CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.9
The Standard
Compare and contrast the treatment of similar themes and topics (e.g., opposition of good and evil) and patterns of events (e.g., the quest) in stories, myths, and traditional literature from different cultures.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Literature
What This Standard Means
Students need to read two or more stories from different cultures and notice what is alike and different. They should compare themes, topics, characters, problems, and event patterns, such as a hero facing tests or good winning over evil.
Mastery looks like using text evidence from both stories, not just saying they are “kind of the same.” Students often get stuck retelling each story instead of comparing them. They may also name a theme that is too broad, like “family,” without explaining the lesson or message.
Ways to Teach It
- Give pairs two short trickster tales and a Venn diagram to sort characters, problems, lessons, and endings.
- Ask students to write: How do both stories show bravery, and what is different about each brave character?
- Use an exit ticket with two story titles and ask for one similarity, one difference, and one piece of evidence.
- Connect to movies by comparing two hero stories from different cultures or countries, focusing on the hero’s challenge and lesson.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.9
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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.9
Compare and contrast the themes, settings, and plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar characters (e.g., in books from a series).
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.9
Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approaches to similar themes and topics.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.9
Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.9
Compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres (e.g., stories and poems; historical novels and fantasy stories) in terms of their approaches to similar...