Questions you should ask about a Cartoon.
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1. Identify the figures in the cartoon. Work out who they are.
A figure can be:
a) a real person who actually existed e.g. the Kaiser, Hitler, Chamberlain. Give the name and position of the person to whom the cartoon is referring e.g. "This is Hindenburg who was President of the Weimer Republic"
A figure can also be:
b) symbolds which represent a country of particular group of people e.g. a bear, which represents Russia.
2. Pick out all the objects in the cartoon and give each one a name. Say exactly what it is.
3. Look at the caption or title. It is usually at the bottom or top of the picture. Anything written in the cartoon is also important and should be explained. What is written may be ironic or humourous. The latter often invloves a pun. You need to work out exactly what it is that is being ridiculed.
4. The details of the background are often very important. They convey the mood of the cartoon e.g. dark clouds may represent a threat.
5. What is the attitude of the author to the thing s/he has drawn? Look carefully at:
a) what has been drawn and ask if it reflects well or badly on someone in the cartoon
and
b) how have the items in the cartoon been drawn? Ask if it is flattering, critical, or exaggerated etc.
6. Use all the clues available, particularily the date, to work out the events to which the cartoon refers. It is essential that you use all your knowledge of the event to which the cartoon refers. Try to link the details of the cartoon to what was happening at the time.
7. Describe what the figures are doing. they are always doing something and often it is an interaction with someone else or thing in the cartoon.
About the Author
by: Admin
Total views: 1789
Word Count: 559
Date: Sat, 20 May 2006 Time: 12:00 AM
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