1. Comparing & Contrasting Folklore
From Aesop’s Fables,
1912, public domain
From All About the Three Little Pigs,
1914, public domain
Copyright © 2014 Brenda Kovich
All rights reserved by author
Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only

2. Comparing & Contrasting
Today we will compare and contrast two fables, “The Grasshopper and the Ants” and “The Three Little Pigs,” in a paragraph.
To do this, we will take three steps:
Identify four elements
Find similarities and differences
Write a paragraph

3. Identifying Four Elements
First, we will identify elements of each story:
Characters - people or animals
Setting - where the story takes place
Plot - main events
Topic or Theme - the central idea
Using a table makes this job easier.

4. THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS
Using a Table
THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS
THE THREE LITTLE PIGS
Characters
Setting
Plot
Theme

5. Finding Similarities & Differences
Second, we will figure out which elements are similar and which are different.
Elements do not have to be exactly alike to be similar. You may need to think carefully to find similarities.
Using a Venn diagram makes this job easier.

6. The Grasshopper and the Ants
Using a Venn Diagram
The Grasshopper and the Ants
The Three
Little Pigs
Setting
Countryside
Characters
Grasshopper and Ants
Plot
Prepared characters help unprepared characters
Characters
Three Pigs
Theme
Be prepared

7. Constructing a Response
Finally, we will construct a response with these steps:
Write a topic sentence
Decide how you want to organize the paragraph
Add similarities and differences

8. Writing a Topic Sentence
The topic sentence is the first sentence in the paragraph. It should include the stories’ titles and whether they are more similar or more different.
Are “The Grasshopper and the Ant” and “The Three Little Pigs” more alike or more different?
Since three of four elements are similar, these stories are more alike.

9. Writing a Topic Sentence
Let’s try writing a few possible topic sentences for the paragraph:
“The Grasshopper and the Ant” and “The Three Little Pigs” are similar stories.
“The Grasshopper and the Ant” and “The Three Little Pigs” are more alike than different.
Many similarities can be found in “The Grasshopper and the Ant” and “The Three Little Pigs.”

10. Organizing the Paragraph
Your paragraph can be organized in three different ways:
Tell the similarities then tell the differences
Tell the differences then tell the similarities
Tell about one story then tell about the other
You should organize it in a way that makes sense with your topic sentence.

11. Organizing the Paragraph
How should the paragraph for “The Grasshopper and the Ant” and “The Three Little Pigs” be organized?
Tell the similarities then tell the differences
Tell the differences then tell the similarities
Tell about one story then tell about the other
Since the stories are more alike than different, it makes sense to tell the similarities then the differences.

12. Adding Similarities & Differences
After the topic sentence, we add the similarities and differences from the Venn diagram.

13. Adding Similarities & Differences
“The Grasshopper and the Ant” and “The Three Little Pigs” are similar in many ways.
Both stories, set in the countryside, have characters who do not prepare for something and other characters who help them.
The Grasshopper doesn’t prepare for winter and the Ants help him. Two pigs don’t prepare strong houses and their brother helps.
The theme for the stories is “be prepared.”
The only major difference is that one story has insect characters while the other has pigs.

14. Let’s Review
To compare and contrast two pieces of folklore, take these steps:
Identify characters, setting, plot, and theme
Find similarities and differences
Write a paragraph
1. Write the topic sentence
2. Determine the organization
3. Add similarities and differences