12.11: Essay Type - Comparing and Contrasting Literature
- Page ID
- 40511
Compare and Contrast Essay Basics
The Compare and Contrast Essay is a literary analysis essay, but, instead of examining one work, it examines two or more works. These works must be united by a common theme or thesis statement. For example, while a literary analysis essay might explore the significance of ghosts in William Shakespeare's Hamlet, a compare/contrast essay might explore the significance of the supernatural in Hamlet and Macbeth.
Literary Analysis Thesis Statement:
While Horatio seems to think the ghost of Old Hamlet is a demon trying to lead Hamlet to death, and Gertrude and Claudius think it is a figment of Hamlet's insanity, Hamlet's status as an unreliable narrator and the ghost actually symbolizes the oppression of Catholics during Shakespeare's time period.
Compare and Contrast Thesis Statement:
The unreliable narrators paired with the ghosts in both Hamlet and Macbeth symbolize the oppression of Catholics in Shakespeare's time period.
Essay Genre Expectations
- Tone: formal, scholarly
- Use first-person pronouns sparingly (you, me, we, our)
- Avoid colloquialisms
- Spell out contractions
- Use subject-specific terminology, such as naming literary devices
- Texts: two or more
- Avoid summary. Aim for analysis and interpretation
- MLA formatting and citations
Organization
While the literary analysis essay follows a fairly simple argumentative essay structure, the compare and contrast essay is slightly more complicated. It might be arranged by:
- Literary Work
- Alternating literary works
- Topic/subtopics
In general, ensure each paragraph works to support the thesis statement, and that both works receive equal attention.
One Option for Organization
- Introduction
- Background of topic
- Background of works related to topic
- Thesis Statement
- Body paragraph 1
- Topic sentence
- Summary of Text 1
- Summary of Text 2
- Explanation of unifying theme for both texts
- Body paragraphs
- Topic sentence
- Introduction of evidence
- Evidence
- Explanation of evidence
- Analysis of evidence
- Conclusion
- Restatement of thesis in new words
- Summary of essay arguments
- Take-away