DESCRIBING AND ANALYZING

CARTOONS
Date :

STEP 1 : « brainstorming  »

Look at the cartoon. What do you think of when you see it? Write down your ideas in
keywords.

STEP2 : The elements of cartoon analysis

a)- Read the information in the Tip box below before you go on to b) .

Fill in the blanks with the missing words. Choose from the list below  (author/ contrast/
cartoon/ fun of / criticized/ criticize/ achieve/ context/ news event/ target/ exaggeration/
drawing/symbols/institutions/text/politics/visual)

ANALYZING CARTOONS

A …………………………… is a special kind of ……………….. text. It usually combines a

………………with a ……………… . Cartoons often pick on some current ………………
………… and…………………people, ………………………., society and
…………………………………… by making …………… …………them.

The following devices are often used to ……………………………………this aim :

…………………………– irony – ………………………… between picture and text –
……………………………… .

In analyzing a cartoon, you should consider its …………………………………… ( e.g . when it

was drawn, where it first appeared, who the …………………………………… and
the……………………………………group are) before you talk about what is being
………………………………… .

You should be careful to the text. the 3 most common speech balloons (speech
balloons = speech bubbles/dialogue balloon/word balloons / thought balloons / scream
balloons

Sometimes, however, you won’t always have all the information you need and may have to
do further research.

b) . Now answer the following questions in keywords or short sentences. The answer will
help you to give structure to the writing work you will have to do in STEP3

 Who is being shown? ………………………………………………………………………..……..

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….

 What are the characters doing? …………………………………………………………………….

 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……..

 What kind of mood is / are the person(s) in ? Why? ……………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……..

 Which elements does the cartoonist use to make the cartoon funny? …………………………..

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……..

STEP3 : Write a cartoon analysis

With the help of the information in the Tip box, write a short analysis of the cartoon, in
full sentences.