orwell
English Literature A-Level
Exam Board: OCR
Anish Shah
, Table of Contents:
Dystopia Mark Scheme and Assessment Objectives..................................................................3
Close Analysis Techniques.........................................................................................................4
Context Phrases...........................................................................................................................9
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Context...............................................................................................10
‘1984’ Context...........................................................................................................................13
Critical Interpretations.............................................................................................................17
Individual Critics...................................................................................................................................................17
Dystopia Mark Scheme and Assessment Objectives..................................................................3
Close Analysis Techniques.........................................................................................................4
Context Phrases..........................................................................................................................9
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Context...............................................................................................10
‘1984’ Context...........................................................................................................................13
Critical Interpretations.............................................................................................................17
Individual Critics................................................................................................................................................17
2
, Dystopia Mark Scheme and Assessment Objectives
Assessment Objectives:
Q1a. Close Analysis Passage and Dystopian Tropes (30 Marks)
Write a critical interpretation of this passage, relating your discussion to your reading of
dystopian literature.
Q1b. Comparative Essay Comparing ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and ‘1984’ (30 Marks)
‘Statement’. By comparing ‘1984’/’The Handmaid’s Tale’ with at least one other text
prescribed for this topic, discuss how far you agree with this view.
3
Study Guide
Unseen Analysis; ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by
Margaret Atwood and ‘1984’ by George Orwell
English Literature A-Level
Exam Board: OCR
Anish Shah
, Table of Contents:
Dystopia Mark Scheme and Assessment Objectives..................................................................3
Close Analysis Techniques.........................................................................................................4
Context Phrases...........................................................................................................................9
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Context...............................................................................................10
‘1984’ Context...........................................................................................................................13
Critical Interpretations.............................................................................................................17
Individual Critics...................................................................................................................................................17
Dystopia Mark Scheme and Assessment Objectives..................................................................3
Close Analysis Techniques.........................................................................................................4
Context Phrases..........................................................................................................................9
‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Context...............................................................................................10
‘1984’ Context...........................................................................................................................13
Critical Interpretations.............................................................................................................17
Individual Critics................................................................................................................................................17
2
, Dystopia Mark Scheme and Assessment Objectives
Assessment Objectives:
Q1a. Close Analysis Passage and Dystopian Tropes (30 Marks)
Write a critical interpretation of this passage, relating your discussion to your reading of
dystopian literature.
Q1b. Comparative Essay Comparing ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and ‘1984’ (30 Marks)
‘Statement’. By comparing ‘1984’/’The Handmaid’s Tale’ with at least one other text
prescribed for this topic, discuss how far you agree with this view.
3
