Structure for Comparative Essay

Possible Structure for Comparative Essay

Schindler’s List and Life is Beautiful

Introduction – Background of films (directors, reception).

-  Brief outline of approach of each film to the Holocaust (realistic drama versus comedy).

-  Discuss how Benigni’s film was criticised by some as not representing the Holocaust in a realistic or appropriate manner. (Your thesis is essentially your response to these criticisms).

Both Life is Beautiful and Schindler’s List represent the Holocaust and its perpetrators as horrific and inhuman

                                                                        OR

While Schindler’s List represents the Holocaust and its perpetrators as horrific and inhuman, Life is Beautiful does not.

NB: Key words in the thesis. These have been underlined. You should refer to these key words in the tie-ins of the paragraphs in your body. Whatever examples you use in your body should relate to these key words.

Body – You will need to structure your body around comparing and contrasting different aspects of the two films. You should aim to cover three topics of discussion, and for each topic you should write one paragraph on Schindler’s List and one on Life is Beautiful. Your body should contain six paragraphs in total. Some possible topics for paragraphs are (choose three of these):

1.       Genre and plot of two films (Comedy vs Realistic Drama, tragedy of a clown as opposed to the redemption of a profiteer)

2.       Heroes (Guido versus Schindler)

3.       Representations of perpetrators (German soldiers in both films, Dr Lessing versus Amon Goeth)

4.       Representations of concentration camps and practices, (including showing violence.)

5.       Representations of victims

Remember that for each topic you should write one paragraph on Schindler’s List and one on Life is Beautiful, comparing and contrasting the two films.

Reminder of the Internal paragraph structure for body paragraphs:

1. Each paragraph should have one clear idea that you will discuss and illustrate and tie back to the thesis of the essay. Introduce this idea in your topic sentence.
2. Explain this idea in more detail in the sentences following your topic sentence.
3. Illustrate your idea with reference to a number of specific examples or instances in the film (or both films). Some of these specific examples should include references to features of film, including editing, mise en scene and cinematography and sound.  
4. Refer to the way that the audience is positioned, the emotions they are invited to feel and the opinions or ideas that they are invited to draw from the film as a result of the constructive elements you have discussed.  (This is the way that you need to tie each of your paragraph ideas back to the thesis.)

Conclusion – Summarise your comparison of two films.

       -  Evaluate the criticisms of Benigni’s film.

       -  State implications of your argument: That, while it is important to remember the     

       Holocaust, we need to ensure that in doing so we do not sugar-coat the horror of what    

       occurred.

Bibliography

You are required to provide a bibliography for your essay which should list all articles and internet sources that you accessed to write your essay. Any quotes used in your essay should be references appropriately using conventions indicated in the school diary.