How to structure your essay (Edexcel 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
Re-read The Poison Tree and Exposure and compare how poets explore the theme of human suffering and the consequences of negative emotions:
In your answer, you should consider the: • poets' use of language, form and structure • the influence of the contexts in which the poems were written. ( 20 marks)
1. Planning - Outlining your answer
| Topic sentence | Both poets explore the theme of human suffering, though Blake focuses on the internal consequences of repressed anger, while Owen highlights the external suffering caused by the horrors of war. | | Supporting detail | 1. "I was angry with my foe / I told it not, my wrath did grow" = suggests that repressed anger leads to destructive consequences. | | | 2. "It was sunned with smiles / And with soft deceitful wiles" = shows the deceit involved in hiding negative emotions. | | | 3. "Our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds" = conveys the physical and mental anguish of soldiers in war. | | | 4. "But nothing happens" = emphasises the futility and hopelessness of the soldiers' suffering. | | Closing sentence | Thus, Blake illustrates how internal, unchecked emotions can lead to harm, while Owen focuses on the external suffering caused by the futility of war. Both poets reveal the destructive power of human suffering, whether from within or caused by external forces. |
Greg's response
Both Blake and Owen examine human suffering in their poems, though they present it in different contexts. Blake, in "A Poison Tree," explores the internal, personal consequences of anger and deceit. The speaker anger grows into something destructive, symbolised by the poison tree. This suggests that unexpressed negative emotions, like anger, can grow and cause harm not just to the person who harbours them, but to others as well. Whereas, in Exposure, the Owen highlights the external suffering of soldiers during war, emphasising the physical and emotional torment they endure in the harsh, unforgiving conditions of battle.
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 Blake and Owen examine human suffering in their poems, though they present it in different contexts. Blake, in "A Poison Tree," explores the internal, personal consequences of anger and deceit. The speaker nurtures their wrath secretly, which grows into something destructive, symbolised by the poison tree. This suggests that unexpressed negative emotions, like anger, can grow and cause harm not just to the person who harbours them, but to others as well. The final image of the foe lying dead beneath the tree reflects the ultimate destruction caused by concealed emotions.
On the other hand, Owen's "Exposure" depicts the external suffering caused by war. The soldiers are trapped in the harsh elements, their bodies enduring extreme cold and fear, while their minds are haunted by the futility of their situation. The repetition of "nothing happens" highlights the sense of hopelessness and stagnation in the soldiers' lives. Owen emphasises the relentless suffering of the men, trapped in a war that seems endless and pointless, much like the emotional imprisonment in Blake's poem.
Despite the different contexts, both poets emphasise the destructive nature of unaddressed pain. Blake's poison tree represents the consequences of internal, repressed anger, while Owen presents the soldiers' physical and psychological suffering as a result of the external, man-made horrors of war. Both poems highlight that suffering, whether internal or external, can lead to irreversible damage.