The Leaving Cert Higher Level English Comparative is worth 70 marks: that’s a big chunk of the English Paper 2 (200 marks in total). Lots of students find it very difficult to get their heads arounds the Comparative.

There are lots of combinations of texts, but have a look at these sample essays to understand what is being asked of you in the Comparative section! Reading this is arguably the best way of understanding how much to write, do you need quotations, which is better the 70 marker or the 30/40, etc.

Here they are, broken out

by Mode of Comparison:

General Vision and Viewpoint (2025 and 2026)

Literary Genre (2026)

Theme or Issue (2025)

Cultural Context (2026)

If you are confused, this video on the Comparative should help!

by Leaving Cert Comparative text

Kindly note that the syllabus changes year on year, so please make sure that you texts are relevant by checking the Prescribed Material for the Leaving Certificate Examinations circular available online.

Tip for the Comparative

How to make them and never forget them? Make a table with three columns (one for each text) and fill it in using your own texts. This will set you up to make complicated comparisons. A big page/excel sheet may be in order…

Knives Out

Room

Ladybird

Literary Genre – Never Let Me Go, Philadelphia, Here I Come and Ladybird for Leaving Cert English #625Lab Comparative

Compare the extent to which the authors of three texts on your comparative course use setting or aspects of setting to help define and develop characters. Develop your answer with…

Continue ReadingLiterary Genre – Never Let Me Go, Philadelphia, Here I Come and Ladybird for Leaving Cert English #625Lab Comparative

Cultural Context – Educated, A Raisin in the Sun, Ladybird for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

Compare the extent to which the expression of individuality or divergence from social or cultural norms is tolerated within the cultural context of each of at least two texts on…

Continue ReadingCultural Context – Educated, A Raisin in the Sun, Ladybird for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

Theme or Issue – Room and Philadelphia, Here I Come for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

Compare how comprehensively similar or different ethical (moral) questions are explored in the treatment of the same theme or issue, in at least two texts on your comparative course. Develop…

Continue ReadingTheme or Issue – Room and Philadelphia, Here I Come for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

Theme or Issue – The Shawshank Redemption, Where the Crawdads Sing, The Crucible for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

Compare the reasons why you found the exploration of the same theme or issue through understanding what influences or motivates one central character, from 3 texts on your comparative course,…

Continue ReadingTheme or Issue – The Shawshank Redemption, Where the Crawdads Sing, The Crucible for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

Theme or Issue – Never Let Me Go, Ladybird, A Doll’s House for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

The study of a theme or issue can offer a reader valuable lessons and insights. Discuss, with reference to a theme or issue in the three texts you have studied. Feedback: - note the…

Continue ReadingTheme or Issue – Never Let Me Go, Ladybird, A Doll’s House for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

GVV – Unforgiven, Macbeth, Wuthering Heights for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

A reader can feel greatly heartened or be left despondent by the general vision and viewpoint of a text. Compare how the general vision and viewpoint of three texts studied…

Continue ReadingGVV – Unforgiven, Macbeth, Wuthering Heights for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

Literary Genre – Death and Nightingales, Playboy of the Western World, Brooklyn for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

“Compelling storytelling can be achieved in a variety of ways”. (Literary Genre 2015) (a) Identify 2 literary techniques found in one text you have studied. Discuss the extent to which…

Continue ReadingLiterary Genre – Death and Nightingales, Playboy of the Western World, Brooklyn for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

Theme or Issue – Wuthering Heights, A Doll’s House, Juno for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

Some texts leave readers with a largely idealistic impression of a theme or issue, while others leave readers with a more realistic or believable impression of the same theme or…

Continue ReadingTheme or Issue – Wuthering Heights, A Doll’s House, Juno for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

Theme or Issue – The Playboy of the Western World, Silas Marner, Brooklyn for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

#625Lab. Corrected by experienced examiner, graded as H2 with feedback on how to improve below. You may also like: Leaving Cert English Complete Guide (€). The study of a theme or issue…

Continue ReadingTheme or Issue – The Playboy of the Western World, Silas Marner, Brooklyn for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

GVV – Brooklyn, The Great Gatsby, The Playboy of the Western World for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

Significant events and the impact they have on us help to clarify the general vision and viewpoint of the texts. Do you agree? #625Lab. Corrected by an experienced examiner, graded…

Continue ReadingGVV – Brooklyn, The Great Gatsby, The Playboy of the Western World for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

GVV – Big Maggie, Silas Marner, Brooklyn for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

Significant events in texts and the impact they have on readers often help to clarify the general vision & viewpoint of those texts. #625Lab. Corrected by an experienced examiner, graded…

Continue ReadingGVV – Big Maggie, Silas Marner, Brooklyn for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

GVV – Wuthering Heights, A Doll’s House for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

A variety of factors in texts can change or reinforce our initial impression of the general vision and viewpoint (2017) #625Lab. Corrected by an experienced examiner, graded as 42/70 with…

Continue ReadingGVV – Wuthering Heights, A Doll’s House for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

GVV – Juno, A Doll’s House and The Great Gatsby for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

The general vision and viewpoint of a text can be shaped by the reader's attitude to a central character. Compare the extent to which your attitude to a central character…

Continue ReadingGVV – Juno, A Doll’s House and The Great Gatsby for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

Theme or Issue – The Playboy of the Western World, Brooklyn, Foster for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

“A theme or issue can reveal a character’s strengths or weaknesses”. a) With reference to one text on your comparative course, discuss how a theme or issue revealed a character's…

Continue ReadingTheme or Issue – The Playboy of the Western World, Brooklyn, Foster for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

Theme or Issue – Wuthering Heights, Big Maggie, Juno for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

“In many texts, a theme or issue may not be resolved to the complete satisfaction of the reader.” (a) Discuss the extent to which a theme or issue is resolved…

Continue ReadingTheme or Issue – Wuthering Heights, Big Maggie, Juno for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

GVV – 1984, The Handmaid’s Tale and Unforgiven for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

Key moments in texts can influence our sense of the general vision and viewpoint. (a) Discuss the extent to which your sense of the general vision and viewpoint of one…

Continue ReadingGVV – 1984, The Handmaid’s Tale and Unforgiven for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

GVV – All My Sons, The Great Gatsby and Brooklyn for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

“The general vision and viewpoint of a text can be changed or reinforced by the ending of a text”. #625Lab. Corrected by experienced examiner, graded as H3 with feedback on…

Continue ReadingGVV – All My Sons, The Great Gatsby and Brooklyn for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

GVV – All My Sons, The Great Gatsby, Brooklyn for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

“Significant events in texts and the impact they have on readers often helps clarify the general vision and viewpoint of those texts” – with reference to the three texts on…

Continue ReadingGVV – All My Sons, The Great Gatsby, Brooklyn for Leaving Cert English Comparative #625Lab

Cultural Context – I’m Not Scared, Macbeth, Death and Nightingales #625Lab

“The main characters in the text are often in conflict with the world or culture in which they inhabit”. (2009) #625Lab. This essays is beautifully focused on the question. However, the…

Continue ReadingCultural Context – I’m Not Scared, Macbeth, Death and Nightingales #625Lab

Literary Genre – The Artist, A Doll’s House and Death and Nightingales for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

"The creation of memorable characters is part of the art of good story telling". Write an essay comparing the ways in which memorable characters were created and contributed to your…

Continue ReadingLiterary Genre – The Artist, A Doll’s House and Death and Nightingales for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

Cultural Context – Macbeth, The Fault in Our Stars, Rear Window for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

The world in which a character lives shapes the person that they become. Write an essay comparing the cultural context and how it affects the lives of the characters of…

Continue ReadingCultural Context – Macbeth, The Fault in Our Stars, Rear Window for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

GVV – Macbeth, I’m Not Scared and Death and Nightingales for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

“A variety of factors in texts can change or reinforce our initial impression of the general vision and viewpoint”. (2017) #625Lab. This essay raises a lot of points I don't agree…

Continue ReadingGVV – Macbeth, I’m Not Scared and Death and Nightingales for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

GVV – The Great Gatsby, Wuthering Heights and The Plough and the Stars for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

"Each text we read presents us with an outlook on life that may be bright or dark, or a combination of both". Discuss, with reference to the three texts you…

Continue ReadingGVV – The Great Gatsby, Wuthering Heights and The Plough and the Stars for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

GVV – Death and Nightingales, A Doll’s House, Juno for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

“Significant events in texts and the impact they have on readers often help to clarify the general vision and viewpoint of those texts”. With reference to three texts on your…

Continue ReadingGVV – Death and Nightingales, A Doll’s House, Juno for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

Cultural Context – I’m Not Scared, The Great Gatsby, The Plough and the Stars for Leaving Cert English

Understanding who holds power and who is powerless helps to reveal the cultural context in texts. #625Lab. This essay is en route to a H1. Why? Clearly structured, genuinely engaged with…

Continue ReadingCultural Context – I’m Not Scared, The Great Gatsby, The Plough and the Stars for Leaving Cert English

Literary Genre – The Great Gatsby, The Plough and the Stars, Children of Men for Leaving Cert English

“Write an essay on one or more of the aspects of literary genre (the way texts tell their stories) which you found most interesting in the texts you studied in…

Continue ReadingLiterary Genre – The Great Gatsby, The Plough and the Stars, Children of Men for Leaving Cert English

Cultural Context – I’m Not Scared, The Great Gatsby, All My Sons for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

“The world of a text, and how it affects the behaviour of central characters, can influence a reader’s response to the events that take place”. With the Comparative, you will…

Continue ReadingCultural Context – I’m Not Scared, The Great Gatsby, All My Sons for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

Literary Genre – I’m Not Scared, Foster, Big Maggie for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

Using one comparative text that you have studied explain how the author uses literary techniques to create a compelling story. There is a reason I tell people who aren't mad…

Continue ReadingLiterary Genre – I’m Not Scared, Foster, Big Maggie for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

Cultural Context – I’m Not Scared, Foster, The Plough and The Stars for Leaving Cert English

“The cultural context can have a significant influence on the behaviour of the central character/characters in a text. Compare the way in which the behaviour of the central characters in…

Continue ReadingCultural Context – I’m Not Scared, Foster, The Plough and The Stars for Leaving Cert English

Cultural Context: A Doll’s House, I’m Not Scared and The Plough and the Stars for Leaving Cert English

“Understanding who holds power and who is powerless helps to reveal the cultural context in texts”. Compare how the distribution of power within each of the three texts on your…

Continue ReadingCultural Context: A Doll’s House, I’m Not Scared and The Plough and the Stars for Leaving Cert English

Cultural Context – The Great Gatsby, Children of Men and The Plough and The Stars for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

Understanding the cultural context of a text allows you to see how values and attitudes are shaped. Show how this statement applies to one of the texts on your comparative…

Continue ReadingCultural Context – The Great Gatsby, Children of Men and The Plough and The Stars for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

Literary Genre in The Great Gatsby, All My Sons and I’m Not Scared for Leaving Cert Comparative #625Lab

"Authors can use various techniques to make settings real and engaging." #625Lab The author took on the challenging literary genre question - and did so quite well!  I have studied…

Continue ReadingLiterary Genre in The Great Gatsby, All My Sons and I’m Not Scared for Leaving Cert Comparative #625Lab

General vision and viewpoint – Foster, I’m Not Scared and The Plough and The Stars #625Lab

“The general vision and viewpoint is shaped by the reader’s feeling of optimism or pessimism in reading the text.” This is a very good essay! #625Lab For me, the General Vision…

Continue ReadingGeneral vision and viewpoint – Foster, I’m Not Scared and The Plough and The Stars #625Lab

Cultural Context – Juno, Foster, The Plough and The Stars for Leaving Cert English

“Understanding the cultural context of a text adds to our enjoyment of a good narrative.”  In the light of the above statement write an essay comparing the cultural contexts of…

Continue ReadingCultural Context – Juno, Foster, The Plough and The Stars for Leaving Cert English

Cultural Context – Wuthering Heights, The Great Gatsby and The Plough and the Stars for Leaving Cert English

''In any cultural context, deeply embedded values and attitudes can be difficult to change''. Compare the extent to which the above statement is valid in relation to your understanding of…

Continue ReadingCultural Context – Wuthering Heights, The Great Gatsby and The Plough and the Stars for Leaving Cert English

General Vision and Viewpoint – The Great Gatsby, Juno, The Plough and The Stars for Leaving Cert English

"A variety of factors in texts can change or reinforce our initial impression of the general vision and viewpoint of a text." Compare the main factor or actors that changed…

Continue ReadingGeneral Vision and Viewpoint – The Great Gatsby, Juno, The Plough and The Stars for Leaving Cert English

Cultural Context – Big Maggie, The Great Gatsby and Juno for Leaving Cert English

“In any cultural context, deeply embedded values and attitudes can be difficult to change.” Compare the extent to which the above statement is valid in relation to your understanding of at…

Continue ReadingCultural Context – Big Maggie, The Great Gatsby and Juno for Leaving Cert English

General Vision and Viewpoint: Big Maggie, Foster, I’m Not Scared for Leaving Cert English

“The general vision and viewpoint of a text can be determined by the success or failure of a central character in his/her efforts to achieve fulfilment” (70 marks)   #625Lab…

Continue ReadingGeneral Vision and Viewpoint: Big Maggie, Foster, I’m Not Scared for Leaving Cert English

Cultural Context – Wuthering Heights, The Great Gatsby, The Plough and The Stars for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

"The main characters in texts are often in conflict with the world or culture they inhabit" In light of the above statement, compare how the main characters interact with the…

Continue ReadingCultural Context – Wuthering Heights, The Great Gatsby, The Plough and The Stars for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

Cultural Context – Stop at Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story, Macbeth, The Fault in Our Stars for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

“The cultural context within a text often dictates the crises or difficulties faced by characters and their responses to these difficulties.”  (a) Discuss to what extent this statement applies to…

Continue ReadingCultural Context – Stop at Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story, Macbeth, The Fault in Our Stars for Leaving Cert English #625Lab

Leaving Cert English Comparative – General Vision and Viewpoint – Foster and Juno

“The general vision and viewpoint is shaped by the reader's feeling of optimism and pessimism in reading the text” The author added a note with her essay:  "I mainly struggle…

Continue ReadingLeaving Cert English Comparative – General Vision and Viewpoint – Foster and Juno

Leaving Cert English Comparative – Cultural Context – I’m not Scared, Wuthering Heights

“The issue of social class is important in shaping our understanding of the cultural context of a text” Compare the importance of social class in shaping your understanding of the…

Continue ReadingLeaving Cert English Comparative – Cultural Context – I’m not Scared, Wuthering Heights

Leaving Cert English Comparative – Theme or Issue – Wuthering Heights, The King’s Speech, The Plough and The Stars #625Lab

"A readers view of a theme or issue can be either changed or reinforced through interaction with texts". Compare the extent to which your understanding of a theme or issue was…

Continue ReadingLeaving Cert English Comparative – Theme or Issue – Wuthering Heights, The King’s Speech, The Plough and The Stars #625Lab

Leaving Cert Comparative Study – Theme or Issue – Othello, A Doll’s House and The King’s Speech #625Lab

“Some texts leave readers with a largely idealistic impression of a theme or issue, while others leave readers with a more realistic or believable impression of the same theme or…

Continue ReadingLeaving Cert Comparative Study – Theme or Issue – Othello, A Doll’s House and The King’s Speech #625Lab

Leaving Cert English Comparative – Literary Genre – Circle of Friends, The Plough and The Stars and The King’s Speech #625Lab

Write an essay on one or more of the aspects of literary genre which you found most interesting in the texts you have studied on your comparative course. This is…

Continue ReadingLeaving Cert English Comparative – Literary Genre – Circle of Friends, The Plough and The Stars and The King’s Speech #625Lab

Leaving Cert English Comparative – General Vision and Viewpoint – The Fault in Our Stars, Children of Men and 1984 #625Lab

“Significant events in texts and the impact they have on readers often help to clarify the general vision and viewpoint of those texts”This is a very good essay from a…

Continue ReadingLeaving Cert English Comparative – General Vision and Viewpoint – The Fault in Our Stars, Children of Men and 1984 #625Lab

Leaving Cert English Comparative – General Vision and Viewpoint – Wuthering Heights, Hamlet and Rear Window #625Lab

"The general vision and viewpoint is shaped by the reader’s feeling of optimism or pessimism in reading the text.’’ In the light of the above statement, compare the general vision…

Continue ReadingLeaving Cert English Comparative – General Vision and Viewpoint – Wuthering Heights, Hamlet and Rear Window #625Lab

Leaving Cert English Comparative – General Vision and Viewpoint – Sample Essay: Foster, Juno and All My Sons

"Each text we read presents us with an outlook on life that may be bright or dark, or a combination of both brightness and darkness."In light of the above statement,…

Continue ReadingLeaving Cert English Comparative – General Vision and Viewpoint – Sample Essay: Foster, Juno and All My Sons

Comparative – Literary Genre – Sample Essay: 1984, Rear Window, The Song of Achilles

“Studying a selection of texts helps to highlight how some authors can make more skilful use of the same literary technique than others.” Choose one literary technique common to three texts…

Continue ReadingComparative – Literary Genre – Sample Essay: 1984, Rear Window, The Song of Achilles

Comparative | Cultural Context | Wuthering Heights, The King’s Speech and The Plough and The Stars

2014 Higher Level Paper II “The cultural context within a text often dictates the crises or difficulties faced by characters and their responses to these difficulties.”  (a) Discuss to what…

Continue ReadingComparative | Cultural Context | Wuthering Heights, The King’s Speech and The Plough and The Stars

Comparative | General Vision and Viewpoint | Citizen Kane, The Dead and Wuthering Heights

2007 Higher Level Paper II ‘The general vision and viewpoint is shaped by the reader’s feelings of optimism or pessimism in reading the text.’  In light of the above statement,…

Continue ReadingComparative | General Vision and Viewpoint | Citizen Kane, The Dead and Wuthering Heights

Comparative | Cutural Context | The Great Gatsby, All My Sons, The King’s Speech

“The cultural context can have a significant influence on the behaviour of the central character/characters in a text.” Compare the way in which the behaviour of the central characters in…

Continue ReadingComparative | Cutural Context | The Great Gatsby, All My Sons, The King’s Speech

Comparative | Cutural Context | The Great Gatsby, The Plough and the Stars, The King’s Speech

“Deep-seated attitudes and expectations illustrate the possibility or impossibility of social change in texts”.  Discuss, comparing all three of the texts that you have studied for your comparative course. You…

Continue ReadingComparative | Cutural Context | The Great Gatsby, The Plough and the Stars, The King’s Speech

Comparative – General Vision and Viewpoint – Sample Essay: Foster, The King’s Speech and The Plough and the Stars #625Lab

“The general vision and viewpoint of a text can be determined by the success or failure of a central character in his/her efforts to achieve fulfilment.” In the light of the…

Continue ReadingComparative – General Vision and Viewpoint – Sample Essay: Foster, The King’s Speech and The Plough and the Stars #625Lab

Comparative | King Lear | Cultural Context, Literary Genre, General Vision and Viewpoint

You may also like: Complete Guide: H1 Leaving Cert English and King Lear: Full Guide for Leaving Cert English CULTURAL CONTEXT Shakespearean works often resonate with existing stories. The Bard adapts a general…

Continue ReadingComparative | King Lear | Cultural Context, Literary Genre, General Vision and Viewpoint