Focus Finish Week 6 Day 2

Compare and Contrast Literary Works

Getting the Idea

When you read two or more different works of literature, you can compare and contrast their characters, settings, plots, themes, and other elements. Certain character types show up frequently in literature. For example, many works of fiction have heroes and villains, wise or foolish rulers, and honest or dishonest characters. Read the two passages.

Passage 1

King Ferdinand was a strict ruler. When his army won a huge victory, he did not celebrate. He built a larger army instead. To pay for his army, King Ferdinand demanded higher taxes. If anyone protested the new tax, the king put the protester in jail.

Passage 2

In the kingdom of Jull, farmers and villager prepared to celebrate King Fredo's birthday. The past year had been difficult for everyone. There had been a huge earthquake and a long drought. Yet, wise King Fredo had saved the taxes collected over the past years. He made sure hungry people had food and sick or injured people received the best care.

Each of these stories has a king as its main character. One story's king is a mean, unfair ruler, while the other king treats his people sp well that everyone loves him. Comparing and Contrasting stories will help you to better understand and enjoy them.

Over hundreds of years, storytellers have created some classic plots. In a quest story, the hero goes on a long, perilous journey to find a solution to a problem. In a challenge plot, the hero must complete "impossible" tasks. Compare these passages.

Passage 1

Hawaiian legend tells of a boy named Maui who had three older brothers. To win his brothers' acceptance, Maui had to perform many heroic acts. Maui fished islands from the sea. He even captured the sun with his snare!

Passage 2

On Jill's first week at a new school, the kids were not very friendly. One day, as she stood alone on the playground, a basketball rolled by. She picked it up, tossed it to one of the players, and asked if she could play. They agreed. Soon, Jill was the best player in school!

In both challenge tales, the main character feels alone and unaccepted. The settings are completely different, however, and the heroes solve their problems differently.

Many stories are based on classic themes such as "good versus evil" and " don't judge by appearances." In "The Little Red Hen", a hen works hard to bake bread. After all the other animals refuse to help her, she refuses to share the bread with them. The theme of this folktale is, "Don't expect to get something for nothing"

Thinking It Through

Jason and Lamar have been friends since kindergarten. Jason is a gifted athlete. Lamar is not good at sports, but he is a gifted musician. Luckily, both love humor. When Jason isn't at all practice, and Lamar isn't at orchestra practice, the two are together, cracking jokes and telling stories.

Multiple Choice

Compare the young woman's feelings in A Christmas Carol to those of Melinda, Tralena, and Veronique in "Home Sweet Home." How are their feelings and the circumstances similar?

• The feel frightened when their dear friend beings to act unsafely and recklessly.

• The feel deeply hurt because their dear friend does not treat them as well as before.

• They feel scornful of their dear friend's behavior, which is childish and inconsiderate.

• They feel shocked when their dear friend's personality seems to completely transform.

Multiple Choice

In "Home Sweet Home", which ofr the four friends seem angriest?

• Jada

• Melinda

• Tralena

• Veronique

Multiple Choice

Which adjective BEST describes the young woman's feelings in A Christmas Carol?

• furious

• annoyed

• shocked

• distressed

Multiple Choice

Which statement is true?

• Both passaged have mournful tones.

• Neither passage has a mournful tone.

• A Christmas Carol has a mournful tone.

• "Home Sweet Home" has a mournful tone.

Multiple Choice

How do main characters in both stories behave similarly with similar results?

• Their behavior helps people who are dear to them.

• Their behavior greatly impresses everyone they know

• Their behavior disappoints people who are dear to them.

• Their good and bed behavior goes unnoticed by everyone.

Multiple Choice

How do the endings of the two stories differ?

• A Christmas Carol ends on a sad note, but Home Sweet Home ends on a happy one.

• A Christmas Carol ends on a joyful note, but Home Sweet Home ends on a mournful one.

• In A Christmas Carol, young Scrooge changes his ways, but in Home Sweet Home, Jada does not change.

• In a Christmas Carol, young scrooge learns his lesson, but in Home Sweet Home, Jada does not learn hers.