Interpreting a Political cartoon IGCSE History

1. A British cartoon of 1925. A poem under the
cartoon reads: 'Just then came down a monstrous
dove, Whose force was purely moral, Which
turned the heroes' hearts to love, And made them
drop their quarrel.'

2. What is the message of this cartoon?

3. To do this question, you
need first to borrow two
concepts from English:
Denotation
(what you see)
Connotation
(how it affects its audience)
A British cartoon of 1925. A poem under the
cartoon reads: 'Just then came down a monstrous
dove, Whose force was purely moral, Which
turned the heroes' hearts to love, And made them
drop their quarrel.'

4. Denotation
Two boys fighting – like
Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee
in Alice in Wonderland.
Connotation
The two stand for Bulgaria and
Greece, who went to war in 1925.
Meaning
Their war was ridiculous and
childish.
A British cartoon of 1925. A poem under the
cartoon reads: 'Just then came down a monstrous
dove, Whose force was purely moral, Which
turned the heroes' hearts to love, And made them
drop their quarrel.'

5. Denotation
A huge dove stops the fight.
Connotation
The dove is a symbol of peace –
but this peace has been
IMPOSED on the combattants.
Meaning
The League is powerful enough to
stop this war.
A British cartoon of 1925. A poem under the
cartoon reads: 'Just then came down a monstrous
dove, Whose force was purely moral, Which
turned the heroes' hearts to love, And made them
drop their quarrel.'

6. Denotation
‘Whose force was purely moral’ .
Connotation
‘Moral authority’ uses reason and
an appeal to right and wrong, not
military force.
Meaning
The League did not impose its will
by force, but by reason and its
moral authority.
A British cartoon of 1925. A poem under the
cartoon reads: 'Just then came down a monstrous
dove, Whose force was purely moral, Which
turned the heroes' hearts to love, And made them
drop their quarrel.'

7. Denotation
‘Which turned the heroes’ hearts
to love’.
Connotation
Don’t you notice a hint of sarcasm
in this line?
Meaning
The League wins – when it is faced
by ridiculous, small, silly nations.
A British cartoon of 1925. A poem under the
cartoon reads: 'Just then came down a monstrous
dove, Whose force was purely moral, Which
turned the heroes' hearts to love, And made them
drop their quarrel.'

8. Finally, always remember
to look at:
Origin
(who drew it)
Date
(when it was published)
A British cartoon of 1925. A poem under the
cartoon reads: 'Just then came down a monstrous
dove, Whose force was purely moral, Which
turned the heroes' hearts to love, And made them
drop their quarrel.'

9. Origin
A British cartoon
Details
A British political cartoonist
making a comic/political
comment.
Significance
It is ridiculing Greece and Bulgaria,
and belittling the League’s success.
A British cartoon of 1925. A poem under the
cartoon reads: 'Just then came down a monstrous
dove, Whose force was purely moral, Which
turned the heroes’ hearts to love, And made them
drop their quarrel.'

10. Date
1925.
Details
A cartoon drawn at the time –
this shows how people felt about
it at the time.
Significance
The 1920s are supposed to be
the time when the League was
a success; but even at the
people realised that it was not
really effective.
A British cartoon of 1925. A poem under the
cartoon reads: 'Just then came down a monstrous
dove, Whose force was purely moral, Which
turned the heroes' hearts to love, And made them
drop their quarrel.'