This document provides 8 pairs of discussion prompts comparing themes across 16 different literary texts. The prompts ask students to analyze how the paired texts explore similar topics such as seeking self-discovery, the relationship between individuals and their environment, opportunities for change, the effects of secrets, rewriting history, feelings of belonging, issues of fairness and justice, gender inequality, and commitment to a cause.

1. Pair1 Tracks by RobynDavidsonandInto the WilddirectedbySeanPen
Compare the waysin whichcharacters inTracks andInto the Wild seek todiscoverwhatreally
mattersto them.
Compare how, inTracks and Intothe Wild, the natural environmentisbothwelcomingandhostile
Pair2 InvictusdirectedbyClintEastwoodandRansombyDavidMalouf
‘Revenge isfutile. Forgiveness isliberating.’ Compare how the twotextsexamine revengeand
forgiveness.
“The opportunity toact for ourselves. Totry somethingthatmightforceeventsintoadifferent
course.”(Ransom) Compare thewaysthe two textsexplore opportunities forchange.
Pair3 StasilandbyAnnaFunderandNineteenEighty-FourbyGeorge Orwell
“People were crazy withpainand secrets.”(Stasiland) “…if youwanttokeepa secretyoumust also
hide itfromyourself.”(NineteenEighty-Four) Compare how secretsaffectthe charactersinthese
texts.
Compare the waysthe two textsshow thatin orderto retainpowerauthorities rewrite history
Pair4 Joyful Strains:MakingAustraliaHome byKentMacCarter and Ali Lemer(eds),and The
Namesake byJhumpaLahir
‘It ispossible toneverfeel completely athome ina new country.’ Compare how these twotexts
examine thispossibility.
‘For many migrantfamilies, itisthe desires andexperiences of previous generations thatshape their
own.’ Compare how thisideaisexplored inthese texts.
Pair5 The Crucible byArthurMillerandYear of Wonders:A Novel of the Plague byGeraldine Brook
Compare how The Crucible andYear of Wondersexplore issuesof victimisation andblame
‘Ordinary people sometimes make extraordinary sacrifices forothers.’ Compare how thisideais
demonstrated inthese texts.

2. Pair6 Bombshells byJoannaMurray-SmithandThe Penelopiad:The Mythof Penelopeand
OdysseusbyMargaret Atwood
Compare the waysthat womenview otherwomeninbothBombshellsandThe Penelopiad.
Compare what the two texts say about individuals finding their
own solutions to life’s challenges.
Pair7 Black DiggersbyTom Wrightand The LongestMemorybyFred D’Aguiar
“The properwordisfair.” (The LongestMemory) “…I wishtopointout the gross injustice …” (Black
Diggers) Compare whatthese textssay aboutfairness andjustice.
Compare how these textsexplore the importanceof belonging.
Pair8 I Am Malala: The Girl WhoStood Up for EducationandWas Shot bythe Talibanby Malala
Yousafzai withChristinaLamb,andMade inDagenhamdirectedbyNigel Cole
Compare how the issue of genderinequality isexploredinthe twotexts.
‘Power comes fromunity and persistence.’ Compare how the issueof commitmenttoa cause is
presented inthe twotexts.