How to Read Graphic Novels
Graphic Novels: A Marriage of Text and ImageIt takes a certain level of skill to read graphic novels proficiently. There are certain rules and guidelines one must follow in order to have the best understanding of what the author intended to write. These guidelines are a figurative roadmap to navigate the graphic novel. Below are simple guidelines that teachers must teach their students before throwing them into the piece.
|
More than What Meets the Eye: the Graphic NovelNot only is there more than what meets the eye in navigating the graphic novel, but there is more than what meets the eye when communicating with the text. What I mean by being in communicating with the text is reading at full capacity with comprehension and understanding as described in the literacy development page. In the following video, Dartmouth's Associate Professor of English, Michael Chaney, describes the conversation that graphic novels forces us to have, as well as, other literary conventions that graphic novels exploit. The video is slightly lengthy, however, it is worth your time to watch.
|
Reading a PanelThere are certain things that your students must keep in mind while reading a panel:
|
Get Your Mind in the GutterIn order to read graphic novels well, you must understand that sometimes somethings occur during the break in between panels, also known as the gutter.
(Above: "Painful love story" Hillel. 2011). In order to make sure that your students are fully engaged in the graphic novel, they must understand the silent dance of the seen and unseen (Blanch).
|
(Above: Zuvela. "The Crack of Dawn" 2007) all of these things have an impact on the way a reader "decodes" or makes sense of what the panel is conveying (Blanch). For example, the shading above suggests that the day is just beginning, and the title says the "Crack of Dawn". So, it is safe to say that this isn't mean't to be a sad panel. It is meant to portray a sense of happiness.
|
Basics to analyzing graphic novel
|
Home...........Research says...........Literacy Development............Example Lesson Plan....
How to Read Graphic Novels.....Useful Graphic Novels.....Further ResourcesWorks Cited....
Blog: Using Graphic Novels in the Classroom
How to Read Graphic Novels.....Useful Graphic Novels.....Further ResourcesWorks Cited....
Blog: Using Graphic Novels in the Classroom