Comparative Essay - Brainstorming
Part of writing a comparative essay is really brainstorming and thinking about similarities
and differences across texts. Use this chart to guide your thinking and help you make
meaningful connections across texts.
Criteria Siddhartha
Themes Search for Self: The novel
revolves around
Siddhartha's quest for self-
discovery and
enlightenment.
Nature and River as
Metaphors: The river
symbolizes the continuous
flow of life and the unity of
all things.
Impermanence and the
Nature of Life: Siddhartha
realizes the transient nature
of life and material
possessions.
Character Development Siddhartha: He evolves
from a young man seeking
spiritual enlightenment to
someone who realizes that
understanding comes from
within.
Govinda: Siddhartha's
childhood friend, Govinda's
journey contrasts with
Siddhartha's.
Setting Ancient India, along the
banks of the river, spanning
various cities and forests.
Symbols The River: Represents the
continuous flow of life,
unity, and enlightenment.
The Ferryman: Symbolizes
guidance, wisdom, and the
passage from one phase of
life to another.
Conclusion/Resolution Siddhartha attains
enlightenment by the river,
A Doll's House
The Role of Women: The
play critically addresses the
traditional roles of men and
women in 19th-century
marriage.
Deception and Appearance
vs. Reality: Many characters
hide their true selves to
conform to societal
expectations.
Sacrifice: The play explores
the sacrifices individuals
make for their families and
societal expectations.
Nora: At the beginning,
Nora appears naive.
However, as the narrative
progresses, her character
reveals a woman trapped by
societal expectations.
Torvald: He starts as a
paternalistic husband who
views Nora as a child.
A middle-class home in
Norway during the late 19th
century.
The Tarantella Dance:
Represents Nora's
entrapment and her
attempts to please Torvald.
The Doll's House:
Symbolizes the constraints
of societal expectations and
the facade of the Helmer's
marriage.
The play concludes with
Nora deciding to leave her
realizing that life is family to discover her true
interconnected. He finds self. The slamming of the
peace in the simplicity of door symbolizes her
life. breaking free from societal
constraints.