Edexcel IGCSE English Literature: How to Answer the Poetry Comparison Question (Paper 1 Section B)

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Introduction: Learning to Compare with Clarity
In Section B of Edexcel IGCSE English Literature Paper 1, you will be asked to compare two poems from the anthology. This is a 30-mark question that gives you the chance to explore how poets communicate ideas through language, form, and structure, and to reflect on the choices they make when expressing themes and emotions.

The comparison task allows you to bring together your understanding of different poems, looking closely at what they share, how they differ, and how they each shape meaning through poetic techniques. It encourages close reading, clear thinking, and a thoughtful approach to writing.

This guide is here to help you build a confident and structured method for approaching the comparison question, using the assessment criteria as a foundation for your response.

Section A Unseen Poetry Compiled Exam Questions

Unseen Poetry Exam Questions

Edexcel IGCSE English Literature: How to Answer the Unseen Poetry Question

Also read: 17 Essential Poetic Devices for GCSE and IGCSE English Literature

Section B Anthology Poetry Compiled Exam Questions

Anthology Poetry Exam Questions

Edexcel IGCSE English Literature: How to Answer the Poetry Comparison Question

Edexcel IGCSE English Literature: Poetry Comparison Themes and Practice Questions

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What You’re Being Assessed On (AO2 and AO3)

The poetry comparison question in Section B is designed to assess two key skills. These are described in the exam as Assessment Objectives, and they form the foundation of what makes a strong response.

AO2 asks you to analyse how poets use language, form, and structure to shape meaning and create specific effects.

This means paying close attention to word choices, imagery, line breaks, rhythm, and the overall shape of the poem on the page.

AO3 focuses on how well you can explore connections between two poems.

These connections might be based on theme, tone, perspective, or technique, and your task is to bring these links into your writing with clarity and purpose.

To meet these objectives, your answer should:

Show a secure and thoughtful understanding of both poems
Discuss language choices and poetic devices used by each writer
Reflect on structure and form (rhyme, stanza length, voice)
Make clear comparisons throughout—not in separate blocks

Rather than writing about each poem separately, aim to weave your comparisons into each paragraph, so the links are always present and developing.

Table of Contents

Understand the Question Format

In Section B of Paper 1, you will be given a choice of two comparison questions. Both questions are based on a theme, and both ask you to write about two anthology poems.

The first option names both poems for you. The second gives you one poem and invites you to choose another from the anthology that links clearly to the same theme. This gives you a degree of flexibility—some students prefer having the decision made for them, while others appreciate being able to select a poem they feel confident writing about.

Each question focuses on a theme—this could be a personal feeling, a relationship, a stage of life, or a social concern. Themes in past exams have included:

Childhood
Loss
Relationships
Memory
Identity
Power
Conflict

The question will ask you to explore how the poets present this theme through their language, structure, and form. You will be expected to support your ideas with examples from the text.

Example question:

Compare how the poets present the theme of memory in ‘Piano’ and one other poem of your choice from the anthology. You should make reference to language, form and structure. Support your answer with examples from the poems.

You don’t need to cover everything in both poems. Instead, focus on what each poem reveals about the theme, how the poets present their ideas, and what choices they make to shape the reader’s experience.

A full list of past exam themes can be found in our breakdown of Section B comparison questions.

Choosing the Best Question for You

In Section B, you’ll be given a choice between two comparison questions. One will ask you to write about two specific, named poems. The other will give you one named poem and invite you to choose the second poem from the anthology. Both options are equally valid. The key is to choose the one that gives you the clearest path to a confident, well-supported answer.

If You Choose the Question with Two Named Poems

This option works well when you are confident in both poems. It gives you a clear structure from the beginning, and there is no need to recall another poem on the spot. You already know the focus and can begin planning straight away.

Choose this option when:

You know both poems well
You feel secure about key quotes, structure, and themes
You can see obvious links between the two poems in relation to the theme
You want to focus on planning your answer rather than selecting a second poem

This approach can feel focused and manageable, especially if you’ve revised poem-by-poem and built strong familiarity with individual texts.

If You Choose the Question with One Named Poem and One of Your Own Choice

This option gives you more flexibility. It’s useful if one of the named poems feels unfamiliar, or if the theme immediately brings another poem to mind that you know well and can analyse confidently.

Choose this option when:

You know the named poem, but not the other
You have revised by theme and practised comparisons
You are confident selecting and recalling another suitable poem
You can support your answer with strong quotations and thoughtful links
This approach works well for students who have built theme-based revision notes and enjoy making meaningful connections across different poems.

A Moment to Decide

Before you begin your answer, take 1–2 minutes to:

Skim both questions
Underline the theme in each
Make a quick mental or written note of which poems you’d compare
Ask: Which comparison offers more clear ideas, quotes, or structure?
Whichever option helps you start planning with clarity is likely to be the one that leads to your strongest response.

How to Approach the Comparison

A well-structured comparison begins with close reading, followed by thoughtful planning. These steps will help you stay focused on the theme while developing a clear and balanced response.

Step 1: Read with the Theme in Mind

Before you begin writing, spend time reading both poems carefully. Keep the theme in mind as you work through each one. You’re looking for connections, patterns, and contrasts that relate directly to the focus of the question.

As you annotate, you might highlight:

Key images or metaphors that relate to the theme
Shifts in tone, perspective, or mood
Language that evokes emotion or creates atmosphere
Structural features such as stanza breaks, repetition, or punctuation that guide the reader’s experience

This first step will help you to spot techniques that the poets have used and also help you notice how each poem develops its ideas.

Step 2: Plan Around Points of Connection

Instead of writing a full paragraph on one poem and then the other, aim to structure your plan around shared ideas or contrasting perspectives. Each paragraph should bring the poems into conversation with one another.

You might ask:

What theme or emotion is being explored in both poems?
How does each poet approach this theme?
What choices in form or structure influence the way meaning is shaped?

Planning with this in mind helps you move beyond summary and begin building thoughtful comparisons.

Step 3: Build Each Paragraph as a Comparison

A strong comparative paragraph connects the poems through both theme and technique. You can follow this structure to help your ideas flow clearly:

Point – Introduce a shared idea or contrast
Evidence – Choose short, precise quotes from each poem
Analysis – Explore how the poets use language, form, or structure
Comparison – Draw a clear link between their approaches
Effect – Reflect on how these choices affect the reader or shape meaning

Example Paragraph

Both Piano and Poem at Thirty-Nine explore the theme of personal memory. In Piano, Lawrence uses gentle rhythm and nostalgic imagery—“a child sitting under the piano”—to create a sense of warmth and longing. In contrast, Walker’s Poem at Thirty-Nine uses fragmented syntax and direct address—“How I miss my father”—to convey a more reflective and emotional distance. Both poets create an atmosphere of intimacy, but the tone in Piano feels rooted in tenderness, while Walker’s poem is shaped by maturity and quiet strength.

This kind of paragraph shows the examiner that you are not only understanding each poem, but thinking carefully about how they relate to one another.

Using Literary Terminology Thoughtfully

When writing about poetry, the use of literary terms helps you explain how meaning is created. These terms give you the language to describe what the poet is doing—whether its shaping mood, guiding rhythm, or building an image in the reader’s mind.

Some terms you might use include:

Metaphor / Simile – for comparing ideas or images
Enjambment / Caesura – for exploring how a poem flows or pauses
Rhyme / Rhythm – to reflect tone, structure, or emotional effect
Persona / Tone / Voice – to describe the speaker’s presence
Juxtaposition / Volta – to discuss contrast and change in direction

These features become most meaningful when you link them directly to the poem’s message or emotional effect. Rather than simply naming a technique, try to explain how it supports the theme or creates a particular response in the reader.

For a full guide to the most useful poetic terms at GCSE level, you can explore our article:
17 Poetic Devices for GCSE English Literature

Exam Tips for Section B

These gentle reminders can help you stay focused and thoughtful during the poetry comparison question:

Keep the poems in dialogue throughout your answer. Let your comparisons develop naturally, rather than writing about each poem in isolation.
If you are choosing your second poem, select one you know well and feel confident comparing in relation to the theme.
Use short, purposeful quotations that link clearly to your analysis.
Take time to plan your response before you begin writing—this makes your comparisons clearer and more focused.

Practise comparing different poem pairings during revision, especially around common themes such as memory, identity, relationships, and power.

Final Thoughts

The poetry comparison task is an opportunity to explore how writers shape meaning across different voices and forms. As you read and reflect, you’re learning to notice patterns, understand contrasts, and express your interpretation with clarity.

This kind of analysis takes time to develop, but with regular practice and a calm, structured approach, it will become more intuitive. You may even find that reading poems side by side offers new ways to enjoy language and understand perspective. Every comparison offers an opportunity to learn and each thoughtful response is a step towards deeper reading, better understanding and stronger writing.