Political CartoonsPolitical Cartoons

What Are Political Cartoons?

• Conveys an opinion about society

• Express someone’s point of view on political, economic, or social issues

• Make use of humor, symbols, historical events, and stereotypes

Common Elements of Political Cartoons

• Caricatures: overemphasis of a person’s features

Common Elements of Political Cartoons

• Captions– Words written in or around the political

cartoon– Can help the reader understand the message,

even if the symbols aren’t familiar.

• Symbols – Images that stand for objects, places, groups

of people, beliefs, character traits, or ideas

Common Symbols…

Scales = Justice

Uncle Sam = United States

Dove or Olive

Branch = Peace

Dollar sign or money

bags = Wealth

Torch = Freedom

Skull or Skull and Crossbones

= Death

Donkey = Democrat

Elephant = Republican

Analyzing Political Cartoons

• Read the title if there is one

• Look for captions and read the captions

• Look for symbols

• Identify people and actions

• Look at the parts first then piece together the meaning

Image 1

Symbol: Democrat

Symbol: Republican

Captions

Subject/Topic

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