Things to compare in preparation for completing a comparative (Compare and Contrast) Essay.

1. Comparing two texts –
Things to mention
2016

2. Text type
• Book
• Film
• Play
• The basics of each text – date of publication, page length.
• The features of each text type.

3. Creator: Author / Director / Playwright
• Gender
• Age / Generation
• Personal History
• Upbringing
• Educational Background
• Racial Background / Ancestry
• Pre-occupations and common themes across texts
• Elements of style
• Filmography / Playbill / Publication list

4. Plot - Events
• Establishment – Beginning
• Conflict – The juicy problem
• Resolution – The ending
• Acts of conflict
• Acts of violence
• Acts of love

5. Themes
• What are the themes of each text?
• Shared Themes – Unique Themes – Shared Themes
• How are each of these themes addressed?
• Love
• Privilege
• Hate
• Friendship
• Family
• Power
• Gifts

6. Symbols
• Images or objects that are used to communicate other associated
ideas.
• Cats
• Dagger
• Weapons
• Vision
• Darkness
• Animals
• Cars

7. Motifs
• Reoccurring images or objects that are used to send a broader or
bigger message.
• Mockingbirds
• Dagger
• Bloodstains
• A red skyline
• A flock of birds

8. Morals / Message / Lesson
• What is the moral, message or lesson of the text?
• Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.
• Don’t trust outsiders.
• You must love yourself to love others.
• Hate breeds hate.
• Racism is a illness of society.

9. Rating
• How appropriate is each text for different age groups?
• 0-5 years of age
• Primary school aged
• Secondary school aged
• Elderly
• What film rating would you give each text?
• G – PG – M – MA15+ - R

10. Language Use
• Basic elements:
• Chapter Length
• The amount of dialogue / action / description
• Dialogue:
• Colloquial / Formal / Informal
• Naturalistic / Non-naturalistic