Analysis Of Maus And The Sandman By Neil Gainman

When defining great literature, graphic novels are often the last source scholars and educators consider. In general, graphic novels are seen as low-brow, mass culture entertainment or as pedagogical tools (Long 6). In recent years graphic novels have proven to be worthy of being considered great literature and valuable tools in the classroom. Comic books should not be viewed simply as aesthetic objects, but rather as texts which function when read by their audience within a specific context. Our education curriculums are heavily relied on reading comprehension, which has proven to be a struggle for visual learners. Graphic novels offer value, variety, and new medium for literacy that acknowledges the impact of visuals. Novels such as Maus by Art Spiegelman and The Sandman (vertigo) by Neil Gainman, not only appeal to visual learners, but are useful across all curriculums. Maus and The Sandman offer different style narratives and visuals that reflect the diverse nature of graphic nov els. The variety in compositions between these two demonstrate the strengths of the graphic novel genre, and how they can be considered valuable sources of education. The use of word image combination allow the reader of graphic novels to experience much more than what words allot. For visual learners that struggle with reading compression, the visual components of graphic novels help portray the context in a medium that is easier for these learners to digest. Maus by Art Spiegelman is one of