Psychological Comparison

This advanced comparison worksheet is designed for Grades 10-12 and invites students to place Crime and Punishment in dialogue with another psychological novel of their choice (such as The Stranger, Macbeth, Lord of the Flies, or The Picture of Dorian Gray). Using a side-by-side planning chart, students analyze four major elements-character conflict, guilt and conscience, social pressure, and resolution-to identify parallels and contrasts between the two works.

The activity emphasizes how different authors explore the psychology of moral decision-making, the weight of internal versus external forces, and the consequences of guilt. A concluding reflection challenges students to evaluate the contemporary relevance of Crime and Punishment compared to the second novel, encouraging them to think about why Dostoevsky’s ideas still matter today.

Learning Goals

• Literary Theme & Character Analysis (Upper Secondary ELA) – Examine psychological depth across texts
• Comparative Literature Evaluation – Identify similarities and differences in how novels handle moral conflict
• Reading Comprehension of Complex Texts – Analyze abstract ideas such as conscience and guilt
• Text-Based Reflective Writing – Support evaluative claims with evidence and reasoning
• Cultural & Historical Context Analysis – Consider how context shapes psychological portrayal

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Aligned with high school literature, IB/AP-style comparison, and analysis standards
• Structured Planning Tool – Reduces cognitive load before extended comparative writing
• Choice-Driven – Allows students to select a comparison novel, increasing engagement
• Deep Psychological Focus – Highlights moral reasoning, social pressure, and internal conflict
• Essay-Ready Design – Ideal precursor to comparative essays or literary research writing
• Discussion & Reflection Friendly – Supports seminar-style conversations and critical debate
• Low Prep – Print-and-use worksheet with clearly defined categories and prompts

This psychological comparison worksheet helps students synthesize complex ideas across texts while deepening their understanding of Crime and Punishment as a foundational psychological novel. By comparing Dostoevsky’s exploration of guilt, conscience, and morality with another work, learners strengthen analytical thinking, comparative reasoning, and their ability to evaluate literature’s relevance across time and culture.

This worksheet is part of our Crime and Punishment Worksheets collection.