Contrast question

A contrast is a comparison which shows up the differences between subjects. The writer is deliberately pairing two ideas together to show up the difference which will be important in some way.

For example, in “Romeo and Juliet”, Shakespeare continually compares Juliet to the sun or to a star. The idea he is conveying is that she is above everyone around her. Everyone else is dark by comparison and she brings light into Romeo’s life.

Questions often ask you to state what the contrast actually is. Contrast is the pairing of opposing ideas, for example large & small or dark & light.

Example: 2005 Credit paper question 9

Question: In your own words give two contrasts the writer noticed on his journey from Cairo to the countryside.

“To leave the enormous sprawling dust-blown city of gridlock and gritty buildings was bliss… we were in open country, little settlements of square mud-block houses… a solitary car or truck ,and on one remote road twenty men going home after prayers.”

Answer : lots of traffic in Cairo / but none here (1) and enormous size of city / small settlement.

	Created by Andrew Bolton over 13 years ago

English Note on Standard Garde Close Reading Help, created by Andrew Bolton on 13/04/2013.

Standard Garde Close Reading Help