Think of General Vision and Viewpoint (GVV) as the “vibe” or the “outlook” of a story. When you’re comparing texts for the Leaving Cert, you aren’t just looking at what happens; you’re looking at the mood the author creates and whether the world they’ve built feels like a place of hope or a place of despair.
Basically, if you had to live inside the book, play, or film, would you be optimistic about your future, or would you feel like the scales are permanently tipped against you?
The Three Main Stages
To write a great comparative essay, you should look at how the vision and viewpoint change from the start to the end.
1. The Beginning: The Set-up
How does the world feel when we first enter it?
- The Social Setting: Is the society fair, or is it controlled by strict rules, poverty, or prejudice?
- The Hero’s Outlook: Is the main character full of dreams, or are they already beaten down by life?
2. The Middle: The Struggle
This is where the “vision” is tested. As the characters face obstacles, ask yourself:
- Support vs. Isolation: Do people help each other, or is it every man for himself?
- Success vs. Failure: When the characters try to improve their lives, does the world reward them or punish them?
3. The End: The Final Outlook
This is the most important part for your conclusion.
- Is there hope? Even if the ending is sad, is there a sense that things might get better?
- The “Aftertaste”: How do you feel as a reader when you finish? If you feel empowered, the viewpoint is likely positive. If you feel bleak, it’s negative.
Key Factors to Compare
When you are writing your paragraphs, use these “handles” to compare your three texts:
| Factor | Positive Vision (Bright) | Negative Vision (Dark) |
| Relationships | Love, loyalty, and family bonds. | Betrayal, loneliness, and cruelty. |
| Fate/Control | Characters can change their lives. | Characters are trapped by their stars. |
| The Ending | A “resolved” ending with some light. | A “cynical” ending where nothing changes. |
How to Phrase Your Comparisons
To get those high marks, you need to use comparative language. Don’t just talk about one book and then the other. Weave them together using phrases like:
- “Similarly, in Text A, we see a bleak opening, whereas Text B offers a more light-hearted introduction.”
- “The sense of hopelessness in Text A is mirrored in Text C when the protagonist fails to escape.”
- “In contrast to the optimistic ending of the film, the novel concludes with a deeply pessimistic viewpoint.”
Top Tip: Remember that the “Viewpoint” often belongs to the author. Ask yourself: “What is the author trying to tell me about real life through this story?”