Compare/contrast the element of community in the following pieces of literature,
drawing evidence from both literary and informational texts to support your analysis.
Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Brave New World
Beowulf pg. 39
Canterbury Tales
pg. 90
Macbeth page 314
Find in your notebook the following. Review this material to determine your thesis, which frames this literary
analysis compare/contrast essay.
-The white stapled Tenets of Belief packet
-The BLUE Beowulf handouts, including “Elements of
the Epic Hero” for ideas on the epic hero, who
represents the Anglo-Saxon community beliefs.
-The GOLDENROD Canterbury Tales character sheet.
These characters represent the whole of this 14th
century English community.
-The PINK Tragedy of Macbeth information. This
tragic hero represents medieval values.
-The IVORY Brave New World material. What is
Aldous Huxley’s message in this novel, which was
published in 1932?
What is your thesis? It should address the prompt above (bolded on the top of this page):
Idea: Each presents a message to the reader …. Theme of good versus evil. Idea of karma. How these pieces of
literature reflect the values of the time. Last sentence of intro paragraph. Intro itself: general idea of literature over
the time (from Anglo Saxon to modern – British Literature).
Although the literature reflects the values of different time periods, it reveals ….
Opening/topic sentence for first body paragraph, using title(s) and author(s) of the literature:
B
Opening/topic sentence for second body paragraph, using title(s) and author(s) of the literature:
Other opening/topic sentences:
Idea of conclusion:
1. If you use a separate body paragraph for each piece of literature (contrast), your conclusion is how they’re the
same (comparison). Theme.
2. If you use two body paragraphs/sections (one for good, one for evil), an idea: karma/message to a modern
reader. No “I, you.”
BRITISH literature.
Citing lines: B and CT use (line number)
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
Important ideas from
page number of quote(s) of support/paraphrased support
Beowulf text
Remember that the character’s name is
not italicized, but the name of the
literature is. Of course you will underline
titles in your writing.
Beowulf Tenets of Belief
Macbeth use (act.scene.line)
Represents the ultimate hero of Anglo Saxon community. The epic poem
consists of pagan and Christian elements that appealed to the Anglo Saxon
audience. God protects Beowulf and Hrothgar. Beowulf represents classic
theme of good versus evil (Grendel, dragon).
3 basic tenets of Anglo Saxon beliefs: 1. Evil in the world, 2. Belief in the power of fate,
3. Resignation to the certainty of death. Illustrates Germanic code: strength, courage,
loyalty, hospitality, generosity and political skills for king, good reputation. Christianity:
glory lies in afterlife. Value of growing Christianity versus paganism. HOW?
Community: all come from different levels of society. Church corrupt as a
whole, but parson represents the good/hope/potential. Shows that one part
of the community can affect the whole: look at group of positive + group of
negative characters. HOW? Use paraphrased and/or quotes of support.
The Canterbury Tales text
The Canterbury Tales Tenets of Belief
Corruption of the church, moral language versus action of character,
virtues and sin. Church dominated life. Narrator uses satire as a
commentary on the time. Use of a journey to Canterbury Cathedral to
show the different personalities, each of whom represents the whole.
Themes of guilt, karma, temptation, overcoming power. Respect higher order or
suffer the consequences. Illustrates excessive ambition (“vaulting ambition” –
Remember that the character’s name is
cite the line). Guilt: Macbeth suffers after the regicide (2.2.40-43). Macduff and
not italicized, but the name of the
Bring the
essay tofeels
closure
Malcolm: how good overcomes the evil of Macbeth. (Tragedy:
audience
pity
literature is. Of course you will underline
A
logical
conclusion
would
and
fear?)
titles in your writing.
be the idea of theme,
to a modern
about ultimate
downfall
Macbeth Tenets of Belief Excessive ambition will have terrible consequences and will bringmessage
reader.ofConcluding
ideas:
(guilt). Citizens of the time were morally obliged to respect the power
the king and
to
stand by God. Elizabethan Great Chain of Being: ordered system in nature and humankind,
every creature had an allotted place. Disorder in one area reflected in all others.
Macbeth text (Think catalyst!)
BNW text
“Wouldn’t you like to be free to be happy in our own way… not in everybody else’s way?” (91). Loss of
morals, technology making society move away from humanity as seen in (paraphrase the examples:
castes, Bokanovskification/clones, conditioning/examples, World State to supersede family structure,
Ford as their god, soma, Solidarity Service. Novel is set in the PAST; how do things change? SATIRE
BNW Tenets of Belief
Indirect view of the present. Hedonistic: seeking pleasure. Purpose and concept of
God. How many people would miss freedom, individuality, truth, beauty, a sense of
purpose, and the concept of God? Author’s purpose – challenging readers with that
question. Written in 1931: American Capitalism, Ford’s assembly line production
technique, rise of Nazism, Socialism, Marxism, Totalitarianism, Nationalism;
technology: radio.
Compare/contrast the
elements of community
in this British literature:
Beowulf
The Canterbury Tales
How alike?
How different?
With regard to
Patterns of significant similarities and differences:
Conclusion/interpretation/themes:
The Tragedy of Macbeth
Brave New World
Remember: NO 1st or 2nd person.
Use present tense for literature.