Political Cartoon Analysis — Worksheet Questions (Grade 8)

Match each step in the analysis process to its step number.

• Step 2

• Annotate with questions about the cartoon’s message, the subject, and artists’ use of images

• Step 4

• Look even more closely from top to bottom or from left to right

• Step 1

• Label people, symbols, items

• Step 3

• Look closely at the cartoon as a whole image

How do you identify what a political cartoon is saying?

• Only count the number of characters

• Focus only on the title of the cartoon

• Ignore imagery and read the publication date

• Look at the subject and artists’ use of imagery to identify the cartoon’s message

Which figurative device uses simple objects to stand for larger or more abstract concepts or ideas?

• Symbolism

• Analogy

• Irony

• Labeling

Which device exaggerates physical characteristics or features for comic effect to make a point?

• Alliteration

• Symbolism

• Analogy

• Hyperbole

Why do cartoonists label objects or people in a political cartoon?

• To make it clear exactly what they stand for

• To hide important information

• To replace imagery with text only

• To show the opposite of the usual meaning

What is an analogy in a political cartoon?

• A comparison between two unlike things that share some characteristics

• A list of facts about the cartoon’s subject

• A caption that identifies a person’s name

• An exaggeration of features for humor only

What does irony often convey in political cartoons?

• The opposite of something’s usual or expected meaning

• Only the literal meaning of events

• A random set of labels

• The main analogy of the cartoon

When identifying the issue a political cartoon addresses, which context elements should you consider?

• What, where, and why the event is happening in the world

• Only who appears in the cartoon

• Just the date it was published

• The artist’s signature style alone

Which types of images does the worksheet advise you to note when analyzing a political cartoon?

• Background scenery of the sky, the ground and minor characters only

• Only abstract shapes

• Famous places and people

• Only speech bubbles

What should you do when examining images in a political cartoon?

• Only admire their artistic ability

• Ignore the images and read the caption

• Focus only on color choices

• Identify the images used and what the images symbolize