Writing a response
When you have settled on a suitable poem, you should note down a variety of links between the poems. The key thing to do when comparing poems is to note the points where they are similar and the points where they differ.
When writing an essay comparing your two poems you should consider the points below.
Essay-writing tips
A good approach to begin with is to highlight any key terms which stand out for you.
In the sample question the key term you must think about is ‘childhood identity’.
Make sure you use the key term frequently throughout your essay.
Begin by introducing both poems, giving a brief overview of their main subject or message. You MUST refer to the key term in your introduction.
You will be expected to compare and contrast the poets’ use of features such as theme, formSome poems adopt specific 'forms'. For example, they could be sonnets or narrative poems. Many don’t have an identifiable form., structureThe way the poet has organised the poem on the page eg number of stanzas, lines per stanza, breaks in between lines and stanzas., rhythmA strong pattern of words, sounds, musical notes or movement found in poetry, music and dance., language and figure of speech A word or phrase with a meaning other than the literal meaning. For example, 'it's raining cats and dogs'..
Make sure you are comparing and contrasting the poems throughout.
Your essay should be peppered with comparing words and phrases such as "similarly...", "in contrast to this…" and "this can also be seen in…".
Mention any relevant details about the contextThe time and place a text was produced in. of the poem.
You will not get marks for context which is not linked directly to the question. For example, don’t simply write down everything you know about the poet if it is not relevant to the question.
Support all you say with details or quotes from the poem.
This may mean quoting a full line at times, but could also involve detailed analysis of one significant word.
If you were to compare Kid with In Mrs Tilscher's Class by Carol Ann Duffy for example, you could use some of the following points:
- Both poems use elements of childhood with which the reader can identify – school and superheroes. Kid uses allusionA quick reference - often to an image, character or place - from a work of literature or music or mythology. to pop culture and In Mrs Tilscher's Class uses the classroom environment.
- Both poems use the experience of childhood to comment on relationships.
- Both poems use narrative voiceNarrative voice is the perspective the story is told from, you could think of it as the 'speaker' of the poem. This speaker may not reflect the poet's views. The writer chooses a narrative voice carefully, as it can have an important effect on the work and the reader’s response. to reveal content and theme.
- While both poems contain non-threatening images of childhood, they also refer to the reality of growing up. In Mrs Tilscher's Class addresses issues of safety and danger - it refers to “Brady and Hindley” who were convicted of murdering five children in the 1960s. Kid addresses issues of failure and disappointment, “ditched me, rather,/ In the gutter”.
- Kid is a dramatic monologueA poem in which the speaker addresses the reader directly. A dramatic monologue usually involves a fictional speaker who may not necessarily speak the views of the poet. told from the perspectiveFrom a particular point of view. of Robin, of Batman and Robin. In Mrs Tilscher's Class is a narrative poemA narrative poem tells a story. Narrative poems do not have to follow rhythmic patterns. which addresses the reader directly using the second person pronoun, “you”.
When writing about these similarities and differences, you should discuss the methods used by the poets.
Look at the earlier sections on themes, language, form and structure to get ideas.