Reading & Creating Texts – Unit 1
When you have developed a sound understanding of the related textual features - Including plot, character, setting and text construction - of the texts you are studying, you are ready to return to a comparison of the underlying ideas, issues and themes that the texts explore. The similarities in the pair of texts may be visualised more effectively by constructing a Venn diagram to represent the overlapping concepts and concerns.
In mapping out your thoughts, It Is Important to consider not just how the texts are connected, but also the overall message of each text. The message of a text encompasses the underlying viewpoint of the author. As the text constructs meaning through its features (such as character, plot, setting and concepts), the reader is invited to share the author's views and to understand the moral or ethical points that the text may make. By representing these ideas in a Venn diagram, you should be able to see how the texts hold similar viewpoints or convey related messages, as well as noting the ways that these viewpoints are different.
VCE ENGLISH UNIT 1&2
1
Reading & Creating Texts – Unit 1
Complete a Venn Diagram using ’12 Angry Men’ & ‘The Crucible’.
VCE ENGLISH UNIT 1&2
1
Reading & Creating Texts – Unit 1
ANALYSING CONTRASTS While the main focus of comparison is on the similarities between texts, analysing the differences between texts will allow you to further develop your understanding of the issues, ideas and themes that the texts explore. When considering the related elements of the text as a whole, it is a good idea to also look for contrasts in textual features and key concepts. For a contrast or counterpoint to be worthy of discussion, there needs to be some degree of similarity as a starting point; there is little point in comparing characters that have nothing whatsoever in common. Characters who are similar in some ways (such as coming from a working-class background) and different in others (for example, if one manages to transcend their background while the other is trapped by it) can offer contrasts worth exploring. Refer to the William Blake poems 'The Chimney Sweeper' and 'London' in activity 1.3. The following chart explores the connections and contrasts between the two pieces.
POINT OF COMPARISON
DIFFERENCES
SIMILARITIES
SETTING
Both texts are set within an urban environment. The setting is depicted as miserable and gloomy in both cases.
'The Chimney Sweeper' only explores a limited aspect of urban life; 'London' conveys a greater sense of the city as a whole.
CHARACTER
Both texts consider the plight of youth corrupted by the grim realities of life. The miserable existence of chimney sweepers is specifically mentioned in both poems. The poems also hint that adult figures, from either family or the Church, have failed these children in some way.
'London' considers a broader range of perspectives and takes into account the way in which social institutions serve to exploit many in society, not just children. The misery depicted in 'London' is all-pervasive and not just felt by a small minority as in 'The Chimneysweeper'.
PLOT
Both poems begin by establishing the way While the misery is unrelenting in 'London' in which urban society is corrupt and 'The Chimneysweeper' takes a far more causes misery. hopeful turn, with Tom dreaming of heaven and being comforted by this vision.
TEXT CONSTRUCTION
Both pieces feature the observations of a character related through a first-person perspective. The mentions of soot and blackness underscore the miserable nature of the environment, while the repetition of 'cry' in 'London' and 'weep' in 'The Chimneysweeper' show the sorrowful conditions of urban life.
'The Chimneysweeper' features the perspective of a child and the singsong rhythm of the verse emphasises this youthful point of view. This poem also uses more hopeful language, with terms such as 'gold', 'white' and 'free' providing a positive contrast to the misery of the first half of the poem.
Both texts explore the way in which a corrupt society exploits the innocent and brings about suffering. Blake's condemnation of this corruption is evident.
'The Chimneysweeper' is far more positive than 'London', with Tom's dream implying that those who suffer in life will be rewarded in heaven. 'London' is more pessimistic, asserting that the cycle of poverty and the consequent despair will continue.
IDEAS, ISSUES & THEMES
VCE ENGLISH UNIT 1&2
2
Reading & Creating Texts – Unit 1
VCE ENGLISH UNIT 1&2
1
Reading & Creating Texts – Unit 1
Complete the chart below using the texts ’12 Angry Men’ & ‘The Crucible’
POINT OF COMPARISON
DIFFERENCES
SIMILARITIES
SETTING
CHARACTER
PLOT
TEXT CONSTRUCTION
IDEAS, ISSUES & THEMES
VCE ENGLISH UNIT 1&2
3