Question

WRITING TO COMPARE EXPLANATORY ESSAY

Fall of the House of Usher and House Taken Over
Edgar Allan Poe and Julio Cortázar
For an explanatory essay in which you compare and contrast two different
stories, focus your writing on specific elements that the stories have in common.
For example, for this assignment, you will focus on the stories' settings and
literary style, or genres. Then plan how you will compare and contrast those
aspects of the stories.
DIRECTIONS: Complete the following framework to plan your essay.
Introduction: A statement in which you identify the two stories and very briefly describe
them. The description can be quite general; do not give away the story. Explain what you
will be comparing and contrasting.
First element: Literary style What literary style and approach does each author use?
How does each literary style affect your reading of the story? Despite their differences,
what characteristics do the two styles share?
Second element: Setting For this assignment, compare and contrast the story settings-
how they affect the characters, and how they reflect and contribute to the stories' literary
styles.
Organization: Decide how you want to organize your essay. Do you want to organize by
one story and then the other, or by element, comparing and contrasting both stories for
one element and then the other?
Conclusion: Sum up your ideas. Consider which story had a greater impact on you. How
did the story's style and setting affect its impact? Which story would you recommend
most strongly to a friend? Why?

Answer 1

A compare and contrast essay on 'Fall of the House of Usher' by Edgar Allan Poe and 'House Taken Over' by Julio Cortázar focuses on literary style and setting. It examines how these elements affect the reading experience and contribute to each story's atmosphere. The essay is structured by analyzing each element for both stories and culminates in a recommendation based on the analysis.

Step-by-step explanation:

When constructing a compare and contrast essay on the literary works 'Fall of the House of Usher' by Edgar Allan Poe and 'House Taken Over' by Julio Cortázar, it is essential to focus on specific elements that are common to both stories. This essay will delve into the literary style and setting, examining how these aspects influence the characters, reflect the stories' themes, and contribute to their distinct literary styles.

Introduction

Begin the essay by briefly describing both stories generally and indicating that the focus will be on comparing and contrasting the literary style and setting of each.

Literary Style

The literary style of each author and its effect on the reader's experience will be analyzed, finding common characteristics and differences. This analysis is not merely a list but used to generate a larger argument about the texts.

Setting

Compare and contrast how the settings affect the characters and contribute to the overall literary style of the stories, providing deeper insight.

Organization

The essay can be organized by focusing on one story at a time or by comparing both stories for each element successively.

Conclusion

Summarize the insights gathered, state which story had a greater impact and why, and recommend a story to a friend based on the analysed elements of style and setting.