Compare Contrast Poetry Essay Explanations
I expect that you will take what you learned from your previous poetry essay writing
experience and utilize it in this essay. First, take a look at the past AP poetry prompts;
you can model a prompt after these if it helps give you direction. I expect to see 2-3
pages typed, double spaced – due 2/13 (Monday) and 2/14 (Tuesday). Remember, that
if you don’t have your draft that day, I won’t give you an homework check for it, and you
won’t get feedback on your draft from me. The final draft should be in your booklet that
is due on your presentation date.
AP Sample Prompts:
In the two poems below, Keats and Longfellow reflect on similar concerns. Read the
poems carefully. Then write and essay in which you compare and contrast the two poems,
analyzing the poetic techniques each writer uses to explore his particular situation.
The following two poems present animal-eye views of the world. Read each poem
carefully. Then write an essay in which you analyze the techniques used in the poems to
characterize the speakers and convey differing views of the world.
In the following two poems, adults provide explanations for children. Read the poems
carefully. Then write an essay in which you compare and contrast the two poems,
analyzing how each poet uses literary devices to make his point.
Carefully read the two poems below. Then in a well-organized essay compare the
speakers’ reflections on their early morning surroundings and analyze the techniques the
poets use to communicate the speakers’ different states of mind.
The poems below are concerned with darkness and night. Read each poem carefully.
Then, in a well-written essay, compare and contrast the poems, analyzing the significance
of dark or night in each. In your essay, consider elements such as point of view, imagery,
and structure.
These two poems present encounters with nature, but the two poets handle those
encounters very differently. In a well-organized essay, distinguish between the attitudes
(toward nature, toward the solitary individual, etc.) expressed in the poems and discuss
the techniques that the poets use to present these attitudes.
Other things to consider…
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How does the language of the poem reflect the speaker's perceptions, and how
does that language determine the reader's perception?
How does the poet reveal character? (i.e., diction, sound devices, imagery, allusion)
Contrast the speakers' views toward a subject in two poems. Refer to form, tone,
and imagery.
Given two poems, discuss what elements make one better than the other.
Relate the imagery, form, or theme of a particular section of a poem to a part of
another poem. Discuss changing attitude or perception of speaker or reader.
Discuss the poet's changing reaction to the subject developed in the poem.
Faced with a daunting list of seemingly unrelated similarities and differences, you may
feel confused about how to construct a paper that isn't just a mechanical exercise. Your
introduction will include your frame of reference, grounds for comparison, and thesis.
There are two basic ways to organize the body of your paper. Below I have included a
sample outline of each – you do not have to use these outlines.
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In poem-by-poem, you discuss all of A, then all of B, then talk about the
similarities or differences.
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In point-by-point, you alternate points about A with comparable points about B
(usually preferable in this type of essay). Your points might be techniques or
elements listed in the prompts above.
Poem by Poem Outline (better for similarities)
I.
Introduction
 Begin with a sentence that catches the reader’s interest. (A question, something
significant about the poems, or something they both have in common.)
 Name the 2 poems you will be comparing and/or contrasting (include full author names
the first time, thereafter, use last names only).
 Build an idea about these 2 poems that produces your Thesis.
 Make a claim about the 2 poems in your thesis (this should be specific – and, someone
else could argue against you or could have a different perspective on it)
II.
Body Paragraphs
 1stdiscuss the features of one poem (topic sentence)
o Use quotations or paraphrasing to prove your point
o Use as many paragraphs as needed to avoid very long paragraphs – be sure
you have explored your subject thoroughly.
 Transition - 2nd discuss the same features with the next poem (topic sentence)
o Use quotations or paraphrasing to prove your point
 Transition - 3rd discuss how the two are similar or different in what manner and elements
(topic sentence)
o Use quotations or paraphrasing to prove your point
Optional - Counter Argument (and Rebuttal)
 Provide a viewpoint that challenges your thesis. (imagine a skeptical reader reading your
essay - show how different conclusions can be made)
o One might object here that… or, It might seem that… It’s true that…
Admittedly… Of course… But how?… But isn’t this just? … But if this is
so, what about…?
 Then, turn back to your own point of view – disprove the counter-argument.
Acknowledge its validity or plausibility, but suggest why on balance it’s relatively less
important than what you propose.
o But… Yet… However… Nevertheless… Still…
III.
IV.
Conclusion
 Reflect on your thesis and mention your strongest points (in general terms).
Point by Point Outline (better for differences)
I.
Introduction
 Begin with a sentence that catches the reader’s interest. (A question, something
significant about the poems, or something they both have in common.)
 Name the 2 poems you will be comparing and/or contrasting (include full author names
the first time, thereafter, use last names only).
 Build an idea about these 2 poems that produces your thesis.
 Make a claim about the 2 poems in your thesis (this should be specific – and, someone
else could argue against you, or have a differing perspective on.) Include the
points/elements you will compare
II.
Body Paragraphs
 1st Point (topic sentence)
 Discuss the first poem in relation to your point
 Use quotations or paraphrasing to prove your point
 Discuss the second poem in relation to your point
 Use quotations or paraphrasing to prove your point
 Transition - 2nd Point (topic sentence)
 Discuss the first poem in relation to your point
 Use quotations or paraphrasing to prove your point
 Discuss the second poem in relation to your point
 Use quotations or paraphrasing to prove your point
 Transition - 3rd Point (topic sentence)
 Discuss the first poem in relation to your point
 Use quotations or paraphrasing to prove your point
 Discuss the second poem in relation to your point
 Use quotations or paraphrasing to prove your point
III.
Optional - Counter Argument (and Rebuttal)
 Provide a viewpoint that challenges your thesis. (Imagine a skeptical reader reading your
essay - show how different conclusions can be made)
o One might object here that… or, It might seem that… It’s true that…
Admittedly… Of course… But how?… But isn’t this just? … But if this is
so, what about…?
 Then, turn back to your own point of view – disprove the counter-argument.
Acknowledge its validity or plausibility, but suggest why on balance it’s relatively less
important than what you propose.
o But… Yet… However… Nevertheless… Still…
IV.
Conclusion
 Reflect on your thesis and mention your strongest points (in general terms).
Transition Words:
To help your reader keep track of where you are in the comparison/contrast, you'll want
to be sure that your transitions and topic sentences are especially strong. Your thesis
should already have given the reader an idea of the points you'll be making and the
organization you'll be using, but you can help her/him out with some extra cues. The
following words may be helpful to you in signaling your intentions:
like, similar to, also, unlike, similarly, in the same way, likewise, again, compared to, in
contrast, in like manner, contrasted with, on the contrary, however, although, yet, even
though, still, but, nevertheless, conversely, at the same time, regardless, despite, while, on
the one hand … on the other hand, whereas