Examples of Compare/Contrast using The Phantom of the Opera
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When picking a subject, be specific don’t
just write “Character” “Conflict” or “Theme”
 Character The Outcast/Noble Savage (Phantom
vs. creature)
 Theme Danger of Obsession
(Phantom/Christine, Frankenstein/Knowledge)
 Conflict Man vs. Society (Phantom/Paris,
creature/humanity)
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Make your thesis specific!
Answer the question: What is the
author/director’s message about your topic?
Direct your reader to your body paragraphs
The 2005 film of The Phantom of the Opera and
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein both depict creatures
outcast from society because of their outward
appearance. While Shelley’s creature tragically
finds no sympathy in an uncaring humanity, the
“opera ghost” is ultimately redeemed through the
love he observes in others. Despite their
differences, the author and director both seek to
warn the audience of the vengeful and violent
tendencies of the archetypical “outcast.”
Shelley’s gothic novel Frankenstein and the
2005 film Phantom of the Opera share the
theme that obsession can be dangerous. While
Frankenstein is obsessed with scientific
achievement and the Phantom is obsessed with
the innocence and beauty of a young opera
singer, both obsessions lead to destruction of
the world and people they love.
The phantom from the 2005 film The Phantom
of the Opera and the creation from Mary
Shelley’s Frankenstein both react violently
when society outcasts them for their grotesque
outward appearances. The creation is more of a
victim to society’s cruel actions, while the
phantom manipulates and controls the society
that rejected him.
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Don’t use quotes to explain the plot
Don’t use scenes to explain the plot
Choosing good specific evidence will make
you more likely to provide good analysis
Make sure you choose evidence that will
prove authorial/directorial intensions
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Ch. 16 (Frankenstein)
 “finding myself unsympathised with, wished to…spread
havoc and destruction..”
 Explain: The creation, finding no reason to follow the
moral code of the humanity that rejected him, desired to
destroy it.
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The Pastoral Ballet v. Phantom’s solitude (PotO)
 The phantom observes an audience watching the beautiful
and light pastoral ballet from a dark and small room alone.
 Explain: The phantom is not invited to join the audience or
the society in enjoying beauty and innocence; therefore
disrupts the innocence of the ballet with a violent murder.
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Ch. 24 (Frankenstein)
 “I was cursed by some devil and carried with me
eternal hell”
 Explain: Victor does not learn from his obsession,
instead lets it consume him and ultimately leads to his
own demise.
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The music monkey (PotO)
 In our last glimpse of the phantom, he is seen singing
with a musical box, clapping childishly along.
 Explain: The phantom lets go of his obsession and we
see him return to the innocence of a child, reclaiming
his humanity.
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Serves as your concluding sentence to each
paragraph
Look at all of your evidence
 What are the patterns?
 What are the director/author saying because of
similarities?
 What are the director/author saying because of
the differences?

Ch. 16 (Frankenstein)
 “finding myself unsympathised with, wished to…spread
havoc and destruction..”
 Explain: The creation, finding no reason to follow the
moral code of the humanity that rejected him, desired to
destroy it.

The Pastoral Ballet v. Phantom’s solitude (PotO)
 The phantom observes an audience watching the beautiful
and light pastoral ballet from a dark and small room alone.
 Explain: The phantom is not invited to join the audience or
the society in enjoying beauty and innocence; therefore
disrupts the innocence of the ballet with a violent murder.
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Shelley and Schumacher both depict the
outcast as a dangerous force. The rejection
and hate the outcast feels from society are
destined to be turned back toward that
society, possibly in violence or destruction.
Shelley and Schumacher’s warning expresses
that if society would be more accepting of
those that are different, this destruction
could be avoided.
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Ch. 24 (Frankenstein)
 “I was cursed by some devil and carried with me
eternal hell”
 Explain: Victor does not learn from his obsession,
instead lets it consume him and ultimately leads to his
own demise.

The music monkey (PotO)
 In our last glimpse of the phantom, he is seen singing
with a musical box, clapping childishly along.
 Explain: The phantom lets go of his obsession and we
see him return to the innocence of a child, reclaiming
his humanity.
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Although the fate of both Victor and the
phantom are tragic, the phantom is afforded
a more honorable ending. Because the
phantom lets go of his obsession, he
becomes a more sympathetic character than
Victor. Shelley’s Victor is relentless in his
obsession to show his complete decay, while
the phantom is ultimately saved from this
decay and afforded the innocence Victor
could never find.
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We’re doing this crud together!!
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Centered, top, 12 pt, Times New Roman:
Works Cited
 DO NOT UNDERLINE OR BOLD
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Make sure it is double spaced and press enter
ONCE
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For Frankenstein (exactly like this)
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Barnes
& Noble Books, 2003. Print
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For movie:
Director Last Name, Director First Name. Title
of Film. Production Company Name, Year. Film.
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Example:
Lucas, George, dir. Star Wars: A New Hope.
Twentieth Century Fox, 1977. Film.
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Alphabetize by director/author last name
Indent all but the first line
 View Ruler
 Highlight titles
 Pull bottom (box) one inch over
 Pull top (downward triangle) back to line up with
page
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Frankenstein
 If you have a book (Author pg. #)
▪ According to Shelley “the creature was sad” (Shelley 15).
 If you are doing online (Author Ch. #)
▪ Shelley showed “the creature’s misery” (Shelley Ch. 10).
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Film (Director’s last name)
 Lucas uses lighting and shadow to depict light and
dark.