Learning to Compare

Compare these 2 items – pick out similarities and differences.

Understanding comparisons…• Whenever you compare, you need to have a basis

for comparison.• Definition of ‘basis for comparison’:– The criteria to compare the 2 (or more) items– WHAT are you comparing

• For example:On a tree, the leaves are greenand the trunk is brown.– Basis for comparison: COLOUR

Comparing 2 plays…

SIMILARITIES• They are both tragedies, which means that the main

characters suffer from flaws in their own natures which lead to their deaths.

• They both involve main characters who feel estranged from their parents and need to make choices and act on their own, in secret.

• The opening scenes of the play offer the main characters a cause to take a life-changing action (R&J must go against their families and marry in secret, Hamlet is challenged to avenge his father's murder).

• Both plays suffer a tragic ending where many characters end up dead

DIFFERENCES• Romeo and Juliet moves very quickly through a short time

span, which emphasizes the hasty actions of R&J. Hamlet takes place over quite a long span of time, and Hamlet is famously noted for his delay.

• Hamlet must act alone, while R&J have each other to lean on and give each other support.

• The main character in Hamlet died in a swordfight, which is considered courageous, masculine and honourable while the main male character in R&J died in a tomb, unaware that he was crying about a lover who is not actually dead.

WRITING IN THE EXAMS

• After making a judgment, provide information about BOTH sides.

• Eg. Horses are more elegant, as a cow has black patches while a horse has sleek brown skin.

• This is how you will phrase your POINT.

• POINT = Judgment + Information from both sides

Question

• Basis of comparison: Evil characteristic“Tybalt is more villainous than Claudius”. Do you agree?

• Example 1:• Tybalt is more villainous that Claudius, as he killed

Mercutio. This can be seen from Tybalt’s action of stabbing Mercutio, who was not even his target in the first place. A villain is someone who is evil and killing a person is an evil act. Hence, Tybalt is more villainous than Claudius.

• COMMENTS ABOUT THE ABOVE EXAMPLE:• Missing information about Claudius’ actions.

One sided evidence.This only shows that Tybalt is villainous, but does not prove that he is MORE villainous than Claudius

• Example 2:• Claudius is more villainous than Tybalt as he killed his own

brother while Tybalt killed someone unrelated to him. This can be seen from Claudius’ action of killing King Hamlet, who is his brother, and Tybalt’s stabbing of Mercutio. Even though both characters are murderers, Claudius appears more villainous as the person he killed is a family member. Murdering a person is already sinful, but murdering your own family member, whom you are supposed to love and be close to, is worse. Hence, Claudius is more villainous than Tybalt.

• Comments about the above example: • Basis of comparison is clear, the focus is on the type of

people they killed. Evidence is provided from both side.