Introduction to graphic novels 2024

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Introduction to graphic novels

Goals

• You are able to use appropriate terminology to analyze a graphic novel
•  You know which aspects you can look at when you analyse a graphic novel
• You understand that the author has made deliberate choices to achieve a certain effect.

Overview

Paper 1: Textual Analysis of Maus (x4)

Graphic novel

A full –length story published in comic-strip format.

Novel storytelling is combined with the sequential art of the comic book to create the graphic novel.

Terminology

Match the terms to the different aspects:

A - Splash

B -  Panel 

C - Borderless panel

 D - Gutter
 E - Emanata
F -  Voice over
 G - Speech bubble

H - icon

Time for a quiz!

1. What do we call this?

1. speech bubble
2. emanata
3. voice over
4. gutter

2. What do we call the space between panels?

1. borderless panel
2. gutter
3. emanata
4. voice over

3. What do we call this kind of panel (a panel that spans the width of the page)?

1. borderless panel
2. splash
3. gutter
4. speech bubble

4. What do we call this?

1. emanata
2. gutter
3. splash
4. speech bubble

5. This is a kind of panel that spans the width of the page and runs off the page entirely.

1. splash
2. bleed
3. panel
4. gutter

6. Narrators have the possibility to speak directly to the reader. Usually this is done with a hard line separating the narrator’s speech at the top or bottom of a panel from the image within the panel.

1. gutter
2. speech bubble
3. voice-over
4. emanata

7. These are frames around the characters’ language, a kind of ‘direct speech’, where the characters speak for themselves.

1. gutter
2. speech bubble
3. voice-over
4. emanata

8. Speech bubble - These are framed around the characters’ language, a kind of ‘direct speech’, where the characters speak for themselves. If these appear as clouds,

1. they represent the character’s thoughts
2. the character is shouting.

9. Speech bubble - These are frames around the characters’ language, a kind of ‘direct speech’, where the characters speak for themselves. If they appear in jagged lines,

1. they represent the character’s thoughts
2. the character is shouting.

10. This term refers to the teardrops, sweat drops, question marks, or motion lines that artists draw besides characters’ faces to portray emotion.

1. gutter
2. speech bubble
3. voice-over
4. emanata

Group Work

Answer the questions about the pages from the different graphic novels in your group. Discuss together which aspects of a graphic novel are interesting to analyse. Upload your answers to Classroom. Be prepared to share your answers as a group when assigned a turn.

Questions

1. Describe what happens in these pages. Comment on the way the story develops from panel to panel. Refer to specific panels.
2. What is the drawing style (detailed, sketchy, etc.)? What is the effect of this? Comment on the use of colour.
3. What do you notice about the types of panels (size, shape, with or without border, etc.)? Why would authors create different types of panels?
4. How are the characters depicted? Comment on the way emotions and feelings are portrayed and language is presented. 
5. Which style appeals the most to you? Give reasons for your answer.

Describe what happens in these pages. Comment on the way the story develops from panel to panel. Refer to specific panels.

Panel - Panel refers to the framed image. Sometimes panels do not have borders, creating a unique effect where the subject seems to stand outside the storyline.

Gutter - This refers to the space between panels. Readers tend to ‘fill in the blanks’ and imagine what happens between panels, a process known as ‘closure’.

What do you notice about the types of panels (size, shape, with or without border, etc.)? Why would authors create different types of panels?

Speech bubble - These are frames around the characters’ language, a kind of ‘direct speech’, where the characters speak for themselves.

Voice over - Narrators have the possibility to speak directly to the reader through a voice over. Usually this is done with a hard line separating the narrator’s speech at the top or bottom of a panel from the image within the panel.

Splash - Splash is a kind of panel that spans the width of the page. 

Panel vs borderless panel

Emanata - This term refers to the teardrops, sweat drops, question marks, or motion lines that artists draw besides characters’ faces to portray emotion.

 

What is the drawing style (detailed, sketchy, etc.)? What is the effect of this? Comment on the use of colour.

Bleed - Sometimes borderless panel that seems to run off the page.

Onomatopoeia - the act of creating or using words that include sounds that are similar to the noises the words refer to

How are the characters depicted? Comment on the way emotions and feelings are portrayed and language is presented. 

• What is the difference between the speech bubble in the first and second panel?

• What is the effect of colour?

Terminology

Match the terms to the different aspects:

A - Splash

B -  Panel 

C - Borderless panel

 D - Gutter
 E - Emanata
F -  Voice over
 G - Speech bubble

H - icon

Use the appropriate terminology when you analyse pages from Maus!

Introduction activity Maus (individually)

Maus

- Make sure you've read chapter 1  "The Sheik"

- Answer the questions

- Study the terminology

Chapter 1 - Questions

1. What has happened to Artie’s mother? 

2. How does Vladek get along with Mala, his second wife? What kind of things do they argue about? 

3. How long has it been since Artie last visited his father? What do you think is responsible for their separation? 

4. Describe Vladek’s relationship with Lucia Greenberg. How was he introduced to Anja Zylberberg? Why do you think he chose her over Lucia?