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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 determines how successfully the commonality of the human body is conveyed?

2. Why is the face the most important part of the body in comics?

3. What two types of applications is sequential art normally divided into?

4. What does Eisner think light implies?

5. What kinds of tasks are by nature, sequential?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are comic book artists frequently hired to produce storyboards for movie scripts and motion pictures?

2. Why should an artist read short stories?

3. Why are the body's gestures and postures stored in the artist's memory as a non-verbal vocabulary?

4. Contrast gesture and posture.

5. How has technology challenged the individuality of artists?

6. Why does Eisner reproduce several pages from his graphic novel To the Heart of the Storm along with a close-up pencil dummy page?

7. Give a brief synopsis of Chapter 5.

8. How does the "blue line" method work?

9. Why do purely instructional comics often use humor?

10. Name four of the eleven points Eisner covers, because he thinks an artist must understand about how objects work in order to portray them skillfully.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 1, Eisner expresses the opinion that lettering functions as an extension of imagery. As an example, he uses Contract with God to suggest that the lettering should remain consistent with the style and emotive qualities of the setting or scene. Explain why Eisner incorporates rain and blood in the lettering and typeface in Contract with God. Cite at least three reasons that support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 4, the emphasis on the artist's particular "style" in comics demonstrates that there are many styles to choose from and that each has its own unique characteristics. However, the artist's style must still express meaning to the audience. Discuss four ways in which an artist's style can help or hinder the audience to understand a comic.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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This section contains 873 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample