Poetry Anthology Question (AQA GCSE English Literature): Model Answers
Writing a comparative paragraph
Using sentence comparative sentences can help you convert your ideas into a full written response
| Discourse markers when writing your argument | Conjunctions to show comparison | Correlative conjunctions to show comparison | To show inference and analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
| initially, furthermore, moreover consequently, thus, in conclusion, | likewise, similarly, on the other hand, contrastingly, however, whereas, | both/and neither/nor either/or whether/or | This suggests/implies/ emphasises … The use of X reveals/ demonstrates … The writer effectively conveys … |
Example question to practice
💡 Compare how poets present ideas about human interactions in 'In a London Drawingroom' and one other poem from the Worlds and Lives anthology.
1. Planning - Outlining your answer
| Topic sentence: Both poets focus on humanity's disconnection from each other. However, Mundair focuses on the disconnection created through migration while Eliot uses the image of alienation to critique the process of industrialisation. |
|---|
| Supporting detail: 1. "glance unmarking at the passers by" = no one creating connections with one another 2. enjambment could reflect the relentless movement of people in the city and the alienation this causes 3. "wilderness" = depicts the speaker as a lonely, isolated figure 4. "echo chamber" = suggests minority voices are drowned out and the speaker is not being heard |
| Closing sentence: Thus, Eliot is arguably critiquing how the process of urbanisation and capitalism has removed people's ability to connect with each other while Mundair presents migration as an isolating and lonely process. |
Greg's response
Both Eliot and Mundair focus on humanity's disconnection from each other. The enjambment of Eliot's 'In a London Drawingroom' could reflect the relentless movement of the city and the alienation this causes between the people of London. However, while Mundair also creates imagery of separation, it arguably stems from the "echo chamber" in her poem.
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💡 When writing a comparative response, you must show that you are bringing in a second poem to discuss a connected idea.
Jacob's sentence uses a comparative conjunction to show nuanced differences.
2. Linking ideas together
💡 When writing a comparative response, you should avoid writing everything you know about one poem and then everything about another poem in another paragraph. This does not evidence comparison. Instead, you should weave ideas about both poems throughout each paragraph.
3. Example
Both Mundair and Eliot use imagery of separation to highlight the sense of disconnection experienced by the speakers. The mention of "cabs, carriages / All closed" creates a feeling of a barrier between the workers on the streets of London. Additionally, the speaker notes that those walking "hurry on & look upon the ground," implying that no one is attempting to connect with others. Eliot's poem could be interpreted as a critique of the Industrial Revolution, with the portrayal of London reflecting the disconnection that industrialisation brings to people's lives.
Similarly, in Name Journeys, Mundair conveys a sense of loneliness throughout the poem as the speaker shares her experience of migrating from India to the UK. The word "discordant" might reflect the speaker's feeling of not fitting in. Furthermore, the speaker describes her name as becoming a "stumble," which could represent the imbalance she felt while trying to adjust to a new environment. In conclusion, Eliot's poem can be seen as a critique of the isolation caused by industrialisation and capitalism, while Mundair's poem reflects the loneliness associated with the migrant experience.