Comparison Writing for Literature
1) We compare literature to demonstrate an understanding of the works as a whole, but also to
focus on ways that one story illuminates another. Ask yourself - why are you comparing these
two specific stories? Perhaps you want to examine the two stories so you can complete the
following statements:
"I am comparing these two stories in order to show ______________ about the works."
"These stories share the following characteristics: _______________."
"These stories differ in the following ways: ________________."
"These similarities and differences relate to the essential meaning of the works because ____."
2) Once you can fill in those blanks, you're ready to go on to what.
What aspects of these stories are you comparing? Be specific, and always have reasons for your
choices. You may want to compare:
Sub-genre (psychological, existential, social satire, allegory)
Characters (repressed woman, the outsider, the rebel)
Settings (rural Africa, small town Europe, on the land, urban warfare)
Stylistic features (humour, irony, imagery,)
Tone (fatalistic, nostalgic, fearful)
Topics (family, alienation, adolescence, journey)
3) Finally, consider how you will compare the characters. Conceptually, you will have addressed a
number of the "how" questions by answering what and why, but you will also want to focus
your comparison. For instance, are you examining how the characters speak for themselves—or
how other characters respond to them? How they see the world—or how the work's conclusion
passes judgment on their perspectives? As individuals—or as representatives of their class, race,
family, region? Work with those questions until your answers cut to the heart of the work in
question.
4) The next "how" question to answer is how to structure your own essay. Broadly speaking, there
are two general ways to compare things:
a) Block Style - You can write about all the aspects you are comparing from story A first, then
follow up discussing similar aspects from story B in a parallel manner.
b) Point by Point – you can present a direct comparison alternating between story A
and B as you progress through the various aspects you are comparing.
Examples of theses for comparative literary essays:
While Jane Austin's novel Pride and Prejudice underscores motifs of pride, prejudice, women
and marriage, and Mary Shelly's work Frankenstein reveals motifs of madness, the sublime, and
justice, it is apparent by juxtaposing these two novels that most women, during the early nineteenth
century. felt trapped in a patriarchal society that restricted the roles of women, especially in marriage.
Although both Toni Morrison in her short story "The Bluest Eye" and William Faulkner in his
work "Light in August" use themes of racism and oppression to underscore the effects of post-slavery
America, the different settings and eras in each novel suggest that oppression and inequality changed
very little in the United States from Faulkner's post civil war years to Morrison's civil rights' era one
hundred years later.