Comparing Two Poems · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Comparing two poems as one argument

English · Reading Comprehension · ages 15-16
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. How should a comparison paragraph be built?

    • One paragraph per poem, kept separate
    • One long retelling of each poem in turn
    • One point that moves between both poems

  2. What is the best opening move for a poetry comparison?

    • State one shared concern in a single sentence
    • List every device found in both poems
    • Summarise the first poem from start to end

  3. Link words in a comparison should carry your argument, not just join sentences.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Which sentence compares with an argument?

    • Where one poem softens the loss, the other refuses to
    • One poem is about loss and the other is too
    • The first poem has three stanzas, the second has four

  5. Poem A remembers home warmly, while poem B calls it a trap. Which shared concern works best?

    • How many stanzas each poem contains
    • How each poet answers the feeling of home
    • Which poet had the sadder childhood

  6. Writing two detailed halves, one per poem, counts as a comparison.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. Your margin notes show both poems shift tone halfway. How do you best use that?

    • Write one half on each poem's tone
    • Build one paragraph on the shared shift, moving between the poems
    • List the tone words found in each poem

  8. A paragraph quotes both poems at length but never says how they differ. What is missing?

    • Shorter quotations from each poem
    • Margin notes made before drafting
    • A comparative link that carries an argument
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Comparing two poems as one argument W1-mt__cGKUS-Mlo-s1

  1. One point that moves between both poems · Each paragraph holds one point. Both poems meet inside it.
  2. State one shared concern in a single sentence · One clear question comes first. Everything else hangs from it.
  3. True · Links show where one poem softens a feeling and the other sharpens it.
  4. Where one poem softens the loss, the other refuses to · The link argues a difference. The other lines only list or count.
  5. How each poet answers the feeling of home · The concern must let both poems answer differently. Home does that here.
  6. False · Each paragraph must move between the poems. Two halves never meet.
  7. Build one paragraph on the shared shift, moving between the poems · Matching notes become one point. Both poems meet inside the paragraph.
  8. A comparative link that carries an argument · Quotes alone prove nothing. A link must argue the difference.
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