English Conventions of Graphic Novels

Panel

the main box that shows one moment in the story with pictures and words

Page Layout

how panels are arranged on a page to guide reading and focus attention

Panel Structure

how Satrapi changes panel sizes and layouts to control pacing and focus

Panel Size

large panels slow time and highlight importance; small panels make reading faster

Panel Content

what is shown in a panel to tell part of the story

Composition

how objects and characters are placed to draw attention or set mood

Background and Foreground

details behind or in front that show setting or importance

Framing and Composition

how each image is shaped and arranged to guide the reader's eye

Gutters

the spaces between panels that show the passage of time or movement

Nonlinear Storytelling

when events are told out of order using flashbacks or memories

Visual Pathway

the way the eye moves through panels while reading

Black-and-White Artwork

the plain color style that shows contrast and emotion

Visual Perspective

the angle or view used to make readers feel close or distant

Framing

how much of a scene is shown to focus on certain details or emotions

Labels

words that name people or places or give extra information

Speech Bubbles

shapes containing what characters say or think

Speech Bubbles (Shape and Style)

how different bubble styles show tone or emotion

Speech Bubbles (Tail Direction)

points to who is speaking

Speech Bubbles (Content)

shows what a character says and how they feel

Font (Type and Size)

different lettering styles or sizes used for emphasis or emotion

Font (Bold and Italics)

used to stress certain words or ideas

Captions

boxes that show narration or background info

Silent Panels

panels with no words that tell meaning through pictures only

Sound Effects

drawn words showing noises in the story

Point of View

whose perspective or thoughts we see; usually Marji's

Camera Angle

the visual angle used to show power, distance, or emotion

Camera Distance

how close or far the viewer is from the subject

Graphic Weight

how dark or detailed parts of an image attract the eye

Use of Negative Space

empty white space used to show isolation or focus

Line Quality

the smoothness or roughness of lines that set the tone

Body Language and Facial Expressions

characters' movements and faces that show emotion

Emanata

small lines or symbols showing feelings like anger or surprise

Cultural Iconography

symbols from Iranian culture that add meaning

Symbolism

objects or images that represent larger ideas

Visual Metaphors and Similes

pictures that compare things to explain feelings or growth

Interplay of Text and Image

how words and pictures work together to tell the story

Juxtaposition

placing two images side by side to show contrast or meaning

Contrasts and Dichotomies

opposites like light and dark or freedom and control

Repetition and Motifs

images that repeat to show important ideas or themes

Visual Irony

when the picture shows something different from what the words say

Visual Metonymy

when one image stands for a bigger idea or event

Intertextuality

when the story refers to other books, events, or images

Ambiguity in Visuals

when an image can be read in more than one way