Compare/Contrast Poems

1. Fill in the blanks with the titles of your two poems. List as many similarities and differences
between your song and poem as you can. Focus on the poetic elements that you analyzed
previously (structure, diction, tone/mood, and theme).
Differences unique to
Stitches by Shawn Mendes
40 lines
16 stanzas
Speaker is
heartbroken
Rhyme
scheme is
AABBFFGGHHGG
Casual
Language/ modern
language
Theme is
getting over a person
for your own good.

Similarities between
Stitches and How I Love
Thee
Both talk about
love
Both don't use
alliteration
Both use
consonance
Both use
assonance
Both rhyme
Both have an
abundance of words
with a negative
connotation
The tones and
mood are similar
because they both
speak of love in a
depressing (real) way

Differences unique to
How I Love Thee by
Elizabeth Brett Browning
14 lines
1 stanza
Speaker is still
deeply in love
Rhyme
scheme is AABBCDD
Old school
language/ formal
language
Theme is just
love

2. Pick 2 main similarities and 2 main differences between the two poems. Use complete
sentences!

Similarity 1

Explain the similarity/difference

Give 1-2 examples that illustrate

this similarity/difference

One of the main similarities

between the poems is that they
both speak about love.

An example from Stitches is ,

You watch bleed until I can't

breath, Shaking, falling onto my

knees. And now I'm without your
kisses, I'll be needing stitches.
An example from How do I Love
Thee? is, I love thee to the level

of every days most quiet need,

by sun and candlelight.

Similarity 2

Another similarity between the two

pieces is the mood the song and
the poem create. Although
Stitches is from a heartbroken
prospective and How do I Love
Thee? is from someone who is
still in love, they both create a
somber atmosphere as a result of
being or have been in love.

An example from Stitches is,

I thought that I've been hurt before
But no one's ever left me quite this
sore
Your words cut deeper than a knife
Now I need someone to breathe
me back to life .
An example from How do I love
thee?is, I love thee with the
breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if
God choose,
I shall but love thee better after
death.

Difference 1

One difference is the theme, the

theme of Stitches is getting over
someone and the theme of How do
I love thee is just love

The theme of Stitches is shown in

this quote, Needle and the thread
Gotta get you out of my head
Needle and the thread
Gonna wind up dead
The theme of How do I love thee is
shown in this quote, I love thee
freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from
praise.
I love thee with the passion put to
use.

Difference 2

Another difference between the

poems/song is the modern
language vs. the more classic
language.

An example of modern language

from Stitches is the line, tripping
over myself. A phrase like this
would not be used in a classic or
older poem like How do I love
thee? You can tell How do I love
thee is older because of words like
thee and reference to religion which
you don't really see anymore. And
obviously Stitches was released
last year while How do I love thee
was originally published in 1850.

3. You will create an illustrated poster that shows these similarities and differences. It can be
either digital or on paper. Plan how you will represent these similarities/differences with imagery.
Explain the similarity/difference

What image will represent this

similarity/difference?

Similarity 1

One of the main similarities

between the poems is that they
both speak about love.

To show that they both speak about

love I can use a heart as that is a
very classic symbol of love.

Similarity 2

Another similarity between the two

pieces is the mood the song and
the poem create. Although
Stitches is from a heartbroken
prospective and How do I Love
Thee? is from someone who is
still in love, they both create a
somber atmosphere as a result of
being or have been in love.

To show the similarity between the

somber moods of love I can use
darker colors that aren't normally
associated with love. I will take the
images directly from the quotes
above like from Stitches, Your
words cut deeper than a knife.
That is very dark and interesting
imagery.

Difference 1

One difference is the theme, the

theme of Stitches is getting over
someone and the theme of How do
I love thee is just love

To show the difference in

perspectives and theme I will use
opposite directions, and show the
poets in different states of mind
while writing.

Difference 2

Another difference between the

poems/song is the modern
language vs. the more classic
language.

To show the difference between the

language I will literally show
someone tripping over themselves
and have old school language
written in an old school font.

4. Start working on your poster! It must include:

Both titles
Both authors/artists
4 images total (at least) that represent 2 similarities and 2 differences between
the poems
4 quotes total (at least) that represent 2 similarities and 2 differences between
the poems