Political cartoons

Text types
 Exaggeration: overstating or magnifying a problem things in order to
make a point

Caricature: exaggeration of a physical feature

Cartoonists Captioning and labels: for clarity and emphasis

: Common Symbolism: use of an object to stand for an idea

persuasive Analogy: comparison of two unlike things that share some characteristics

techniques Irony: the difference between the way things are and the way things
should be, or the way things are expected to be

Juxtaposition: positioning people or objects near each other for effect

• —Source: Steven Janover

 Once you’ve identified the persuasive techniques
that the cartoonist used, ask yourself:
• What issue is this political cartoon about? 
• What is the cartoonist’s opinion on this issue?
Analysis • What other opinion can you imagine another
guide person having on this issue?
• How do the images and text work together to
questions deliver a message? 
• Did you find this cartoon persuasive? Why or
why not? 
• What is your opinion on this issue?
Source: adapted from Philpot, Brad. English A: Language and Literature for the
IB Diploma. Cambridge University Press, 2019. pp. 21-22.
 Guided analysis

• Questions
• Who is being shown?
• What is he celebrating? 
• What kind of mood is the person in?
Why? 
• Which elements does the cartoonist
use to make the cartoon funny?
• What is the cartoonist’s intention?
• Do you like the cartoon? Give reasons

Source: adapted from Klett, Ernst. “Green Line 5, English and Politics: the UK.” Klett, 2009,
www2.klett.de/sixcms/media.php/229/547160_0004_Pol_cartoons.pdf. Accessed 8 November 2020.
Roy Peterson (cartoon)
 The cartoon, created by Roy Peterson and published on the Internet,
shows Prince Charles celebrating the 80th birthday of his mother,
Queen Elisabeth II. Prince Charles, dressed in a black suit and tie, and a
cheap-looking crown on his head, is holding a large piece of cake in one
hand and a glass of champagne and a fork (with some cake on it) in the
other. At first glance the viewer might think the atmosphere is a happy,
party atmosphere. But at second glance you see that Prince Charles’s
smile is not a real smile, and that he is crying; it is clear that he is not
happy. Additionally, the cartoonist has given Prince Charles extremely
Sample exaggerated facial features, which is in sharp contrast to a very small
body. The result is that Prince Charles looks like a big child. This effect is

commentary further emphasized by the use of the text "Mumsy", which infantilizes
Prince Charles. The message of the cartoon seems to be that Prince
Charles cannot really be happy about his mother’s 80th birthday
because he knows that for every further year his mother is the British
monarch, it is a further year that he himself is not monarch. It has been
frustrating to wait for so many years, and he may have to wait many
more years to be able to do the job he was born to do. For now, he
continues to be ‘king in waiting’, which is a meaning conveyed by Prince
Charles wearing a paper crown, rather than a real one. 

Source: adapted from Klett, Ernst. “Green Line 5, English and Politics: the UK.” Klett, 2009,
www2.klett.de/sixcms/media.php/229/547160_0004_Pol_cartoons.pdf. Accessed 8 November 2020.
 Context
War between Britain and France had resumed only a week
before this caricature was published. It followed Britain's
refusal to evacuate Malta and fears of a French invasion of
Egypt. Napoleon Bonaparte, called 'Little Boney', is shown
stamping in fury with words swirling around his head,
condemning the British press and Parliament and
threatening a large-scale invasion. Napoleon's short temper
had become notorious after an outburst during a meeting
with the British Ambassador Lord Whitworth, to whom the
print is dedicated. The evolution of Gillray's representation
of Napoleon cleverly kept pace with national feeling. At first
a strapping Republican commander, his physical stature
became increasingly diminutive as he posed more of a threat
to Britain. 'Little Boney' was finally born in a print of January
1803. It was to become one of Gillray's most enduring
creations and was much copied by other satirists.

Napoleon said that Gillray “did more than all the armies of
Europe to bring me down.”
Napoléon Bonaparte 'Maniac-ravings - or - little Boney in a strong fit - ‘ (1803) by
James Gillray

Source: Gillray, James. Napoléon Bonaparte 'Maniac-ravings - or - little Boney in a strong fit - ‘. 1803, National Portrait Gallery, London.
Drawing upon humor for change
As you watch the video, look for answers to the following questions:
1. What is the traditional image of women that Liza Donnelly wants to
challenge? How does she show us this tradition? How does she
challenge this traditional image in her cartoons?
2. Pause the video on one cartoon that you especially find funny and
explain why it makes you laugh. Refer to the elements of the table
above in your analysis of the cartoons.
3. Not all of Liza Donnelly's cartoons are humorous. Many are
autobiographical. How might these cartoons inspire the audience at
TEDwomen?
Liza Donnelly
Liza Donnelly is an American cartoonist and writer, best known for her work in The
New Yorker, author of fifteen books and an accomplished public speaker.
Mana Neyestani
Mana Neyestani is an Iranian cartoonist, illustrator, and comic book creator.
Patrick Chappatte
Patrick Chappatte is a Lebanese-Swiss cartoonist who draws for Le Temps, Neue
Zürcher Zeitung, the German news magazine Der Spiegel and the International New
York Times.
Sources for more cartoons
• Liza Donnelly
• https://lizadonnelly.com/cartoons
• https://cartoonbank.com/
• https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180817-the-female-cartoonists-
who-draw-for-change
• Mana Neyestani
• https://iranwire.com/en/author/40
• Patrick Chappatte
• https://www.chappatte.com/en/gctheme/iran-situation/
• https://www.chappatte.com/en/