Choose two characters, settings, or situations from two poems. Choose poems by two DIFFERENT authors.
Title: My Last Duchess
Author: Robert Browning
Title: To his coy mistress
Author: Andrew Marvell
Compose a 500-word comparison or contrast essay. Do not show similarities and differences; rather, show how two characters, settings, or situations are either alike or different. If you write about how two poems (characters, settings, or situations) are alike, then your thesis will state three similarities. If you write about how two poems (characters, settings, or situations) are different, then your thesis will state three differences.
As is true in any 5-paragraph essay, have a good introduction with a well-planned thesis statement that is the focus of your essay. Then, have 3-4 body paragraphs that support your thesis. Finally, conclude your essay with a strong conclusion that sums up or restates your thesis in your introduction. Use your own critical thinking skills for this essay. You do not need to do any research for this essay. If you do quote from the poem, then cite the author’s last name and the page number from the textbook in parentheses after the quote. Make sure you put a title at the top of the first page.
On a final note: AVOID writing vague, general paragraphs. Make sure your three body paragraphs clearly support the elements of your thesis with examples from the poem. I want to see that you connect the parts of your thesis clearly with the poem. You will lose points if your body paragraphs are not connected to specific examples, events, situations, or characters from the poem.
A final thought about quoting: do not over quote your essay; one quote per paragraph is enough.
