Making Classic Literature More Accessible
Graphic Novels In the Classroom
Graphic novel adaptations of canonical literature have gained popularity in classrooms as supplemental tools to aid in teaching the original texts of classic novels and plays. Graphic novel adaptations make literature more accessible to students, which in turn improves literacy through comprehension of original texts and an increase in reading for pleasure.
The use of graphic novel adaptations in educational settings is significant because it offers opportunities to re-introduce a variety of classics to modern readers in a new format that may be more engaging than traditional prose.
Graphic novel adaptations have been around since 1941, starting with the Classics Illustrated series, first published by the Elliot Publishing Company. Classics Illustrated capitalized on the potential of comic books as educational tools during the Golden Age of comics by reimagining literary classics with the aim to honor and embellish rather than replace the books on which they were based.
A common practice of educators who teach literature is to use a graphic novel version of a challenging text such as Romeo and Juliet to scaffold the storyline of the play before reading the original Elizabethan English together as a class. With this type of reading support, students can fully understand the plot of the story using visual cues and adapted language before engaging with the original language of the play itself.
The method of teaching adaptations and helping students to adapt their own versions of older stories commonly supplements the teaching of a core text. This multimodal approach to comprehension of literature provides a productive platform for better understanding the value of now-classic texts and their cultural relevance, both in the past and present.
The graphic novel’s accessible format allows readers of all skill levels into the world of classic literary references that would otherwise only be accessible to stronger or otherwise advantaged readers.
Graphic Novels are Vehicles for Accessibility
Studies have shown a definite correlation between reading for pleasure and improvements in literacy. Graphic novels may be more effective at encouraging reading for pleasure because they can be less intimidating to a student. This intimidation and fear of reading is often exacerbated if the student struggles with large paragraphs of text.
The use of graphic novels has also been increasingly popular in the classroom to engage English language leaners (ELLs) by offering a less intimidating way to experience literature than the traditional novel. Engagement with graphic novels prepares ELL students for more traditional forms of reading while simultaneously teaching critical literacy skills.
In an article by educators of high school deaf students, it is explained that the experiences of deaf students is parallel to the experiences of most second-language leaners in that, like other ELLs, they have a limited basis in the oral language that they are learning to read and write. Graphic novel adaptations of classic literature can be appealing to deaf students because their communication systems of ASL and facial expressions are visual. Graphic novels are proven to improve literacy for ELLs because their illustrations provide contextual support and clues to the meaning of the written narrative, help demystify the text, and increase comprehension.
Graphic novels are especially welcoming as less intimidating material for younger readers who might have a fear of reading that is exacerbated if the reader struggles with large paragraphs of text. Once disengaged readers feel comfortable reading graphic novels, they may be encouraged to read a variety of fiction, as teens who read graphic novels will often read more prose novels than those who don't read graphic novels.
NOTE: You can download this complete resource to share with others or use for classroom / workshop activities involving classic literature.
Recommended Titles
Click on the links below to access each title and take a look at our "Literary Classics - Graphic Adaptations" curated list for even more titles! With multiple adaptations from different publishers, we've included options for some titles to add flexibility to your lesson plans or library programming.
Kids
- Anne of Green Gables (Andrews McMeel & Manga Classics)
- The Count of Monte Cristo (Classics Illustrated)
- Les Misérables (Classics Illustrated)
- The Wizard of Oz (Capstone & Classics Illustrated)
Teen
- Osamu Tezuka's Shakespeare Manga Theater (Ablaze)
Young Adult
- The Count of Monte Cristo (Manga Classics)
- Hamlet (Manga Classics)
- How Much Land Does a Man Need? (Europe Comics)
- Othello (Manga Classics)
- The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe (Manga Classics)
- War and Peace (Andrews McMeel)
These graphic novels can be a source of entertainment for your readers while also functioning as tools for improving their literacy and language learning. Comics Plus is pleased to make graphic adaptations of classics and contemporary novels available as educators and librarians continue to collaborate to include graphic novels in lesson plans and library programming.
Additional Resources
- Graphic Novels: Preparing for a Multimodal and Multiliterate World (Inquiries Journal)
- Graphic Novels in Academic Libraries: From Maus to Manga and Beyond (The Journal of Academic Librarianship)
- Using Graphic Novels in the High School Classroom: Engaging Deaf Students With a New Genre (Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy)
- Drawn from the Classics: Graphic Adaptations of Literary Works (English Literature in Transition)
Related Articles
Mental Health Matters Programming Package - High School Collection
Welcome to our Programming Packages! We have curated a list of titles and created marketing materials and activities to help promote and get the most out of the titles in your Comics Plus Collection! At their best, the people we meet and places we ...Why Comics, Graphic Novels and Manga for Young Readers? How to Best Use Your Comics Plus Collection for Young Readers
Graphic novels offer an incredible new opportunity to engage readers of all abilities by providing a visual foundation that helps accelerate comprehension of the author's ideas. Graphic Novels also provide a new perspective into lives, stories, ...Classroom Connections – Engaging Curriculum with Comics and Graphic Novels
The Classroom Connections series helps educators seamlessly integrate comics, graphic novels, manga, and picture books into curriculum-aligned instruction. Each post pairs accessible, high-interest visual texts with academic standards to support ...Managing your Comics Plus Collection
The "My Collection" area of your Admin Portal allows you to easily discover and curate your Comics Plus collection. Read below to gain a deeper insight into how to best leverage this area. How to Access your Comics Plus Collection 1. Go to the Comics ...Book Club Resource Guide
Hosting Comics & Manga Book Clubs Comics and manga’s ongoing popularity with readers of all ages is no longer a surprise to anyone paying attention, but serving those readers well requires more than simply having a well-stocked collection. From book ...