Your teacher is right - this section is not about comparisons but connections so by exploring the focus (e.g use of places) you will be connecting them. You could though make links as you open a para on a new text - e.g in contrast to writer x, writer y uses... Have you seen all the past papers? Language, genre, characterisation, places, structure and endings have all come up. Openings hasn't ( and I hope it does) Neither has sybolism/imagery. Could be journeys, but maybe this is more specific to the texts I am teaching? In many ways, if you know the texts well, have practiced A02 for the section Aa questions and different possible readings (significance) for Ab you should be fine. Expect the unexpected! Names was an interesting one from Jan 2012. Use the key words frequently to remain focused and remember, A04 is not tested here but A01 is so have an intro/conclusion - use link words between paras.
Hope this helps.