Sample Comparative Answer

Theme
 Key words from question
• Interaction
• Change
• Reinforce
• Views on theme
• Affairs
• Types of love
• Where you see it
• Trust
• Key moments
• Feelings
• Similarities
• Difference
• How the theme is dealt with in the three texts
• Stereotypes
• Morals
• History
 Marking scheme suggested topics
– 2011 Q.1
• theme/issue defined differently/similarly broadens
understanding
• - the role of events/narrative voice in challenging
preconceived/stereotypical ideas
• - impact of authors’ varied approaches – serious,
humorous, tragic, etc.
• - characterisation, language and imagery convey
complexity of a theme
• - visual and aural effects enhance/change/reinforce our
understanding
• - key moments offer revealing insights into a
theme/issue Etc.
Make every point in relation to all 3
texts.
• Love and Marriage –
• The sanctity of marriage has been challenged by
all three texts I studied for the Comparative
Study. My ideas on how sacred marriage is has
changed after studying these texts. I used to
have the idea that marriage was for life, that it
was forever and that it was about trust and
loyalty. Perhaps I was naïve to think this and a
little unrealistic but I thought that when a couple
said “I do” and made their vows, they were
promising to be true to one another.
• These texts ignore the very idea of loyalty and being faithful to your
spouse. In TGG we see several examples of adultery and its effects.
Tom is with Myrtle and Daisy is with Gatsby, while Tom, Daisy and
Myrtle are all married! They each cheat on their spouse, seeking out
a different partner, a bit of fun, inconsiderate of the sanctity of their
vows. Each is tired with the person they chose for life, is suffering
from disappointed hopes and dissatisfaction with their lot. Similarly,
in Casablanca Ilsa is unfaithful while her husband is captured during
the war. She seems willing again to cheat on Victor, to return to Rick
when he offers her the chance and shows that he is still in love with
her. Furthermore in Dancing at Lughnasa it is heartbreakingly
revealed to the audience at the end of the play that Gerry Evans
was married all along. So having interested with TGG, Casablanca
and DL my ideas about the sanctity of marriage have really altered –
in all three texts there is a complete disregard towards faithfulness
in marriage and the idea of “’til death do us part”. Each text
challenged my somewhat naïve views and made me realise that
Marriage is not always about “Happily Ever After”.