UK K12 GCSE/A-Level: Year 11 GCSE English Literature - Unseen Poetry, Comparison Technique

Learning Objectives

By the end of this topic, students will be able to:

• Analyze and compare unseen poems using a range of techniques, including imagery, tone, and language.
• Identify and explain how poets use comparison to convey meaning and create effects.
• Apply comparison techniques to their own analysis and interpretation of poetry.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of comparison techniques in different poems.
• Use comparison to support their own arguments and interpretations in written responses.

Core Concepts

Comparison is a fundamental technique used by poets to create meaning and evoke emotions in their readers. By comparing one thing to another, poets can highlight similarities and differences, create vivid imagery, and convey complex ideas. There are several key concepts to consider when analyzing comparison in poetry:

• Imagery: Poets use comparison to create powerful and evocative images in the reader's mind. This can be achieved through similes, metaphors, and other figurative language devices.
• Tone: The tone of a poem can be influenced by the comparisons made between different elements. For example, a comparison between a beautiful landscape and a desolate wasteland can create a sense of contrast and highlight the speaker's emotions.
• Language: The language used in a poem can also be used to create comparisons. Poets may use alliteration, assonance, and consonance to create a musical quality that enhances the comparison.
• Symbolism: Comparison can be used to create symbolic meanings in a poem. For example, a comparison between a flower and a person may symbolize growth, beauty, or fragility.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Imagery and Comparison

Read the following poem:

"The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! The sea that bares her bosom to the moon, The winds that will be howling at all hours, And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers, For this, for everything, we are out of tune; It moves us not."

— William Wordsworth, "The World Is Too Much With Us"

Analyze the comparison between the natural world and human society in this poem. How does Wordsworth use imagery and comparison to convey his message?

Answer: Wordsworth uses comparison to highlight the contrast between the natural world and human society. He compares the natural world to a beautiful and vibrant entity that is in tune with the universe, while human society is portrayed as being out of tune and wasteful. The imagery used in the poem, such as the "sea that bares her bosom to the moon" and the "winds that will be howling at all hours", creates a sense of wonder and awe, while the comparison between human society and the natural world highlights the speaker's disconnection from nature.

Example 2: Tone and Comparison

Read the following poem:

"I am the daughter of earth and water, And the nursling of the sky; I pass through the veins of the sea and the land, And draw the breath of the mountains. The winds are my messengers, The waves are my music, The stars are my crown, The sun is my shield, And the moon is my mantle."

— Christina Rossetti, "The Princess"

Analyze the comparison between the speaker and the natural world in this poem. How does Rossetti use comparison to create a sense of tone and atmosphere?

Answer: Rossetti uses comparison to create a sense of wonder and awe in this poem. She compares herself to the natural world, using imagery and metaphor to convey a sense of connection and unity. The comparison between the speaker and the natural world creates a sense of tone that is mystical and dreamlike, while the use of words like "music" and "crown" adds to the sense of wonder and enchantment.

Common Misconceptions

• Comparison is only about finding similarities: While comparison can involve finding similarities between two things, it can also involve highlighting differences and creating contrast.
• Comparison is only about literal meaning: Comparison can also involve creating symbolic meanings and conveying complex ideas and emotions.
• Comparison is only about the surface level: Comparison can also involve analyzing the deeper meanings and themes in a poem.

Exam Tips

• Read the poem carefully: Before analyzing the poem, read it carefully and make notes on the language, imagery, and tone.
• Identify the comparison: Identify the comparison being made in the poem and analyze its significance.
• Use evidence: Use evidence from the poem to support your analysis and interpretation.
• Consider the context: Consider the historical and cultural context in which the poem was written and how this may have influenced the poet's use of comparison.

MCQs with Explanations

MCQ 1 [F]

What is the main purpose of comparison in poetry?

A) To create a sense of wonder and awe B) To highlight similarities and differences C) To convey complex ideas and emotions D) To create a sense of tone and atmosphere

Correct answer: B) To highlight similarities and differences

Why the distractors fail: A is a possible effect of comparison, but not its main purpose. C is a possible outcome of comparison, but not its main purpose. D is a possible aspect of comparison, but not its main purpose.

MCQ 2 [H]

How does the poet use comparison to create a sense of tone and atmosphere in the following poem?

"The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! The sea that bares her bosom to the moon, The winds that will be howling at all hours, And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers, For this, for everything, we are out of tune; It moves us not."

— William Wordsworth, "The World Is Too Much With Us"

A) By comparing the natural world to a beautiful and vibrant entity B) By comparing human society to a desolate wasteland C) By using imagery and metaphor to convey a sense of wonder and awe D) By using alliteration and assonance to create a musical quality

Correct answer: A) By comparing the natural world to a beautiful and vibrant entity

Why the distractors fail: B is a possible comparison, but not the one used in the poem. C is a possible effect of the comparison, but not the main way in which the poet creates a sense of tone and atmosphere. D is a possible aspect of the poem, but not the main way in which the poet creates a sense of tone and atmosphere.

MCQ 3 [F]

What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?

A) A simile is a comparison between two things using "like" or "as", while a metaphor is a comparison between two things without using "like" or "as". B) A simile is a comparison between two things using "like" or "as", while a metaphor is a comparison between two things using "is". C) A simile is a comparison between two things without using "like" or "as", while a metaphor is a comparison between two things using "like" or "as". D) A simile is a comparison between two things using "is", while a metaphor is a comparison between two things using "like" or "as".

Correct answer: A) A simile is a comparison between two things using "like" or "as", while a metaphor is a comparison between two things without using "like" or "as".

Why the distractors fail: B is a possible definition of a metaphor, but not the correct one. C is a possible definition of a simile, but not the correct one. D is a possible definition of a simile, but not the correct one.

MCQ 4 [H]

How does the poet use comparison to convey a sense of symbolism in the following poem?

"I am the daughter of earth and water, And the nursling of the sky; I pass through the veins of the sea and the land, And draw the breath of the mountains. The winds are my messengers, The waves are my music, The stars are my crown, The sun is my shield, And the moon is my mantle."

— Christina Rossetti, "The Princess"

A) By comparing the speaker to the natural world B) By comparing the natural world to the speaker C) By using imagery and metaphor to convey a sense of wonder and awe D) By using alliteration and assonance to create a musical quality

Correct answer: A) By comparing the speaker to the natural world

Why the distractors fail: B is a possible comparison, but not the one used in the poem. C is a possible effect of the comparison, but not the main way in which the poet conveys a sense of symbolism. D is a possible aspect of the poem, but not the main way in which the poet conveys a sense of symbolism.

MCQ 5 [F]

What is the significance of comparison in poetry?

A) To create a sense of wonder and awe B) To highlight similarities and differences C) To convey complex ideas and emotions D) To create a sense of tone and atmosphere

Correct answer: B) To highlight similarities and differences

Why the distractors fail: A is a possible effect of comparison, but not its significance. C is a possible outcome of comparison, but not its significance. D is a possible aspect of comparison, but not its significance.

Short-answer Questions

Question 1

Analyze the comparison between the natural world and human society in the following poem:

"The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! The sea that bares her bosom to the moon, The winds that will be howling at all hours, And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers, For this, for everything, we are out of tune; It moves us not."

— William Wordsworth, "The World Is Too Much With Us"

How does Wordsworth use comparison to convey his message?

Answer: Wordsworth uses comparison to highlight the contrast between the natural world and human society. He compares the natural world to a beautiful and vibrant entity that is in tune with the universe, while human society is portrayed as being out of tune and wasteful. The imagery used in the poem, such as the "sea that bares her bosom to the moon" and the "winds that will be howling at all hours", creates a sense of wonder and awe, while the comparison between human society and the natural world highlights the speaker's disconnection from nature.

Question 2

Analyze the comparison between the speaker and the natural world in the following poem:

"I am the daughter of earth and water, And the nursling of the sky; I pass through the veins of the sea and the land, And draw the breath of the mountains. The winds are my messengers, The waves are my music, The stars are my crown, The sun is my shield, And the moon is my mantle."

— Christina Rossetti, "The Princess"

How does Rossetti use comparison to create a sense of tone and atmosphere?

Answer: Rossetti uses comparison to create a sense of wonder and awe in this poem. She compares herself to the natural world, using imagery and metaphor to convey a sense of connection and unity. The comparison between the speaker and the natural world creates a sense of tone that is mystical and dreamlike, while the use of words like "music" and "crown" adds to the sense of wonder and enchantment.

Question 3

Analyze the comparison between the natural world and human society in the following poem:

"The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! The sea that bares her bosom to the moon, The winds that will be howling at all hours, And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers, For this, for everything, we are out of tune; It moves us not."

— William Wordsworth, "The World Is Too Much With Us"

How does Wordsworth use comparison to convey his message about the impact of human activity on the natural world?

Answer: Wordsworth uses comparison to highlight the contrast between the natural world and human society. He compares the natural world to a beautiful and vibrant entity that is in tune with the universe, while human society is portrayed as being out of tune and wasteful. The imagery used in the poem, such as the "sea that bares her bosom to the moon" and the "winds that will be howling at all hours", creates a sense of wonder and awe, while the comparison between human society and the natural world highlights the speaker's disconnection from nature and the impact of human activity on the natural world.