Mr. Davis
English 7: Short Story
Short Story Compare/Contrast Assignment
Comparison/Contrast
Many great stories are interpreted through film. During a comparison/contrast writing
piece, writers note similarities and differences between the adapted film and the original
text.
Guidelines:
Subject: A film version of a short story you enjoy
Form: A comparison
Purpose: to analyze differences between film and story
Audience: Family and classmates
Writing the Compare/Contrast
When Desmond wrote his comparison/contrast of “Lamb to the Slaughter,” he
focused on the following elements:
 MEANING: The first paragraph introduces both versions and describes the
message of the short story and film.
 CHARACTERS: The second paragraph focuses on characterization.
 KEY SCENES: The third paragraph deals with the key scenes included or
excluded. Omissions are parts that have been left out.
 THOUGHTS: The final paragraph tells what Desmond thought of the film
version. Notice, it does not use first person.
You will decide which elements you wish to use for your compare/contrast. It is
highly recommended that you focus on similar elements that are used to create the
film’s meaning.
BEGINNING
The beginning identifies the
director and story and tells
about the meaning of the
story.
MIDDLE
The middle paragraphs
focus on characters and
omissions.
ENDING
The ending reflects on the
viewer’s thoughts.
Both Alfred Hitchcock’s screen interpretation and Roald Dahl’s short story,
“Lamb to the Slaughter” show the terrible outcome of a love gone sour. Whether film
or story, the thrilling interaction between Mary Maloney and her late husband’s
detective coworkers, captures every audience.
Characters in both versions are exciting and useful. Mrs. Maloney, however,
appears to be more diabolical in the film, where as in the story she seemed to just fall
into her evil plot. Her behavior is chilling and real within the movie; the final scene
ends with her chuckling in a frightening manner. The movie made her much more
deliberate in her actions.
Another feature which stood out was the killing scene. While the movie
dramatically showed the final moments of Mr. Maloney’s death, the story built more
suspense. It was more exciting because readers must create the scene in their heads.
Finally, the movie seemed to cut out the conversation between Mary and the grocery
clerk—a crucial piece which the story covered in detail. This part was needed
because it showed how cunning Mary was to go out and talk to others just after the
killing. A film cannot carry every piece of a story; however, this was a piece that
should have remained.
In looking at both, the traditional short story wins but only because it played
to the reader’s ability to visualize. Both versions were exciting and frightening, but
nothing can compare to the original story.
Mr. Davis
English 7: Short Story
Short Story Compare/Contrast Assignment
RESPONDING TO THE READING. Go back and view the film on your own. Think
about how Desmond uses the following traits in his comparison/contrast; then answer the
questions that follow each trait.
 Ideas (1) What did Desmond notice about the film that you did not?
Explain
 Organization (2) What is the main purpose for each of the paragraphs
in Desmond’s review?
 Voice and Word Choice (3) What words show Desmond’s feelings
about this poem? What transitions were used between ideas or
paragraphs?
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PREWRITING: RE-VIEWING THE FILM
Tonight, go back and view the film again. You may find this through YouTube-just
search for a version of the film. Try to find the same one we viewed in class, but other
versions may work as well. Take careful notes for yourself in the four main categories:
MEANING:
CHARACTERS:
KEY SCENES: Omissions are parts that have been left out.
THOUGHTS:
Mr. Davis
English 7: Short Story
Short Story Compare/Contrast Assignment
I. PREWRITING: Understanding a Short Story
The first step to understanding a story is reading it--again. Read your story quickly,
scanning for the most crucial parts of the plot, and then consider the questions below.
Meaning: stories are full of meaning. To understand the meaning of your story, ask
yourself the following questions:
 (1). What is the overall message of the story?
 (2). How do characters contribute to the meaning?
 (3). As a viewer, which version (film or story) was better at conveying the
meaning?
Characters: stories contain characters. Ask yourself the following questions to focus on
characters:
 (4). Which characters seemed to be most important?
 (5). Were the actors appropriately chosen for the characters?
Key Scenes: Focus on the key scenes of the film:
 (6). What key scenes needed to be in the film to make it accurate?
 (7). How well were those scenes interpreted?
Thoughts: (8). How did you feel about the overall interpretation of the film? Was it
effective? Entertaining? Was it a bore? Why?
II. WRITING: Creating Your First Draft
With your prewriting in hand, you are ready to write the first draft of your
compare/contrast. Take it one paragraph at a time.
 BEGINNING PARAGRAPH: In your first paragraph, name the story (in
quotation marks) and the author as well as the film director. Then summarize
the story’s meaning by using information you have already gathered. End
with a statement that sums up how you feel about the story based on your
response to question 3.
 MIDDLE PARAGRAPHS: Use questions 4-7 to write the middle
paragraphs of your review. In the first middle paragraph, describe the
characters of the film. In the second middle paragraph, focus on the key
scenes and omissions.
 ENDING PARAGRAPH: In your last paragraph, explain your feelings about
the film interpretation. Leave your reader with a decisive choice as to which
was better. AVOID FIRST PERSON PRONOUNS.
III. REVISING Your First Draft
Begin the revision process with the standard CIRCLE, SLASH, and COMBINE
before focusing on these more specific guiding questions with a peer reviser.
 BEGINNING PARAGRAPH:
o Does the writer introduce both the director and the author?
o Is the title of the story in quotation marks?
o Does the writer clearly identify the meaning of the story and explain
how they feel?
Mr. Davis
English 7: Short Story
Short Story Compare/Contrast Assignment
 MIDDLE PARAGRAPHS:
o Are characters clearly described? Could you suggest any stronger
adjectives to make them clearer?
o Focus on the key scenes paragraph (paragraph three). Does the writer
thoroughly explain which scenes were needed? Can you offer any
suggestions?
 ENDING PARAGRAPH:
o Search for personal pronouns (I, me, my, our, etc.) and DESTROY!
o Read the final sentences: does it leave the reader with a definite
opinion of the story? Offer feedback as needed.
IV. EDITING YOUR Draft
Scan your paper and three other papers for glaring surface errors. Be tenacious
with your scanning to ensure you don’t commit one of the fatal errors:
 Spelling: check that all words are spelled correctly.
 Punctuation-beware of COMMA SPLICES, and pay particular attention to
the need for end punctuation.
 Personal Pronouns-keep the voice of your speaker to a third person
perspective. Avoid using PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
 Note SENTENCE STARTERS: make sure sentences begin in different
ways.
 USE A TOOLBOX STRATEGY: This will be highlighted on your draft:
o Adjectives out of order