4.4 Compare and Contrast
4.4 Compare and Contrast
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Compare and contrast the structure, content and theme of the two poems
Compare and contrast the structure, content and theme of the two poems
Have you ever noticed that different poems can talk about the same things, but in their own special and unique ways?
Imagine seeing two different paintings of a beautiful sunset – they might use different colours and brushstrokes, but they both show us how wonderful the sunset is. Likewise, when we read and compare the poems, they might talk about similar topics. However, the poets can show us what they think and feel in their own unique ways.
In this lesson, let's find out how comparing and contrasting poems can help us learn and enjoy the different ways poets share their thoughts and feelings.
When we compare the poems, we can see how they are alike or similar.
We analyse how two or more poems share a common theme, structure or content.
Keywords Used to Compare
When we contrast the poems, we can see how they are different.
We analyse how two or more poems have a different theme, structure or content.
Keywords Used to Contrast
When we read and compare poems, we learn more about a specific topic or theme and find new words connected to it.
When we compare and contrast poems, we can see how they are alike and different.
This helps us understand the big ideas they want to tell us.
To find the similarities and differences, you need to look for specific details (textual evidence) in the poems that support your comparisons and contrasts.
These can be as follows:
What the poems are about (main idea), how they use words (language), how they are organised (structure and form), and how they connect ideas (making connections).
Let us look closely at these aspects of poems.
1. Main Idea
Compare: What important ideas do the poems talk about? Are there any common messages?
For instance: Imagine two poems about friendship. One might talk about how friends help each other during hard times, while the other might talk about the fun adventures friends have together. Both poems teach us that friends are there for each other.
Contrast: Do the poems have different special ideas that stand out? OR How do the poems present the same theme in different ways?
For instance: One poem might focus on how friends listen and support each other, showing that friendship is about understanding. The other poem might talk about how friends laugh and share, showing that friendship is about having fun together. These poems have different ways to tell us about friendship, even though they both are talking about the same thing.
2. Language
Compare: Do both the poems use the words that are too easy (literal), or a bit tricky (figurative)?
Contrast: Notice the differences in how the poems use figurative language to create vivid pictures in your imagination.
For instance: Do some words in one poem create pictures in your head, like saying "the sun is a golden blanket," while the other poem just says "the sun is bright"?
3. Structure
Compare: Identify if both the poems are set up in a special and organised way. Do the poems have stanzas, rhyming words, or the same rhyme scheme?
Contrast: Are the poems set up differently? Do the poems lack words that rhyme, or do they have different rhyme schemes?
Watch the given video to understand how to identify the rhyme scheme in a poem.
(vid 4.1: Rhyme Scheme)
4. Form of Poetry
Compare: Do both the poems use the same poetry forms, such as sonnets, free verse, haiku, etc.?
Contrast: Do they have different poetry forms? How does the structure affect the reading process and the meaning being communicated?
5. Making Connections
Compare: How does the poem make you feel? Does the poem remind you of something?
Contrast: Do the poems remind you of different experiences or memories?
Summary:
Summary:
When we integrate ideas from different poems, we learn more about a topic, and vocabulary about the theme related to it. For example, the common theme of the poem is the nature of change, growth and resilience.
When comparing and contrasting two poems, we may keep the points of comparison in mind:
Main Idea: Identify what the poems are mainly about.
Language: Analyse the language used in both poems. Is the language literal or does it use figurative language?
Structure: Analyse the rhyme scheme of the poem.
Form of Poetry: Do they both use the same poetry forms, such as sonnets, free verse, and haiku, or do they have different styles? How does the structure affect the reading process and the meaning being communicated?
Making Connections: How does the poem make you feel? Did the poem remind you of something?
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