Literary Elements And Techniques In Chris Ware's Unmasked

Chris Ware works wonders when it comes to his graphic novel “Unmasked.” He tells this story about how one woman does not accept the fact that her husband may be cheating on her. This graphic novel seems difficult to comprehend at first, but with different literary elements and devices, Ware makes comprehension possible. Ware uses his unique color scheme, panel transitions, the use of the five senses, and the attitude of the characters to tell how a woman is made aware of her father and her husbands affairs.
The color scheme that a graphic novelist uses in his or her narratives go a long way in describing the setting and tone of the story. Ware uses a different color scheme for the two separate pages of his comic. On the first page of the comic, for instance, the colors are more bright and vivid; giving it a happier, more relaxed tone. Ware uses a bright panel when he illustrates the grandmother and the little girl bonding in the kitchen while cooking pancakes (Ware 1). Both of them act as if they are happy and have no care in the world. On the second page there is darker hue which gives off a more mysterious and tense tone. The author …show more content…
On the first page, it shows the face of a woman. The second page, however, shows the picture of a mask. This mask could symbolize how this particular woman has been blinded by the idea that her husband is cheating on her; almost as if she is hiding behind a mask as to what is really happening.
Graphic novels are definitely hard to comprehend. With the aid of specific elements that are included in the comics, it can be easier to comprehend. Ware uses a specific color scheme, panel transitions, the use of the five senses, and character attitudes to help aid his reader’s minds. Without these elements, the graphic novel would be almost impossible to break down to understand what is truly