Analysing Cartoons Based GAMSAT Questions: Part I

We all love Cartoons! The first page most of us turn to while reading a newspaper is the comics page. But, you may never have thought that you will be reading one during the GAMSAT test and be tested upon it. Well…GAMSAT is full of surprises! Section 1 of the GAMSAT paper always has a few MCQs based on a cartoon. But how do you deal with it? Rather than simply amuse you, the cartoon is bound to bring on some questions in your head:

• What is the cartoon about?
• What methods have the cartoonist used to emphasise on the main issue?
• What symbols, if any, are used and what do they symbolise?
• Do you agree with the cartoonist’s view on the issue?

Make it a habit to try and answer such questions each time you see a cartoon. Discuss it with your friends…have a laugh and share thoughts. It is a brilliant way to prepare for the cartoon based MCQs for GAMSAT.

Have you ever thought about exactly what kind of cartoons come for the GAMSAT? GAMSAT MCQs are mostly based on editorial cartoons. Editorial cartoons are different from other cartoons that simply evoke laughter. Editorial cartoons always persuade the reader to THINK. The cartoonist uses them to make a point about a particular idea or issue. There are some tricks of the trade. Know them and your GAMSAT preparation is a mark better. The first technique cartoonists often use is making an analogy between things. Let’s see the cartoon below:

The cartoon above makes an analogy between earth and the popular nursery rhyme character Humpty Dumpty. We all know of how he “sat on a wall, and had a great fall…and couldn’t be put together again”. By using a popular and light- hearted nursery rhyme to deal with a serious issue like global environment, the cartoonist at once catches our attention and makes his point: earth’s destruction is an irreversible process. Let’s see another one:

In this particular cartoon, the cartoonist critiques man’s materialism and apathy towards serious problems like ‘global warming’. The recession which recently hit most people financially was a major cause of concern. While the recession may have caused temporary havoc…it is nothing compared to the natural jeopardy that lies ahead for mankind. Notice the anxious concern on the ladies face…sadly that concern is over trivial matters.

Using analogy is just one of the tricks in the cartoonist’s bag. But you see how effective it is in putting forth his opinion. It has an instant connection with the readers. It is easy to understand as it deals with something familiar. The next time we’ll deal with another cartoonist’s favourite: symbolism. So, keep reading cartoons and analysing them…but most importantly, don’t forget to have a laugh.