The Graphic Novel

• Engels
• Secundair onderwijs

LITERATURE

What literary format was depicted in the previous slide?

1. novel
2. comic
3. graphic novel
4. cartoon

What elements indicate that it is a snippet from a graphic novel?

Is the text you just saw of the same genre as the first one?

YES

NO

It wasn't the same format. What other literary format was depicted with the snippet of the previous slide?

1. novel
2. comic
3. graphic novel
4. cartoon

Drag the elements to the correct format.

COMIC

GRAPHIC NOVEL

complete narrative

excerpt of serialized naratives

long story

l short story

wide array of subject matters

storyline through lens of superhero

elements of the graphic novel

Watch the video on the next slide.

QUIZTIME!

The graphic novel is a literary genre.

1. false
2. true

The graphic novel is a literary format that can contain any genre. It describes how a book's content is put together.

What type of writing does a graphic novel mostly have?

1. dialogue
2. narration
3. thoughts
4. sounds

Graphic novels can convey the same story as a book, it just used words and pictures to do so.

1. yes
2. no

What are the boxes on each page of a graphic novel called?

1. boxes
2. squares
3. sections
4. panels

What is the space between the panels called?

1. boxes
2. gutters
3. sections
4. lines

Graphic novels only use speech bubbles to visualize dialogues.

1. true
2. false

Thought bubbles are also used.

Graphic novels can use sound effect words like "Pow" or "Bam" to convey action or conflict.

1. true
2. false

Captions are always used in graphic novels.

1. true
2. false

Which of the following must be present in a graphic novel story?

1. plot
2. characters
3. conflict
4. all elements are necessary

How do you read the panels in a graphic novel?

Graphic novels put panels in a ..... to show you the plot of a story.

1. chart
2. sequence
3. random jumble

Do you recognise the elements?

gutters, panels, speech bubbles, sound effects

gutters, panels, thought bubbles

panels, gutters and storytelling techniques

PANELS

= frames containing a single scene

• open panel: panel without any defined borders > creates dramatic effect
• splash panel: panel that takes up the space of several panels > introduces or highlights an action or character

open panel

splash panel

GUTTERS

= white space between the panels

• action happens in the spaces between the panel as well
• imagination of the reader has to figure out what happens

What do the gutters indicate? 

• How much time passes?
• Does the location change?
• Does the point of view of the subject change? 
• What about interaction with other subjects? 

STORYTELLING TECHNIQUES

• moment-to-moment: little has changed/little information needed
• action-to-action: action in progress shown step by step
• subject-to-subject: one idea/scene in the perspective of different subject
• scene-to-scene: a lot of time is crossed, use imagination to fill in huge gaps  

What storytelling technique(s) is(are) used? 

Complete the story

creative writing

• Work in pairs.
• Teacher will hand out a snippet of a graphic novel. 
• Complete the speech/thought bubbles using your imagination.  
• You get 5 minutes. 

the empty panels

discuss in pairs

• What type of panels are used?
• What do the gutters indicate? > time, location, point of view, interactions, ...
• What storytelling techniques are used?  

the actual panels

evaluation

Read the graphic novel Anya's Ghost and do the assignment.

The assignment will be explained in the following slides.

Task 1: reading experience

Make a video wherein you discuss the following question: 

• Which scene has stuck with you the most? Why?
• What did you think of the artwork? 
• How does the novel's title work in relation to the novel's content? If you could give the novel a new title, what would it be?
• Could you relate to the story? Why (not)?
• Are there lingering questions from the novel your still thinking about? 
• What tip would you give Anya?

Task 2: graphic novel elements study

Write a piece wherein you discuss the following elements of the graphic novel:

• Were the illustrations arranged in a way that you could easily follow the sequence? Why (not)? Explain using examples.
• Did the gutters aid comprehension or distract you? Explain using examples. 
• Did the colour palette aid you in understanding the tone and mood of the story? Explain using examples.
• Did the illustrations refine characterization by giving clues as to character emotion, mood, and personality? Explain using examples.
• Did the illustrations provide enough context and action to keep you moving through the story? Explain using examples.

Task 3: rewrite the ending of the story

Click this link and create your own comic. Choose between the following options:

1. Rewrite the ending of Anya's Ghost.
2. Create a scene depicting Emily's real past.

What are the 4 main elements used in a graphic novel?

Panels are frames depicting scenes. Name the 2 types.

What storytelling technique stays in one scene, but goes from one person to another?

1. moment-to-moment
2. action-to-action
3. subject-to-subject
4. scene-to-scene

What storytelling technique stays in one scene with little changes?

1. moment-to-moment
2. action-to-action
3. subject-to-subject
4. scene-to-scene

What storytelling technique stays crosses a lot of time or space?

1. moment-to-moment
2. action-to-action
3. subject-to-subject
4. scene-to-scene

What storytelling technique sticks to one subject and highlights what is happening to it?

1. moment-to-moment
2. action-to-action
3. subject-to-subject
4. scene-to-scene