Possible+Comparative+Paper+Topics

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New's perception of heroism, versus Old's expectations, e.g. from a father || Water The sea in Sailor represents internal order, an icon worshipped by the boys etc. The river in Siddhartha represents balance, the present and eternality, through which Siddhartha finds enlightenment. ||  Both protagonists embark on similar physical journeys. First leg: attempt to separate self from and reject others Second leg: trying to reincorporate self as member of common community Final leg differs in that one achieves satisfactoin through balance, the other has a breakdown and dies. || Isolation of Ryuji as a sailor and later his integration with the Kuroda family || Father and son relationship Ryuji's gentleness led to Noboru's despise and hatred towards him Siddhartha's unconditional love for young Siddhartha worsened his rebellious spirit and drove him away ||  Isolation of Grenouille from society as he pursued his goal of obtaining the perfect human scent; isolation of Siddhartha from looking for guidance and knowledge, dissatisfied with many spiritual explanations and strive to achieve englightenment by his own means ||
 *  || Perfume & Sailor || Sailor & Siddhartha || Perfume & Siddhartha ||
 * Andrew ||  ||  || Animals:The use of the symbolism of animals to portray the different stages of the protagonists life. ||
 * Angus || Old vs. New: Old's tradition, rules, copying versus New's innovation, creation, invention, and defying old rules.
 * Henry || The viewpoints of the main characters of TSWFFGWTS and Perfume. ||  ||  ||
 * Jacky ||  Isolation of Grenouille from society: causes from the indifference of society and impact on his life; shift from his desire for isolation to need for society
 * Jerome || deception used by Grenouilled and the Chief and his gang is used to achieve objectives, which usually end up with somebody or something sacrificed or destroyed for the sake of their knowledge or goal. ||  both are not materialistic. Material possession for both protagonists are not needed for pursuit of happiness or enlightenment. Siddhartha, understanding and knowledge was what he wanted. He was able to discard any material possession, while Ryuji doesn't need any money, but rather love and a normal life for happiness. ||  <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">In both Siddhartha and Perfume, the protagonists both achieve salvation. Both protagonists did not need the help from external forces and relied on their own talents and power in order to reach their salvations.

|| || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Inability to express/hidden feelings (secrecy) as a cause of self-destruction and destruction of other characters. || Protagonists move in recurring cycles; Ryuji faces constant struggle between land and sea however ultimately desires the sea. Similarly Siddhartha struggles between two contrasting lifestyles yet ultimately returns to comfortable and ultimate realization of presence and unity. || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">In both novels, animals are used as comparisons to mirror characters' journey and traits. || Genius in both Perfume and Sailor (boys and Grenouille both self-proclaimed geniuses) The idea of order/disorder in society is also presented in both novels. Noboru and the chief trying to maintain order in the chaotic world while Grenouille causes disorder unto society and while the order in society is portrayed through people being deceived. || Perceptions of characters by others and by self helps to characterize the protagonists of both Siddhartha and Sailor for who they really are. Duality? || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The main characters both go on a journal which is ultimately a cycle. Grenouille ends up still unloved in the end just as he was in the beginning and Siddhartha's journey also takes him around in a circle until he finally reaches enlightenment ||
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Jimmy || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The setting in which Grenouille and Noboru grow up in. Grenouille grows up without love or kindness and drives him to murder people while Noboru is given a normal childhood but ends up being isolated from society. || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Both books go by very fast and seem unrealistic. Sailor: Ryuji falling in love instantly, sudden change in seasons etc. Siddhartha: choices made are very impulsive, short sentences, etc. || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Grenouille and Siddhartha both had goals. However Grenouille knew what he must do to achieve his goal while Siddhartha had no clear idea of how to achieve enlightenment. This leads them to embark on two very different journeys. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">John || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Both Sidd and Ryuji go through inner conflict that is resolved while they are near a body of water, which allows them to think through their problems. || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The emphasis on the main character and how the plot revolves on the thoughts and actions of both protagonists ||
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Kathy || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Dispassionate attitudes or perspectives toward the matter of life and death The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea and Perfume (Comparison between Noboru and Grenouille) || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> ||
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Linda || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The emptiness of Noboru and Grenouille's worlds lead them to try to fulfill the emptiness and end up killing and doing horrible things. Noboru and the gang think they're the only ones in the emtpy world isolated from the others and Grenouille doesn't possess the human smell which to him meant a lot. ||  || Grenouille and Siddhartha both experienced a turning point at which their life changed greatly. For Grenouille it's the period in the mountains that he realized his lack of scent which lead on to what happened later; as for Siddhartha it's the river that made him actually obtained the true meaning of time and the Om. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Neville || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Both Siddhartha and Ryuji faces inner conflicts again within themselves where they are not satisfied with their life and they resolve this both by self realization || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> ||
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Niu Niu
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Roy || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> The internal disorder that is present in both Ryuji and Grenouille. Ryuji does not know what he truly wants in life while Grenouille is filled with internal disorder due to his obsession with scents.
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Vickie || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Ingenuity, the character's notions (Grenouille, Chief & gang) that they are geniuses, although no one can recognize it. This leads them onto a path of destruction, killing people in the process (Grenouille and young girls, boys and Ryuji) || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Protagonists in both novels face internal conflict: Siddhartha is torn between two lives (materialistic world & self-mortification) until he finds a balance between the two. Ryuji is torn between the sea and the land, and in the end, he essentially leads himself to his own death (and doesn't find that balance that Siddhartha possesses) || <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Main characters (Grenouille & Siddhartha) go on a journey trying to find something; in the process, they learn new things, and in the end, they find something different than they originally were seeking. ||