Comparison Skills
The Comparison Task
In the Edexcel English Literature exam, you will be given one named poem from the Conflict anthology, printed in the exam booklet. You must compare it with one other poem of your choice from the same anthology. The question will focus on a theme (e.g. “the effects of conflict” or “attitudes towards war”) and you must discuss how both poets present that theme. The question is worth 20 marks, split across AO2 (language, form and structure — 15 marks) and AO3 (context — 5 marks).
The marks are weighted: AO2 = 15 marks (analyse the effects of language, form and structure using relevant subject terminology) and AO3 = 5 marks (show understanding of the relationships between texts and the contexts in which they were written). This means your analysis of how the poets write must be the main focus, with context woven in — not the other way around.
Choosing Your Comparison Poem
The named poem is printed — you can refer to it directly. Your chosen poem must be recalled from memory. This means you should:
- Know 4–5 poems extremely well — not just themes but specific quotations, techniques and contextual details. Trying to learn all 15 is unrealistic under exam pressure.
- Choose flexible poems that can be compared to many different themes. Exposure (Owen) works for: futility of war, nature’s power, the soldier’s experience, suffering. Half-caste (Agard) works for: identity, resistance, language as weapon, social conflict.
- Choose poems with rich AO2 content — poems where form and language are distinctive and analysable. Belfast Confetti (punctuation metaphor), A Poison Tree (extended allegory), Cousin Kate (ballad form + possessive similes) are all excellent choices.
War & the soldier: Exposure + Charge of the Light Brigade + The Man He Killed
Impact on civilians: Poppies + What Were They Like? + War Photographer
Social conflict & identity: Half-caste + The Class Game + No Problem
Inner conflict: A Poison Tree + The Prelude + Cousin Kate + Catrin
Destruction: Sennacherib + Belfast Confetti + Exposure
You do not have to stay within these clusters. An unexpected comparison (e.g. Catrin + Exposure — both about endurance and emotional suffering) can demonstrate sophisticated thinking.
Structuring Your Response
You have approximately 35–40 minutes for this question. Spend 5 minutes planning and 30–35 minutes writing. A strong response has 4–5 comparative paragraphs, each one comparing a specific aspect of both poems.
Use a comparative paragraph structure: make a point about both poems in every paragraph. Do NOT write about Poem A for three paragraphs and then Poem B for three paragraphs — this is a common mistake that loses marks because there is no sustained comparison. Instead, every paragraph should contain analysis of both poems, linked by comparison connectives.
Writing a Comparative Paragraph
Here is a model structure for one paragraph:
- Opening statement — identify a shared theme or contrasting approach. E.g. “Both Owen and Tennyson present the reality of soldiers facing death, but while Tennyson celebrates their heroic obedience, Owen exposes the futility of their suffering.”
- Named poem analysis (AO2) — Quote from the named poem (it’s in front of you) and analyse the technique and its effect. E.g. “Tennyson’s dactylic rhythm in ‘Half a league, half a league, half a league onward’ mimics thundering hooves, creating a heroic momentum that propels the reader into battle alongside the soldiers.”
- Comparison connective — Use phrases like “In contrast,” “Similarly,” “However,” “While both poets…” to link to your chosen poem.
- Chosen poem analysis (AO2) — Quote from memory and analyse. E.g. “In contrast, Owen’s half-rhymes in Exposure (‘knive us / nervous’) deny the reader satisfying resolution, reflecting the soldiers’ own denied expectations of heroism.”
- Context (AO3) — Link to the poets’ contexts. E.g. “This difference reflects their contexts: Tennyson responded to a newspaper report as an outsider celebrating patriotism, while Owen wrote from first-hand trench experience, determined to expose what he called ‘the old Lie.’”
1. Writing about poems separately. Do not write three paragraphs on the named poem then three on your chosen poem. This is not a comparison — it’s two separate essays. Every paragraph must discuss both.
2. Feature-spotting without analysis. Identifying “Tennyson uses repetition” is not enough. You must explain the effect: “The anaphora of ‘Cannon to right / left / front’ surrounds the reader with danger, creating an immersive sense of being trapped.”
3. Context as a separate section. Do not bolt context onto the end. Weave it into your analysis: “Owen, drawing on his first-hand experience of the trenches, uses the refrain ‘But nothing happens’ to convey…”
4. Retelling the poem. The reader already knows what happens. Focus on how and why, not what.
Useful Comparison Connectives
Similarity: “Similarly,” “Likewise,” “In the same way,” “Both poets…” “Echoing this idea,” “This is also evident in…”
Difference: “In contrast,” “However,” “Conversely,” “While [Poet A]…, [Poet B]…,” “On the other hand,” “Whereas…”
Nuance: “Although both poets…, [Poet A] focuses on… while [Poet B] emphasises…,” “To some extent…, however…”