In a nutshell: A political cartoon makes a sharp point about the news in one funny, exaggerated image — using humour and symbols to criticise.
It's the news version of a meme.
🖼 A tiny figure labelled ‘the public’ crushed under a giant boot. A politician watering a dead plant labelled ‘promises’.
Nothing in the drawing is spare — every symbol, size and label means something. You read it like a puzzle.
What to look for
Caricature
A person drawn with exaggerated features to mock a trait.
Symbols
Objects that stand for ideas — a dove (peace), a flag (a nation).
Size
Huge vs tiny shows power vs weakness.
Caption
Words below often flip the meaning with irony.
Caricature · symbols · size · caption
The key move: Decode, don't describe. Turn each symbol into meaning, then say the criticism — the point the cartoon makes.
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Why it matters in the exam: A Paper 1 cartoon comes with a description of the image. Decode two or three symbols, then say the criticism each builds.
Analyse the point of this cartoon. Described: a huge smiling figure labelled “PROGRESS” strides forward, not noticing the tiny people he steps over. Caption: “Mind the gap.”
Model answer plan
See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
Watch out: Don't just describe the drawing — decode it. And don't miss the caption's irony: it often flips the meaning.