Literature ‘Comparison’ Question - 10 Marks

What is the question all about?

In the exam you will be asked to compare a description of a modern view of one of the five themes from the literature unit with a classical text or texts you have studied for 10 marks. One of these questions will also appear in the Classical society paper and the process for answering both questions is very similar. What this means is that you will have to identify four points from the source that you can compare for similarities and differences between the modern world and the text.

What marks are available?

The question is worth 10 marks. This is subdivided as follows.

• Comparisons of similarities and differences = 8 marks. You can gain two marks for each relevant point you highlight from the source and then make a detailed comparison with your text.

• Conclusion = 2 marks. These marks are awarded for making an overall relative judgment. The easiest way to do this is to state if there are more differences than similarities and then to describe them again. If you don’t have this relative judgment and only repeat your points again, you’ll only get one mark.

What does the question look like?

Let’s walk you through an example question and I’ll show you how to answer one of these questions and I’ll make comments on my thinking as we go through it. Below is a typical example of what one of these questions looks like.

Source A is from a modern writer discussing conflict.

Conflict can occur whenever there is disagreement such as a clash of ideas, opinions, customs or personalities. Conflict can take place between individuals, groups of people or even different countries. It can appear within families and in society at large. Conflict can sometimes be a good thing as it can lead to change and improvement if the conflict is resolved. The best way to resolve conflict is through communication. If opposing sides can express their concerns whilst listening to the concerns of others they may reach a better understanding and recognise the need to compromise. Sometimes it helps to involve others in the dispute. Sometimes attempts to resolve conflict do not work. If no solution is found both sides can become more convinced of their own ideas and this often leads to undesirable consequences. If conflict gets out of control it can often lead to violence.

1. Compare this modern view of conflict to views of conflict in any classical text(s) you have studied.

Refer to the source and your own knowledge, and come to an overall conclusion about similarities and differences.

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What do I do?

The first thing to do is read the source and decide which parts describing the theme are similar and different to texts you have studied. In this example you’re being asked to compare a modern view on conflict with a text (s) you have studied. I’ve studied Antigone so I’m going to compare the views on the theme within the source to my understanding of that text. So here goes.

Step 1:

I’ve read the source and highlighted the areas I’m going to compare. Points of difference are in bold while points of similarity are underlined

Conflict can occur whenever there is disagreement such as a clash of ideas, opinions, customs or personalities. Conflict can take place between individuals, groups of people or even different countries. It can appear within families and in society at large. Conflict can sometimes be a good thing as it can lead to change and improvement if the conflict is resolved. The best way to resolve conflict is through communication. If opposing sides can express their concerns whilst listening to the concerns of others they may reach a better understanding and recognise the need to compromise. Sometimes it helps to involve others in the dispute. Sometimes attempts to resolve conflict do not work. If no solution is found both sides can become more convinced of their own ideas and this often leads to undesirable consequences. If conflict gets out of control it can often lead to violence.

Step 2:

Now I need to make my detailed comparisons. Remember I need to make four comparisons worth two marks each. The most straightforward way to do this is to either quote from the source or paraphrase it and then make the comparison: SOURCE + DETAILED COMPARE. If you don’t do this and only compare with one simple point, you will only get one mark and have to do this 8 times and you’re unlikely to be able to find that many points in the source.

Here goes:

1. “The source states that conflict can occur whenever there is a clash of ideas, opinions, customs and personalities. This is similar to Antigone where the eponymous character ideologically clashes with Creon who is her uncle, guardian and king over the treatment of her dead brother Polyneices. Antigone takes the view that the customs and and traditions of the gods demand that her brother receives proper funeral rites and that it is her duty as a woman to carry these out. This brings her into direct conflict with Creon who is adamant that the laws of men, and his law in particular that the body should be left to rot in shame, should take precedence for the people of Thebes.” 2 marks

2. “The source also claims that conflict can appear within families and in society at large. This is similar to Antigone and conflict can be seen right at the start of the play when Antigone and Ismene quarrel outside the palace. Antigone believes that the girls should honour their dead brother regardless of his actions while Ismene believes they should obey Creon their uncle and ruler. This is a conflict of family loyalties but it is also an example of a societal conflict in that it concerns the role that women play. The girls are torn between honouring the gods and their traditional customs and obeying the word of their male guardian which was absolutely expected of Athenian women.” 2 marks

3. “The source says conflict can be a good thing as it can lead to change and improvement if the conflict is resolved. This is very different from Antigone as both Antigone and Creon become more entrenched as the play progresses with neither willing to budge from their extreme positions despite the interventions of Ismene, Haemon Teiresias, all of whom try to talk them into more moderate positions. These have no positive effect and the resolution of the conflict ultimately leads to the destruction of Creon’s family as Antigone, Haemon and Eurydice all die. Creon’s insistence on following his own laws lead to a tragic outcome for all.” 2 marks

4. “The source states that if opposing sides can express their concerns whilst listening to the concerns of others they may reach a better understanding and recognise the need to compromise. This is very different to the actions of Creon and Antigone. Antigone rejoices in her defiance of her uncle, even though his initial proclamation about her brother was designed to keep the city safe. Her public defiance of him gives him no real opportunity to back down. For his part, Creon is obsessed with the idea that he will be unmanned by being bested by Antigone, a mere woman and his own ward and refuses to listen to Antigone’s arguments about observing traditional customs. Neither is willing to listen to the other’s genuine concerns." 2 marks

So is the above any good? Well, four relevant points from the source have been identified and then a detailed comparison of conflict within the text of Antigone has been made for each.

Step 3

Now we need to make our overall relative judgment as a conclusion. As previously mentioned, the easiest way to do this is to state whether there are more similarities than differences or vice versa and then summarise your points. Here goes:

“Overall, there are the same number of differences regarding modern conflict and that found in Antigone as similarities. 1 mark relative judgment. The similarities are that the clash between Antigone and Creon just like many modern conflicts is an ideological one and that the fight between Antigone and Ismene is definitely a family conflict but also a broader one regarding the position of women in society. The differences are that in that none of the characters listen to each other respectfully as a way of resolving conflict and the conflict only leads to tragedy rather than a positive outcome.” 1 mark summary.