Analysing a Cartoon

What is a Cartoon?

A cartoon is a single drawing, often with words, that can be:

• Amusing – designed to make people laugh.
• Serious – used to highlight important issues or events.

What is a Cartoon Strip?

A cartoon strip is a series of drawings where each separate drawing is called a frame.

• The story builds up to a punch line, which is the last few words of the strip, making it funny or clever.
• Both the words and drawings contribute to the punch line.

Types of Speech in Cartoons

• Speech bubble – shows spoken words; has a tail pointing to the speaker.
• Thought bubble – shows unspoken thoughts; has rounded edges and circles for the tail.
• No bubble, only a tail – used in some cartoons.

Other Key Features in Cartoons

• Bold font, capital letters, and exclamation marks – indicate shouting or strong emotions.
• The tail of a speech bubble – points to the speaker.

Satire in Cartoons

• Satire is when cartoons make fun of people (e.g., politicians) to criticise or highlight issues.

Caricatures

• A caricature exaggerates features (e.g., a big head or glasses) to make a point.

Key Questions When Analysing Cartoons

• Is the cartoon meant to be funny, serious, or both?
• What does the body language of characters suggest?
• How do font and text size affect meaning?
• What role does punctuation play?
• How do the words and drawings work together?

Exam Tips for Analysing Cartoons

• Identify the message – What is the cartoonist trying to say?
• Understand humour – Recognise jokes or irony.
• Observe characters – How their features or expressions influence meaning.
• Analyse text style – Font size, bold words, and capitalisation can change meaning.
• Examine punctuation – It affects tone and emphasis.