View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Why must the sequential artist and the reader share any experience?

2. What do comics largely emulate?

3. Why is the basic panel layout normally strictly prescribed?

4. What kind of pictographs weld visual imagery and "uniform derivative" symbols?

5. What are these artists trying to arrange?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How do people normally measure distance?

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

4. Why must the sequential artist and the reader share life experiences for communication to occur?

5. What convention does Eisner break while depicting the scene of the hero's flight?

6. Explain how composing a comic strip panel is like designing a mural, illustration, painting, or theatrical scene.

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

8. Briefly give a synopsis of Chapter 3.

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

10. Why is time more illusory in comics?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Eisner specifies a very organized procedure for comic writers and artists. Comic writers and artists must follow this procedure together. Discuss the idea and importance of teamwork in comics. Support your claims with two examples taken from any chapter.

Essay Topic 2

Eisner argues that comics and images can be "read." Explain the author's reasoning using two examples from the book. Defend or oppose Eisner's position.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 811 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample