This lesson was modified from "The Lord of the Flies: A Teaching Guide" by Mary Elizabeth, Garlic Press. Discovering Literature Series, © 1999.  This is an excellent guide for teaching Lord of the Flies.  I highly recommend it for teachers who are looking for different strategies for teaching this novel.  

Comparing and contrasting puts two or more subjects side by side in order to draw insights from their similarities and differences.

In a compare and contrast essay, you show the similarities and differences between two people, things, ideas, approaches, etc., and draw some conclusion based on this examination.  You choose the categories to compare and contrast based on your purpose, and these categories will change depending on your topic.  For example,  if you were comparing and contrasting Piggy and Ralph, you might choose categories such as "maturity," "wisdom," "charisma," and appearance."  If, however, you were contrasting Jack's government with Ralph's government, you would use different categories, perhaps: "goals ,"rules," "effectiveness," "fairness," etc.  A Venn Diagram can help you organize the information you will use.  A Venn Diagram shows visually what two or more subjects have in common and what characteristic they have that they do not share.

common traits
 
Text Box: 1. Make a list of the categories you would use to compare and contrast Piggy’s idea of the adult society from which the boys came with the society they create on the island . 2. Write an essay comparing and contrasting Piggy and Ralph.

Words that can help you express concepts of similarity and difference include the following:

 

SIMILARITY                          DIFFERENCES

As well as                                 differ   

likewise                                    while

at the same time                        conversely

similarly                                    whereas

alike                                         but

resemble                                   through

                                                however

                                                on the other hand

                                                on the contrary

 

                                                                                   

                                   

 

only Ralph
 

only Jack
 

Ralph

 

Forethought
 

Jack

 

Singing
 

authority

leadership
 
Here is an example: