1. A Letter to God vs.
From the Diary of Anne Frank
Faith in Humanity: Compare Lencho’s faith in God with Anne Frank’s faith in the goodness of humanity.
How do their respective situations shape their beliefs?
Response to Adversity: Contrast how Lencho and Anne react to their struggles — a destroyed crop for
Lencho and living in hiding for Anne Frank.
2. Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom vs. The Sermon at Benares
Leadership and Sacrifice: Compare Nelson Mandela’s leadership in the fight against apartheid with
Gautama Buddha’s spiritual leadership after attaining enlightenment. How do both emphasize the
importance of sacrifice?
Overcoming Suffering: Contrast the personal and collective suffering that Mandela faces with the
suffering that Buddha addresses in his first sermon. How do their views on the resolution of suffering
differ?
3. Two Stories about Flying vs. Glimpses of India
Travel and Exploration: Compare the different experiences of flying in Two Stories about Flying and
traveling in Glimpses of India (especially in “Tea from Assam” and “A Baker from Goa”). How do both
chapters reflect exploration and discovery?
Theme of Overcoming Fear: In Two Stories about Flying, the young seagull overcomes his fear of flying,
while in Glimpses of India, Valli in Madam Rides the Bus overcomes her fear of the unknown. Compare
their experiences of overcoming fear through their journeys.
4. The Hundred Dresses – I & II vs. Mijbil the Otter
Themes of Friendship and Understanding: Compare the theme of empathy and understanding in The
Hundred Dresses with the friendship and bond between the author and Mijbil in Mijbil the Otter. How
do these relationships shape the characters’ perspectives?
Isolation: Contrast the isolation felt by Wanda Petronski due to bullying with the isolation experienced
by Mijbil, an otter living in a foreign environment.
5. Madam Rides the Bus vs. The Proposal
Theme of Innocence and Naivety: Compare Valli’s innocence and naivety in Madam Rides the Bus with
Lomov’s naivety in The Proposal. How do both characters’ actions reflect their limited understanding of
the world?
Humor and Irony: Contrast the humor in the two stories — Valli’s simple delight in her bus ride and the
comical misunderstandings in Lomov’s marriage proposal. How does the use of humor differ in both
stories?
6. The Black Aeroplane vs. The Tale of Custard the Dragon
Courage and Fear: Compare the mysterious courage shown by the second pilot in The Black Aeroplane
with Custard’s surprising bravery in The Tale of Custard the Dragon. How do both characters defy
expectations?
Mystery vs. Fantasy: Contrast the mysterious, unresolved ending of The Black Aeroplane with the
playful, fantastical tone of The Tale of Custard the Dragon. How do these different approaches impact
the reader’s experience?
7. A Tiger in the Zoo vs. Animals
Freedom and Captivity: Compare the tiger’s captivity in A Tiger in the Zoo with the freedom that animals
experience in Animals by Walt Whitman. How do both poems reflect the idea of contentment versus
confinement?
Human vs. Animal Behavior: Contrast the way humans are portrayed in Animals with how animals are
portrayed in A Tiger in the Zoo. How do the poems highlight the differences between human and animal
nature?
8. Dust of Snow vs. Fire and Ice
Nature’s Role in Human Emotion: Compare how nature influences the speaker’s emotions in Dust of
Snow with how destructive emotions like desire and hatred are symbolized by natural elements in Fire
and Ice. How does nature impact the tone of both poems?
Philosophical Themes: Contrast the philosophical themes in both poems — Dust of Snow’s theme of
positive change versus Fire and Ice’s focus on the end of the world. How do these themes reflect
different aspects of human experience?
9. Amanda! vs. The Ball Poem
Theme of Growing Up: Compare the idea of childhood freedom in Amanda! with the theme of growing
up and facing loss in The Ball Poem. How do both poems reflect the challenges of childhood and
maturity?
Parental Expectations vs. Personal Reflection: Contrast the parental control over Amanda in Amanda!
with the boy’s quiet reflection in The Ball Poem. How do both children respond to their respective
situations?
10. For Anne Gregory vs. How to Tell Wild Animals
Humor vs. Seriousness: Compare the humorous approach to identifying animals in How to Tell Wild
Animals with the serious exploration of beauty and love in For Anne Gregory. How does the tone of each
poem affect its message?
Perception of Appearance: Contrast the superficial judgments made about animals in How to Tell Wild
Animals with the deeper discussion of outer and inner beauty in For Anne Gregory.
Answers
1. A Letter to God vs. From the Diary of Anne Frank
Faith in Humanity:
Lencho’s faith in God is absolute. He believes God will help him, and when he receives money (even if
from the post office employees), he credits it to divine intervention. Lencho’s faith is based on his belief
in a higher power, but it is somewhat naive.
Anne Frank, on the other hand, shows faith in humanity. Despite the horrors of the Holocaust, Anne
believes people are inherently good. Her faith is optimistic but grounded in human nature.
Contrast: Lencho’s faith is in God, while Anne’s is in humanity, which reflects their different contexts—
one is rural and simple, while the other is complex and urban, set during a global conflict.
Response to Adversity:
Lencho is frustrated when things don’t go his way (his crops are destroyed), and he reacts with anger
toward the post office employees, thinking they have stolen some of the money sent by God.
Anne Frank, despite living in fear and confinement, remains hopeful and introspective. She channels her
frustration through writing, using it as a form of emotional release.
Contrast: Lencho reacts with anger and mistrust, while Anne handles adversity with hope and self-
reflection.
2. Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom vs. The Sermon at Benares
Leadership and Sacrifice:
Nelson Mandela emphasizes the importance of leadership in fighting for freedom and equality. He made
personal sacrifices (such as years in prison) for the sake of ending apartheid and liberating his people.
Buddha’s leadership comes after his spiritual enlightenment. He sacrifices material wealth and status to
teach people how to overcome suffering through the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
Comparison: Both Mandela and Buddha sacrifice personal comfort for a greater cause—Mandela for
freedom and equality, and Buddha for spiritual enlightenment.
Overcoming Suffering:
Mandela’s perspective on suffering is rooted in social and political oppression. He believes that through
struggle and perseverance, people can achieve freedom.
Buddha teaches that suffering is an inherent part of life and that it can be overcome by eliminating
desire and following the Middle Path.
Contrast: Mandela focuses on external suffering (social inequality), while Buddha focuses on internal
suffering (desire and attachment).
3. Two Stories about Flying vs. Glimpses of India
Travel and Exploration:
In Two Stories about Flying, both stories involve flight — the young seagull’s first flight symbolizes
overcoming fear, while the narrator’s flight in The Black Aeroplane is an adventurous yet mysterious
journey.
In Glimpses of India, the three stories explore different regions and cultures in India. The stories
highlight travel as a means of cultural discovery rather than physical flight.
Contrast: Two Stories about Flying focuses on individual journeys (personal fear and mystery), while
Glimpses of India emphasizes cultural and geographical exploration.
Theme of Overcoming Fear:
In Two Stories about Flying, the young seagull’s fear of flying is overcome through his instinct and a push
from his family. His eventual success represents growth and independence.
In Madam Rides the Bus, Valli overcomes her fear of the unknown by independently boarding the bus,
experiencing a sense of freedom and adventure.
Comparison: Both Valli and the young seagull face internal fears that they must overcome to experience
personal growth. Their journeys represent the shedding of childhood inhibitions.
4. The Hundred Dresses – I & II vs. Mijbil the Otter
Themes of Friendship and Understanding:
In The Hundred Dresses, Wanda faces bullying but is finally understood and appreciated for her talent.
Maddie and Peggy learn empathy after realizing the impact of their actions on Wanda.
In Mijbil the Otter, the author builds a strong bond with Mijbil, understanding and caring for the otter as
a friend. The relationship is based on mutual affection and trust.
Comparison: Both stories highlight the importance of understanding and empathy in building
meaningful relationships, though one deals with human friendships and the other with an animal
companion.
Isolation:
Wanda feels isolated because of her classmates’ teasing, which isolates her emotionally and socially
from her peers.
Mijbil experiences isolation as an otter in a foreign land, far from his natural habitat. However, his bond
with the narrator mitigates this feeling.
Contrast: Wanda’s isolation is due to social bullying, while Mijbil’s is due to being physically displaced
from his natural environment.
5. Madam Rides the Bus vs. The Proposal
Theme of Innocence and Naivety:
Valli, in Madam Rides the Bus, is an innocent, curious girl who is eager to explore the world. Her naivety
is reflected in her simple desire to ride a bus and see the world outside her village.
In The Proposal, Lomov is naive in his approach to the marriage proposal. Despite coming with a serious
intent, he becomes entangled in petty arguments, showing his lack of maturity.
Comparison: Both Valli and Lomov show naivety in their understanding of the world, though Valli’s is
endearing and childlike, while Lomov’s is humorous and self-defeating.
Humor and Irony:
The humor in Madam Rides the Bus stems from Valli’s innocence and her excitement over a simple bus
ride. The irony lies in her limited understanding of life and death.
The Proposal uses situational comedy and irony, as Lomov and Natalya argue over trivial issues during a
marriage proposal, completely missing the point of the meeting.
Contrast: Valli’s humor is subtle and based on her childlike view of the world, while The Proposal uses
exaggerated humor and absurdity.
6. The Black Aeroplane vs. The Tale of Custard the Dragon
Courage and Fear:
In The Black Aeroplane, the narrator shows fear during his turbulent flight but is mysteriously saved by a
second, unseen plane. The courage is implied, as the narrator doesn’t give up despite the danger.
In The Tale of Custard the Dragon, Custard, who is initially seen as cowardly, ends up being the bravest
character, saving everyone when danger arises.
Comparison: Both stories challenge the initial perceptions of courage. In The Black Aeroplane, courage
comes from an external, mysterious source, while Custard’s courage is unexpected but undeniable.
Mystery vs. Fantasy:
The Black Aeroplane uses mystery, leaving the reader unsure of the second plane’s origin and the nature
of the pilot who helped the narrator.
The Tale of Custard the Dragon uses fantasy and humor, with a dragon who is ridiculed for being
cowardly but ultimately proves his bravery.
Contrast: The Black Aeroplane leaves the story open-ended and mysterious, while Custard the Dragon
has a clear resolution within its humorous fantasy setting.
