In my next few posts, I'm going to discuss the idea of using graphic novels in the English classroom today. So, to make sure we are all on the same page, let's discuss what a graphic novel is.
 |
| Cover of Eisner's work. |
The term "graphic novel" was used first by Will Eisner when he published his book
A Contract with God. Eisner wanted to show that comic strips could be used for a deeper and more mature literary experience. His book accomplished this through his discussion of God and man's relationship to Him, but it did not gain the fame or popularity that was expected.
 |
| Cover of Spiegelman's work |
Graphic Novels did not gain popularity with the general public until closer to the 1980's. The rise in popularity came with Art Spiegelman's work
Maus. He too discussed deeper and more complex ideas. His book, which he later wrote a sequel to, is biographical, telling the story of his father as a Polish Jew during the Holocaust. Spiegelman took a more mature theme and placed it within a format that was more informal and immature. Through his illustrations and his text, Spiegelman was able to accomplish the goal that Eisner had tried to so many years before. In 1992,
Maus was the first graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize.
With the fame of graphic novels increasing, a debate has broken out about if the term "graphic novel" is really necessary. Isn't it the same thing as a comic book? Graphic novels and comic books do have a lot of similarities, but they are also very different. A graphic novel is defined as
a fictional story that is presented in comic-strip format and published as a book by the Merriam-Webster dictionary. While its origin came from the comic book, it is longer, and usually focuses on a single theme or plot that finishes by the end of the book. Comic books, on the other hand, usually have many editions and the story continues through them.
One of the biggest differences between these two texts gives the graphic novel value to study in today's English classrooms.
Josh Allen, a professor of English at Brigham Young University-Idaho explains that "comic books focus on the plot while graphic novels focus on the characters." Because graphic novels focus on the characters rather than the plot, they present more developed and well rounded characters that are perfect for studying. The characters drive the plot, rather than the plot driving the characters. This creates a depth to the text that is worth studying in a classroom setting.
Both comic books and graphic novels have begun to rise in popularity over the last few years. However, graphic novels need to be separated from the comic book genre - especially in regards to literature - because they have value in studying in the English classroom today.
