In a nutshell: Comparing themes means comparing each work's argument about the theme, not just naming a shared topic: two works about ‘freedom’ may say opposite things about it — that difference is your comparison.
A theme is a topic; what a work SAYS about that topic is its argument — and comparison lives in the arguments.
‘Both works are about love’ is almost useless — nearly everything is. But ‘Work A argues love is a choice you keep making, whereas Work B argues love is something that happens TO you, against your will’ — now you have two arguments to compare. Always ask: what is each work's CLAIM about the theme?
How to compare themes
Name the shared theme
The common topic: love, power, memory, freedom, belonging…
Find each work's ARGUMENT
What does each work SAY about it? A claim, not a topic.
Compare the arguments
Same claim, or opposed claims? That contrast is the comparison.
Root it in the text
Tie each argument to specific moments and choices, not vague impressions.
The key move: Compare each work's argument about the theme (‘A says love is X; B says love is Y’), not the shared topic. The claims are what you compare.
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Why it matters in the exam: General questions are thematic (‘how do the works present conflict?’).
How to compare a theme
- Criterion A rewards interpretation.
- Comparing it across the two works lifts both A and B.
- Show that two works make DIFFERENT arguments about the same theme.
- That is what a strong thematic comparison does.
Compare what two works argue about AMBITION: Work A shows ambition destroying a family; Work B shows ambition saving a character from despair.
Model answer plan
See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
Watch out: ‘Both works are about X’ is a shared TOPIC, not a comparison. Push to what each work argues about X — the claims are where the comparison actually is.