Writing A Compare And Contrast Essay On 1984 And V For Vendetta

1984 and V for Vendetta are both powerful dystopian novels that have had a huge impact on popular culture as well as the literary world. There are definite similarities between them yet they are in no way identical which makes them perfect candidates for a compare and contrast essay. Here are some steps to go through before you begin.

Read both books and make notes

Both of those books were so powerful that films were made that focused on them. It may be obvious that you should read the books before you write but watching the movies helps as well. Your interpretation of a scene may be vastly different from the direction the producers chose. This may help you to see something you would otherwise have missed. Read and make note of the novels before watching the films so you can let your imagination have a fair chance.

Read biographies of both authors and make notes

1984 was written by George Orwell and V for Vendetta was written by Alan Moore. These were two men writing decades apart yet they somehow came up with similarly disturbing visions of the future. Look for aspects of their lives that might have encouraged them to think and write as they did.

Compare the notes from the novels and autobiographies

Having made fairly detailed notes, you should have enough to work from without touching any of those books again. Brainstorm relevant themes they both cover which could be useful for comparison. How does love make a difference in the characters’ lives? Does betrayal play an equally significant role in both works? If not, how differently was this theme addressed? Consider redemption and why one novel had an almost triumphant ending.

Create a draft

There are certain elements that all essays are expected to contain. Draft your introduction, plot the points of the body and start a conclusion. At this stage you can rearrange paragraphs for the best possible flow. Some points may be omitted and others may be divided. This is the best time to do so.

Fill in the relevant details and submit

Your essay is basically complete at this point. The draft only needs to be polished for it to be finished and submitted. Proofread and edit as necessary.

As an added bonus you can mention how these visions of the future stack up with the present.