Graphic Novel Terminology

The lines and borders that contain the panels.

• Frames

• Gutters

• Captions

• Open blank

An image that extends beyond the edge of the frame or the page

• Foreground

• Splash Panel

• Bleed

• Graphic Weight

What is in the midground of this panel?

• Lions and bears: ferocious animals acting like pets

• A giant house

• The mountain and forests

• Trees and greenery

Which character has the most graphic weight here?

• Athena

• Hermes

• Zeus

• Hera

These are gaps between pictures that indicate time and that allow for your imagination to add details.

• Bleeds

• Frames

• Thought bubbles

• Gutters

What visual device is used to show internal thoughts?

• Speech balloon

• Monologue

• Thought balloon

• icons

Here we can see Odysseus's men struggling to move the giant rock. However, they're not the primary focus of the panel. They are considered:

• Background

• Symbolism

• Metaphors

• Antagonists

What do we call the written section?

• Speech bubble

• Thought bubble

• Captions

• Special Effects Lettering

These represent music

• Body language

• Thought balloon

• Icons

• Sound Effects

What is in the foreground of this image?

• The men are having a barbecue

• The ocean which shows how they are trapped on an island

• The body of a dead cow

• A nice, sandy beach- perfect for a party!