How should I approach a comparison between two texts?

If you are being asked to choose the texts you are comparing, you should do so on the basis of their similarities. For example, in the question: ‘Compare the significance of isolation in two texts you have studied’, you should choose two texts in which isolation is a prominent theme. Once you have selected the texts, you should give specific examples of characters being isolated and try to think what the situations that are presented in the text have in common. Who is being isolated, how are they being isolated, and why? After having thought of specific examples, think of how the fit within the text: What general view of isolation is being presented? Is it positive or negative? Why does isolation occur? What does it allow characters to do, and what does it prevent them from doing? What are the consequences of this? Once you have established similarities, leave yourself plenty of time to think about differences. Comparing texts is mainly about how their treatment of a similar theme differs and why, and a good analysis of differences will show that you are aware of the context in which the two texts are placed. You should ask yourself: what separates the two texts? Two important ways in which two texts will be different will be genre and historical context. If you are comparing a drama and a novel, you should think about how the meanings are shaped in each, and how isolation is expressed in their specific form. Two texts can be written in different historical contexts, e.g. before or after a specific historical event that has changed cultural attitudes. They can also be written by authors or for audiences that can differ in terms of gender, race, class or political views. Bearing in mind these differences will help you give a more nuanced analysis of similarities that you have identified.