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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What method is the mainstay for facial expressions and body movement?

2. What characteristic of a sentence acts as framing with lines in comics?

3. After which century, did artists start to depend on expressions, postures, and backdrops?

4. The earliest use of balloons was in what culture?

5. What other word can describe the use of letters in comics?

Short Essay Questions

1. What obstacle of the eye must the artist try to obliterate?

2. Besides the text in comics, what must the reader/viewer "read"?

3. Give examples of different lettering techniques or styles from Eisner's story Contract with God.

4. What can the artist be tempted to compromise for the sake of attracting buyers?

5. Briefly give a synopsis of Chapter 2.

6. Why is the repetitiveness of comics compared to a language forming its own grammar?

7. Why is bridging gaps in the action a more visceral than intellectual activity?

8. Where does the emotion or "intuitiveness" of a panel come from?

9. Why did artists after the 16th century use expressions, postures, and backdrops to express their ideas?

10. What happens to the hero in one of Eisner's Spirit stories who wishes he could fly?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 2, the relationship of the sequential artist and the reader is examined. Eisner suggests that the reader and the sequential artist must communicate through mutual life experience. Answer the following question: Why must the sequential artist and the reader share life experiences for communication to occur? Use one of your own supporting ideas to back up your statement and at least two examples from the book.

Essay Topic 2

Chapter 3 examines the function of balloons in comics. Balloons are meant to contain speech and illustrate visual sound. Though their job is to order and arrange the storyline, is it possible for balloons inhibit or hinder the meaning of a panel? Support your argument with at least two logical examples.

Essay Topic 3

Chapter 2 focuses on the juxtaposition of words and imagery. However, it also addresses the idea that images express a visual language in a limited amount of pages. Discuss three examples that explain how the artist can present images that clearly signify meaning to the viewer.

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