The study of narrative, or narratology can be applied to a graphic novel. This hybrid narrative form that combines words with sequential visual images, can be analyzed the same way that other narrative forms such as novels and even movies can be analyzed. Using a specific graphic novel to analyze its plot, setting, atmosphere and character, a closer examination of that graphic novel can be made. This closer examination will demonstrate if there is legitimacy to the narrative form or if a graphic novel is nothing more than an inflated phrase to describe something that many believe is a juvenile and commercialized form of marketing.
The graphic novel that will be examined is Ghost World by Dan Clowes. This graphic novel was chosen for its simplistic pop style that sometimes is seen as low art as well as for its adolescent themes. Ghost World is the depiction of two girls in the summer between high school and college. They wander almost aimlessly through their world until the end of summer when they must make decisions as to their future.
Plotting the Course
When studying a narrative the events that occur are examined. These events include what happened in the beginning middle and end of the story. These events are considered to be the plot, or what the story is about. This discussion of plot takes into consideration the order in which the events are depicted in comparision to when the events occurred as well as how these events are depicted in terms of setting a pace that can be used as reference.
In terms of plot comparison, to simply make a list of the events as they are depicted might not indicate anything other than an objective list of things that occur during the course of the narrative. It says nothing of t...
... middle of paper ...
...hifted. This sort of shift does not need a panel change. In fact a panel change may have distracted the reader from this notion by placing the focus on something more tangible like an action sequence or even a quicker pace.
Conclusion
Having a flashback in a flashback, would be a difficult thing to achieve in a narrative format such as a novel or short story. The immediacy of visual clues as opposed to verbal cues help to distinguish something that happened in the past, the conversation between Enid and Melora, and the event that was depicted in the conversation between the two girls. With both events occurring in the past it is difficult to say the least to rely only on verbal clues to indicate the narrative order of events.
Works Cited
Schmidt, Andy. The Insider’s Guide to Creating Comics and Graphic Novels. Cincinatti, Ohio:
Impact. 2009
Brooks, Peter. Reading for the Plot: Design & Intention in Narrative. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1984.
Often, when a story is told, it follows the events of the protagonist. It is told in a way that justifies the reasons and emotions behind the protagonist actions and reactions. While listening to the story being cited, one tends to forget about the other side of the story, about the antagonist motivations, about all the reasons that justify the antagonist actions.
The setting of a story lays the foundation for how a story is constructed. It gives a sense of direction to where the climax is headed. The setting also gives the visual feedback that the readers need to picture themselves into the story and comprehend it better. Determining the setting can be a major element towards drawing in the reader and how they relate to a story. A minor change in the plot can drastically alter to perception, interpretation, and direction of the message that is delivered. These descriptive elements can be found within these short stories: “the Cask of Amontillado”, “The Storm”, “The Things They Carried”, “Everyday Use”, and “The Story of an Hour”.
Many of the story’s aspects were dominated by setting a slow rise and crashing climax. There were many such climaxes, Pg. 2, Pg. 7, and Pg. 9, give this such evidence. The flow kept me interested, and would grasp my attention as a TV show would. Although is context was far from a TV show. There was much talk about civil lifestyles by the town folk, which were a particularly an odd selection of people to intervene in such a story. Although the reaction witnessed by this allowed us to get another insight, from a second person perspective.
To begin, theme emerges within the exposition of the plot structure as conflict is introduced to the text.
Plot is the major events and decisions that make up a story. In the very last sentence of the Uglies Tally says, “‘I’m Tally Youngblood,’ she said. ‘Make me pretty’” (Westerfeld 406). Because the author developed the plot throughout the story we are able to understand why Tally would make this decision. After all that she has done to stay away from the operation she has to resile to save her friend Shay. Likewise, in the second stanza of the poem “If” Rudyard Kipling states, “If you can dream- and not make dreams your master; If you can think- and not make thoughts your aim” (Kipling lines 9 and 10). This father is trying to show his son how to be a man. This shows how the boy has to be tough enough to do things without letting the things he does control him. Both of these texts show how through the development of plot resilience will be needed to overcome obstacles and ultimately become the person you want to be. In conclusion, the plot of a text helps readers to better understand characters actions and
Lastly, she grasps the reader’s attention by the shocking turn out of event at the end of the
Plot: Plot is a series of incidents which provide a solid framework for the development of a narratives conflict. Conflict is a struggle between two opposing forces. The main conflict in this novel is man vs himself. Caitlin struggles to find her true self and learn more about her religion. She makes many choices through out he novel that will impact her life forever.
There are two stories this semester that have been particularly interesting. ‘Paul’s Case’ by Willa Cather is a turbulent story about Paul, a young man who eventually spirals downwards into his eventual suicide. ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a story about a woman forced into the resting cure by means of her husband until being alone with her thoughts drives her to insanity. At face value, these stories have vastly different plots and outcomes. How are you able to compare stories with different plots? When the ideas behind the stories are similar, it becomes possible. These two stories have many parallels which will be discussed in detail throughout this essay.
For a Literary Analysis, I have done the story “What You Pawn, You Will Redeem” by Alexie Sherman. The story talks about this Indian man, known as Jackson Jackson, goes on this quest to redeem his grandmother’s regalia back from this pawn shop employee who would give it to him for $999. This Indian man has had a troubling past, along with saying he has a habit breaking other people’s hearts, but he has good friends and even knows a couple of store employees who let him use their store’s bathroom. As the story goes on, it goes through a series of events, or a timeline, where the main character tells the story of what had happened during that time period on his quest for the regalia. In “What You Pawn, You Will Redeem”, I have found three literary
Art is all around us; it’s in music, movies, paintings. It’s a way to communicate with the audience in a deeper level nonverbally. Art has evolved over the years and it encourages us to express ourselves individually. In the movie, Wasteland, by Vik Muniz, is about an artist who captured the lives of Rio de Janeiro. Psychiatric Tales, graphic novel, by Darryl Cunningham, is eleven stories about mental illness. Both of the authors disclose and engage the audience through their personal experience and interests.
The change from differing mediums, novel and film, reveal characteristics and possibilities of narratives. Through the advancement of technology, modern writers
In the simplest form, there is a basic structural pattern to narratives, as expressed through Tzvetan Todorov’s explanation of narrative movement between two equilibriums. A narrative begins in a stable position until something causes disequilibrium, however, by the end of the story, the equilibrium is re-established, though it is different than the beginning (O’Shaughnessy 1999: 268). Joseph Cam...
Literature has learned to grow and progress over the years, but still till this day graphic novels are having trouble with being accepted as literature. Good literature is a piece of work that can incorporate writing and illustrations that pulls the reader in and leads them throughout the book. After reading a couple of graphic novels I have to disagree with the scholars who believe that they aren’t a piece of literature. Each graphic novel tells a story just like “regular” novels do. They each capture your imagination and keep you interested. They may look childish to some, but you should never judge a book by its cover. “Graphic novels that succeed as literature escape the norm and invite critical discussion, analysis, and, often, comparison with text-only books featuring similar situations, climactic crises, or aesthetics” (Goldsmith). Graphic novels tell a story, draw in a different audience, and expands a reader’s imagination, so with that said, they should be considered as literature.
Several different elements are necessary to create a story. Of all the elements, the conflict is most essential. The conflict connects all pieces of the plot, defines the characters, and drives the story forward. Once a story reaches its climax, the reader should have an emotional connection to the both story and its characters. Not only should emotions be evoked, but a reader should genuinely care about what happens next and the about the end result for the characters. Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace” is the perfect example of how a story’s conflict evolved the disposition of its characters.