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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 do unusual container frames do to the reader?

2. In "Contract with God," how is the text lettered?

3. What did comics evolve into?

4. What forces the reader to supply dialogue in an image sequence?

5. For what purpose did the artists start to use expressions, postures, and backdrops?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are used to move a reader/viewer through time?

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

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

4. Why is text sometimes lettered in a style consistent with the sentiment of a scene?

5. Give a brief synopsis of Chapter 4.

6. Give a brief synopsis of Chapter 1: Comics as a Form of Reading.

7. How does the panel function as a stage?

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

9. Describe the nature of calligraphy.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 6, Eisner discusses the history of repetitive glyphs and explains their importance in comics as a form of language. Compare and contrast the repetitive glyphs in early cave drawings, Egyptian friezes, hieroglyphics, and comics. How did these codes progress? How did comics draw upon and progress from these ancient examples?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Eisner promotes the idea that storytelling is not only an expression of language. First, examine the relationship between images and words in comics as Eisner explains it. Second, decide whether or not stories can be told through imagery alone. Support your agreement or disagreement with at least two examples.

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