'Hamlet' and 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead'

I have to compare and contrast between Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.

I have chosen to compare and contrast the theme 'Life and Death' in the two plays

I need a little bit more of a complex thesis:
The theme of life and death occurs very commonly throughout both Shakespeare's Hamlet and Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

I also need a direction, can someone please give me a couple detailed ideas for body paragraphs?

Thanks!!

To get a more complex thesis statement, answer the following question:

What do the two plays you have chosen say about life and death?

Good idea, Sean.

I also recommend taking the easy route, and writing 2 essays. Write two paragraphs about this theme in the first story, and then write a 2 paragraph essay about this theme in the second essay!

That would be the "opposing type" of compare contrast essay. The opposing type is when you describe the 1st thing in detail and then describe the 2nd thing in detail. (The alternative would be to use the "alternating type" of compare/contrast which involves a point by point comprison.) After writing about what each story said about life and death, write a paragraph that shows the similarities and differences among them.

Finally, at the end, look at the main theme that has emerged from YOUR writing, and go write an intro para, with thesis, to put at the beginning. After that, write a reflective conclusion paragraph, and you will be done!!

The opposing type is definitely the easier of the two to write. However, the alternating type tends to be stronger. Still, Kevin is right -- if you don't know how to start, you should try writing the opposing type for your first draft. You can always move things about later to create the alternating type essay if you feel the essay needs improvement.