This document discusses comparing items by identifying similarities and differences. It provides examples of comparing two plays, Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet. Similarities include both being tragedies where the main characters suffer from flaws leading to death. Differences include Romeo and Juliet moving quickly while Hamlet takes place over a long period, and Hamlet acting alone while Romeo and Juliet support each other. The document also provides guidance on writing comparison questions for exams by presenting judgments supported with evidence from both sides.

1. Learning to Compare

2. Compare these 2 items – pick out
similarities and differences.

3. Understanding comparisons…
• Whenever you compare, you need to have a basis
for comparison.
• Definition of ‘basis for comparison’:
– The criteria to compare the 2 (or more) items
– WHAT are you comparing
• For example:
On a tree, the leaves are green
and the trunk is brown.
– Basis for comparison: COLOUR

4. Comparing 2 plays…

5. SIMILARITIES
• They are both tragedies, which means that the
main characters suffer from flaws in their own
natures which lead to their deaths.
• They both involve main characters who feel
estranged from their parents and need to make
choices and act on their own, in secret.
• The opening scenes of the play offer the main
characters a cause to take a life-changing action
(R&J must go against their families and marry in
secret, Hamlet is challenged to avenge his father's
murder).
• Both plays suffer a tragic ending where many
characters end up dead

6. DIFFERENCES
• Romeo and Juliet moves very quickly through a short
time span, which emphasizes the hasty actions of
R&J. Hamlet takes place over quite a long span of
time, and Hamlet is famously noted for his delay.
• Hamlet must act alone, while R&J have each other to
lean on and give each other support.
• The main character in Hamlet died in a swordfight,
which is considered courageous, masculine and
honourable while the main male character in R&J died
in a tomb, unaware that he was crying about a lover
who is not actually dead.

7. WRITING IN THE EXAMS
• After making a judgment, provide information
about BOTH sides.
• Eg. Horses are more elegant, as a cow has black
patches while a horse has sleek brown skin.
• This is how you will phrase your POINT.
• POINT = Judgment + Information from both
sides

8. Question
• Basis of comparison: Evil characteristic
“Tybalt is more villainous than Claudius”. Do
you agree?

9. • Example 1:
• Tybalt is more villainous that Claudius, as he killed
Mercutio. This can be seen from Tybalt’s action of
stabbing Mercutio, who was not even his target in
the first place. A villain is someone who is evil and
killing a person is an evil act. Hence, Tybalt is more
villainous than Claudius.
• COMMENTS ABOUT THE ABOVE EXAMPLE:
• Missing information about Claudius’ actions.
One sided evidence.
This only shows that Tybalt is villainous, but does
not prove that he is MORE villainous than Claudius

10. • Example 2:
• Claudius is more villainous than Tybalt as he killed his
own brother while Tybalt killed someone unrelated to
him. This can be seen from Claudius’ action of killing
King Hamlet, who is his brother, and Tybalt’s stabbing
of Mercutio. Even though both characters are
murderers, Claudius appears more villainous as the
person he killed is a family member. Murdering a
person is already sinful, but murdering your own family
member, whom you are supposed to love and be close
to, is worse. Hence, Claudius is more villainous than
Tybalt.
• Comments about the above example:
• Basis of comparison is clear, the focus is on the type of
people they killed. Evidence is provided from both side.