Literature assignment P4

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Literature assignment P4

Writing a comparative essay

A comparative essay on two literary works

Objectives or the why:

• You understand the major literary developments throughout the ages.

• You are able to connect classic literary works to literary movements.

• You know how to write a comparative essay.

• You are capable of working together with a classmate, make and hold a presentation on the two literary works.

Final products:

1.  A comparative essay on two literary works (individual) (45% of mark)

2. Reading log (hand in both printed version and via magister the digital 
     version) (15% of mark)

3. A presentation on the two literary works (in pairs) (40% of mark)

Comparative essay:

You are going to write your comparative essay in class. You will do so individually.

• At the test moment you will be given a prompt which tells you what aspects of the two literary works you need to compare and or contrast.

• You are allowed to type your essay.

• You only open one Word document and not before the teacher says so.

• You are not allowed to make use of any websites or other tools such as AI.

• The only other website you are allowed to open is your magister to upload your final essay in activities.

• Your essay needs to be at least 500 words long.

Preparation:

In order to write your comparative essay you need to prepare well.

1. Study the lessonup on the literary periods from 1660 to 1900.

2. Together with a classmate pick a book from one of the literary periods between 1660 and 1900 (see list below this assignment).

3. Tell your teacher which book the two of you have chosen. Do realise that the two of you will both write a comparative essay, but hold your presentation together.

4. Read Cal. Take notes in your reading log while reading.

5. Read the other book you’ve picked yourself and take notes in your reading log while reading.

6. Bring your reading log in printed version to the lesson in which you write the comparative essay, also hand it in digitally via magister assignments. They might be of great use.

7. Study the structure of a comparative essay.

Essay structure:

• An introduction: 

introduction of the two literary works and a thesis or an explanation of what you will discuss in your essay.

• Body: 

Several paragraphs in which you discuss, show and evaluate similarities and differences. (see next slide for further information)
• Conclusion: 

Your final paragraph in which you wrap up, sum up your findings in brief and come to a conclusion.

Body paragraphs: There are two organisational patterns to choose from: 

1. Block Method 

2. Point-by-Point Organization

Pick one for your body paragraphs and make sure you stick to it.

Your essay will be about two literary works.

 One book is Cal by Bernard Maclaverty. This book needs to be read by each student.

You can read (or listen) it for free via link on the next slide of this presentation.

The other book you pick from the following list and belongs to a specific literary period.

readfrom.net

Reading log

www.iwm.org.uk

Themes

You can compare two books (from different eras) that have a specific theme in common. A theme is a universal idea, lesson, or message explored throughout a work of literature. One key characteristic of literary themes is their universality, which is to say that themes are ideas that not only apply to the specific characters and events of a book or play, but also express broader truths about human experience that readers can apply to their own lives.

Good

Love

Justice

Good versus evil

Power and corruption

Loneliness

War

Betrayal

Loyalty

Etc.

You can write about general themes. For example:

Better

But you can improve the description of your theme by making it more specific, e.g.:

Love: unrequited love, forbidden love, family love, friendship, toxic love, sacrificial love, lost love, etc.

Justice: justice versus revenge (can justice really be found through more bloodshed?), racial justice, social justice, retributive justice, justice and morality, poetic justice, etc.

Genres

You can compare and contrast your books on genre, e.g.:

dystopia,

gothic

science fiction

fantasy

Travel stories

Historical fiction

horror

romance, etc.

Writing techniques

You can compare and contrast your books on writing techniques, e.g.:

link-in-frame-stories

epistolary stories

pastiche

parody

allogory

unreliable narrator

etc.

Settings

Setting is the time and place (or when and where) of the story.  The setting may also include the environment of the story, which can be made up of the physical location, climate, weather, or social and cultural surroundings. You can compare and contrast your books on settings, e.g.:

a specific country, region, city or village

a desert island

a fantasy land/world

universe

a specific building

the future /the Middle Ages

slums

a deeply religious community