Symbols

Cartoons make use of symbols. Symbols are pictures and images that are used to represent countries, people, events and qualities. As well as John Bull, there are other symbols for Britain:

Lion: The proud British Lion, here driving a cart of patriotic beer.		Britannia: A regal-looking woman wearing Roman-style clothes, with a trident.
The symbols for America are:
Bald Eagle: The majestic symbol for the United States.		Uncle Sam: A thin man, with a white beard, wearing a top hat and clothes to match the American flag.

If a cartoonist wanted to show Russia he would draw a big bear. Famous people can also be recognised from a symbol. A cartoonist may exaggerate of one of their most prominent features or characteristics and turn it into a symbol for that person. All a cartoonist in the Second World War had to do was to draw a toothbrush moustache and everyone would instantly know that it was meant to be Hitler. Draw a fat cigar or the 'V' for Victory sign and people automatically thought of Churchill.

Click on the symbol to see what they mean.