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...
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...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
The characters in this story are very sharp and delineated, in that they have clear outlines and are easy to understand. Because there are...
One of the scenes that mark how the narrative is important to the entire story, is at
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
Plot is defined as, "the authors arrangement of incidents in a story it is the organizing principle that controls the controls the order of events (Meyer,64)." The element of plot is heavily relied on in the short story, "The Killings" by Andre Dubus. The plot which is completely made inside the imagination of an author (Meyer,64), gives the audience important insight to people, places, and events in the story (Meyer,64) . "The Killings" provides a somewhat conventional plot pattern, where the character is confronted with a problem and is then led into a climax, which late leads to the resolution of the story (Meyer,65). The conventional plot is easy to follow and serves as a basis for movies and other forms of fictitious entertainment (Meyer,65). This simple, yet effective plot makes the story easier to follow and easier to understand. The plot in The Killings also includes usage of flashback as a tool for the audience to fully understand the backgrounds of the characters. This type of organization serves as a basis for the entire story and has the most significance in "The Killings". .
To begin, theme emerges within the exposition of the plot structure as conflict is introduced to the text.
The graphic essay “Show and Tell” by Scott McCloud is written in the form of a comic book as he explains the importance of words and images, and how to effectively use the two components when creating a comic. “Show and Tell” explains to the reader how creating a successful comic does not occur easily, as numerous components must be used in the right way and amount in order to create a product that is worthwhile to its readers. This insightful graphic essay portrays to the reader how in a comic, words and images can successfully be used in numerous ways if they are kept in balance with one another. Society traditionally believes that in a piece of literature words and images should be kept apart, whereas McCloud opposes this
Narratives are an important part of an essay as they create a sense of tone needed to describe a story or situation with ease. If the narrative is not correct, it can leave a false impact on the readers or viewers because it lacks the main tone of the story. Having a perfect narrative can not only enhance a story, but it can also prove evidence. In her essay, “An Army of One: Me”, Jean Twenge provides some of the best examples of how narratives enhance a story and she also emphasizes on how the tone of storytelling matters on the impact that the story would have on its readers or listeners. Apart from Twenge, Tim O’Brien also focuses on how the narrative of the story can help in understanding the truth and falsity of the story in his essay, “How to Tell a True War Story.” In addition to O’Brien, Ethan Watters also emphasizes on the narrative of cultural progress in his essay, “The Mega-Marketing of Depression in Japan”, when he talks about the anti-depressants to be sold in Japan. All three authors agree to the fact that narrative, the art of telling a story or explaining a situation, has a major impact on the story and on how it is taken by the audience.
The above storyline is an explicit and chronological account of events within the film as a whole. In the case of plot, we need to think of plot as lines of action within the film, the order in which they are organised or sequenced, and who (both
Very often writers, directors, and artists find it somewhat challenging to present certain characters in a way that is intended to deliver the message that they wish to convey through the sequence of events that are illustrated within that particular work of art. Usually the main goal of any writer, producer, or artist is bringing the main idea behind that particular work of art to reality in a way that will appeal to the readers and enhance their understanding of the targeted notion in the work of art presented. This process of creatively presenting the characters in a way that delivers the message requires a great deal of energy and excessive thinking, which is something not all creators of art successfully accomplish. A truly successful
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.
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.
Structure, atmosphere, and irony. To chart the progression of the story, I will demonstrate how different things change throughout the story.
Most people believe that graphic novels are just an art book with minimal text. They believe it is just for entertainment for kids or young adults. They think that graphic novels are just like comics. But to get to the point, graphic novels are just like all the other novels. They are a piece of literature that tells a story and pulls out the reader’s imagination, so that they feel that they are a part of the story or can even relate to the story. Graphic novels have changed and developed into such remarkable pieces of literature and should be accepted by all scholars to be placed in that category. According to John Ridley, “There are still some people out there who believe comic books are nothing more than, well, comic books. But the true cognoscenti know graphic novels are-at their best-an amazing blend of art, literature and the theater of the mind”.
Determine all of the story's conflicts. Determine the major conflict and state this in terms of protagonist versus antagonist.
It might be pertinent and helpful here to first discuss the structure of the narrative itself, for there are several elements in the sequencing of the discourse that contribute in no small way to the overall effect of the narration/narrator. The narrative begins in media res (beginning in the midst of the action at a crucial junct...