Comparing Fictional Texts When comparing fiction, readers can ask slightly different questions than when comparing nonfiction. What Are the Stories About? Reflecting on what a story is about includes understanding the main plot and reflecting on all elements of the text's contents. For instance, how many main characters are in each text, and who are they? What is similar and different about the stories' protagonists and antagonists? What themes are present throughout the texts? What is the Style of Each Text? To understand how authors present distinct stories, readers should reflect on each author's unique style. Even if the two texts are by the same author, the elements of style might be different in both texts. Elements of style to consider include the following: Diction (what kind of word choice do the authors use, and how does it impact the stories?) Point of view (are the stories told from the first, second, or third point of view?) Text Structure (are the stories linear or non-linear?) Tone (what are the narrators' attitudes?) Syntax (how do the authors arrange words or phrases?) What are the Themes? One of the most critical steps in analyzing fictional texts is identifying the themes. The theme of a text is the overarching idea that the author explores. The theme is different from the subject because the author's presentation of the subject allows them to explore a broad theme. For example, in Macbeth (1623), William Shakespeare uses the story of a power-hungry leader to examine the theme of ambition. After identifying themes, readers should note if the texts explore similar themes or different ones. How Do the Authors Develop the Themes? There are many literary techniques that authors can use to develop themes. When comparing each text, readers should consider if and how the authors use the following elements to explore overarching ideas: o o o Characters What qualities do the main characters have? What are their dreams? How do they respond to conflict? How do their qualities or actions relate to the text's themes? Main Events What is the main event or conflict in this story? How does it relate to the themes? What message does the turn of events send to the reader? Figurative Language How does the author use figurative language in this story? Do they use devices like symbols, metaphors, or similes to represent a general idea? Once the reader asks the above questions, they should reflect on their answers and identify if the authors use similar approaches to develop their themes or different ones. Comparing Texts With Similar Themes When texts have similar themes, readers should carefully consider how the authors develop their themes. For example, thinks about how many fictional texts explore themes like love, loss, and revenge. Yet no two books are exactly the same. This is because authors use different approaches to their presentation of long-explored concepts. For example, in Romeo and Juliet (1597), Shakespeare explores the theme of love. Shakespeare explores the cruel nature of love through the story of two young teenagers whose love leads them to a tragic fate. Meanwhile, Henrik Ibsen also explored the theme of love in his play A Doll's House (1879), but through a different lens. He used the story of an unequal, unloving marriage contrasted with an authentic, loving relationship to suggest that mutual respect and equality must be present for a truly loving relationship. When comparing these two texts, readers could note how each author presents true love and whether or not these presentations are similar or different. Once they identify those similarities and differences, they should reflect on what that suggests about the theme in general. For instance, a reader might argue that the authors' different presentations of what makes a healthy, loving relationship suggest that healthy relationships differ depending on the context.
