Comparing and contrasting are two rhetorical devices that are often used in comprehension of literature, to help the reader better understand two or more novels, stories, etc. A comparison is the consideration of the similarities of two things, and what is the same between two objects, persons, or places. Contrast is a rhetorical device through which writers identify differences between two subjects, places, persons, things, or ideas. The book Southpaw is about the letters sent to each other by two former friends during a quarrel. Richard does not think girls are suitable for baseball, but in the end, he earns his friend Janet's respect. The other book that is being compared and contrasted with Southpaw is Concha. Concha is about a girl who is timid and bullied, but gets the other kids on her side in the end, and earns their respect. Southpaw and Concha have many similarities and differences, and that is what brings them together and pulls them apart. With a base of similarities and difference, different inferences can be made differently, and further understanding to objects if developed. Not everything is on the cover, and comparison and contrast can really help to dive into the deeper meaning of different works of fascinating literature.
One out of the two important things during a comparison and contrast is the comparison, or finding the similarities between two objects. In the two books we will be looking at, Southpaw and Concha have many similarities, mainly to the fact that they are close genres and both are for kids. One of the similarities is that they have the same type of characters. For example, in Southpaw, the characters are Janet and Richard. They are both kids. In Concha, the characters are also kids, as they are Concha, Mundo, Virgie, and Beto. Characters are what brings a story to life, and so, naturally, it is common for stories to share common characters. Another similarity between the two books are the happy endings. Janet and Ricahrd are quarreling at the beginning, but at the end, they have become friends again. Concha is always shy and timid; kids don’t play with her, but afterwards, she earns their care and kindness. Lastly, there are also the changes of attitude in characters in both novels. In Southpaw, Richard resents girls at the beginning, but after his long argument with Janet, she learns that girls can do just what boys can do, if not better. In Concha, Virgie and Beto and Mundo are all opposed to Concha at first, but at the end, only MUndo is still opposed; Virgie and Beto are on Concha’s side. It’s not uncommon for similarities to be laid across many stories. Novels for children usually end with a happy ending, and there isn’t just one children’s story in the world. Similarities are important to grab and pull together, as they make connections depper, and can develop new ones.
A compare and contrast is not a compare and contrast when it only lists similarities and doesn’t list differences. A splatter of genres are spread throughout many different books, making it a popular choice for a difference. For instance, in Southpaw, the book is read in letter form, and is purely written by letters sent between two former friends. In Concha, however, the book is more of a memoir, a memory of someone’s lifetime, usually childhood. The different genres are only part of what makes books unique. Different genres can make you interpret different stories differently. Anothing different is the people involved in the conflicts. In the two books, both are about conflicts and resolution. The people involved are different. In Southpaw, only two kids are arguing over whether girls should play baseball. In Concha, it is a group of kids arguing about whose side they should be on. The books have similar characters, but the characters are involved in different things. Last but not least, something else that is different can also be the case of the argument between the characters. In the story Southpaw, the two kids are arguing about gender discrimination and whether girls are suitable for baseball (the answer is yes). But in Concha, it is entirely different. In Concha, the group of kids are arguing because a kid is being a bully, and Mundo is insulting Concha. The differences between books are just as important as the similarities. Without them, how do you get a full comparison? Differences are useful to delve deeper into the true meaning and find out what a book is really about.
Compare and contrast isn’t just something to find similarities and differences. It’s a function to actually understand the novel. Not everything is as it seems. Again, compare and contrast isn’t just something to find similarities and differences. It’s to help understand the books. Compare and contrast are used to emphasize different characteristics in a book. By comparing and contrasting, we see a different layer of the true story and are able to understand more of what the author has chosen to write. Contrasting helps heighten the action and main plot, while similarities cna bring stories closer together by finding things that are the same. Compare and contrast also helps us analyze how authors approach different themes, and how they portray it in their novel. Through this, readers can better understand the author’s intent and what they mean to write, and what message they want to send, and how their personal experience might have affected the story’s outcome. Compare and contrast isn’t just to pretend that you read the book well. It's to actually understand it. The meaning of things are often unclear. That’s what compare and contrast is for.
Southpaw and Concha are two very similar and different books. With compare and contrast, we were able to connect the books together, and interlink them. We also managed to understand the author’s message more. Reading comprehension is a valuable skill that many readers should have, and compare and contrast is a great tool to help build and/or strengthen that skill. Compare and contrast is a really useful reading function for readers to understand the true meaning of the piece of literature, and always look for a second and third layer beneath the top one. The top one is easy to find, but the bottom ones aren’t. The process of character development and story structure is deeply explored in a compare and contrast, to both books. By creating a deep and thorough compare and contrast, we are able to see the true colors of the book and comprehend it. Reading is an important skill in daily life. You probably won’t notice it, but reading the stop sign is reading. Reading a poster at your school’s notice board is reading. It develops new skills, brings a sense of imagination, and just generally makes life better.
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