HOW TO READ A GRAPHIC NOVEL
A Guide
What is a graphic novel?
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Sometimes referred to as a comic book, a graphic
novel is a sequential, comic-style narrative in book
form.
It is a medium, not a genre. Many different genres
exist within the graphic novel realm.
Graphic novels can be analyzed for both their text
and their images.
How do I read this?
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Like any other text,
graphic novels are
read from left to
right, top to
bottom.
What elements do graphic novels
contain?
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Panels—squares or rectangles that
contain a single scene.
Gutters—space between panels.
Dialogue Balloons—these contain
conversations between characters.
Thought Balloons—these contain the
thoughts of a single character.
Captions—these contain information
about a scene or a character.
Sound Effects—these are visual
sound cues (i.e. whap, pow, boom,
zip)
Panels

Panels—
squares or
rectangles
that contain
a single
scene.
Gutters

Space between
panels.
Dialogue Balloons

Contain
conversations
between
characters.
Dialogue Balloons

Dialogue balloons are
read left to right, top
to bottom.
Thought Balloons

Contain the
thoughts of a single
character.
Captions

Contain
information
about a scene or
a character.
Sound Effects

visual sound cues
(i.e. whap, pow,
boom, zip)
More cool things…
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Transitions

Graphic novels transition from panel to panel and page to
page in order to:
Slow time
 Emphasize an action sequence
 Utilize juxtaposition for emphasis and meaning
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Perspective
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Graphic novels utilize the same terms as film and
photography, such as:
Close-up, medium-shot, long-shot
 Tilt-up, tilt-down
 Panning and tracking
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