Interpreting Political Cartoons
Interpreting Political Cartoons
In the Gilded Age, political cartoons provided important commentary on the
major economic, political, and social issues of the day. Cartoon artists
employed symbolism, exaggeration, labeling, analogy, and irony to express their
viewpoint.
To understand how to analyze political cartoons, make sure to complete the
“Analyzing Primary Sources” activity in section 4.3 of your textbook, and then
visit the Library of Congress’s Political Cartoon Analysis page. Once you
have a good idea of how to analyze political cartoons, choose
one of the cartoons below and respond to the following:
- Identify the character(s) in the cartoon.
- Identify the symbols and actions the artist employs in the cartoon.
- Explain the cartoon’s message, intended audience, and if the artist was
persuasive to their intended audience.
The combined answers should be one page, including your reference list. Your
answers to these questions should be accurate, thorough, written in complete
sentences. Be sure to cite the textbook at least once and reference the textbook
in APA formatting.
If you need more guidance, you can read this Sample Assignment, so you will have an
idea about the type of response your instructor will be looking for.
Political Cartoon Analysis: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/activities/political-cartoon/index.html
The Cartoons and Sample Assignment will be attached.
