How should I structure a comparative essay on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Margaret Attwood's The Handmaid's Tale?

There are a variety of approaches to structuring a strong comparative essay between two novels. However, while some people suggest writing about one novel and then the other, I would strongly advise comparing the two throughout the essay as the most effective and sophisticated approach. In terms of structuring the comparison, a really good way is to write your essay thematically. By choosing about three themes or ideas that link with each other, you can explore how each one is exemplified in both novels while maintaining a strong line of argument through from introduction to conclusion. If, for example, the question is about the presentation of women in the two novels, you could begin by discussing the use of nature to express femininity (in Frankenstein, with the division between science as a masculine pursuit and nature as a feminine victim; then moving to The Handmaid's Tale, with the symbolism of flowers as the mutilated 'fruiting body'.) Next, you could compare the presence of unnatural procreation and the effect this has on women: the unnatural birth of the Creature subverting the need for women in Frankenstein, and the psychological effect of forced procreation in The Handmaid's Tale, most evident in the passage describing Janine's labour. The benefit of this approach is that it allows you to finish on a point that encompasses both novels and potentially interrogates the question itself. In this case, you could end by comparing the disintegration of the self in both novels, and what this might mean for gender identity in general when the feminine is suppressed or contorted in such a way. A prime example of this is Offred's shift in self-perception, rearranging her identity to become centred around an empty womb. In addition to being a good way to structure comparative essays, this thematic approach is an excellent revision technique, enabling you to go into the exam with all the tools you need to answer any question.