Feb 27th – Garfield: Subtle

Hello everyone!

Today’s comic is Garfield.

Comic Breakdown

“Around here, it’s easy to spot a change in the seasons.” – Garfield’s thoughts

FWUMP! – noise of something being dumped (the something is snow)

“Cartoon weather isn’t very subtle.” – Garfield’s explanations

What is going on?

Garfield is explaining that time goes very quickly in cartoons.  Cartoons are a fictional, made up, version of the world through pictures.  A way to show quick change is to go from one season to the next in just one moment.  The weather went right from summer to winter in this cartoon.  This is done to show great change to the audience.

What does “subtle” mean?

The word “subtle” (pronounced “sud-dle”) means fine and delicate.  It is an adjective (describes a thing or situation) that is used to describe something that is very light, low key, or not very obvious. 

THIS IS SUBTLE

The seasons changing from summer to winter (skipping autumn) is not subtle because the season change is so big.

THIS IS NOT SUBTLE

Today’s images are from here, here, here, and here.

Feb 24th – Garfield: Synonyms & Kiss Up

Hello everyone!

Today’s comic is Garfield.

Comic Breakdown

“So, what’s it like to be old and feeble?” – Mouse to Garfield

“Better than being young and edible.” – Garfield to the Mouse

“But your wit is as keen as ever!” – Mouse to Garfield

“Kiss-Up” – Garfield to the Mouse

What is going on?

The mouse and Garfield are insulting (saying mean things) one another.

What they are saying to each other in simpler English

“So, what’s it like to be old and weak?” – Mouse to Garfield

-        The mouse is telling Garfield he is old and weak.

“Better than being young and easy to eat.” – Garfield to the Mouse

-        Cats like to chase and eat mice.  Garfield is warning the mouse to stop his insults by warning the mouse through an insult of his own.

“But your intelligence is as quick as ever!” – Mouse to Garfield

-        Mouse telling Garfield that his insult was a good one.  

     This is a compliment (words of praise).

“Kiss-Up” – Garfield to the Mouse

-        Garfield noting that the mouse’s compliment is not an honest one.

Note: The bolded words are synonyms (alternative words that mean the same thing) as the original words in the comic. 

Synonyms in this comic

Feeble = Weak

Edible = Eatable (something you can eat)

Wit = Intelligent, Smart

Keen = Quick, Enthusiastic

What is a kiss-up?

Kiss-up is a name that you call someone when they are giving false flattery.  A kiss-up says and does nice things, they give compliments, but do not really mean it.  The term “kiss-up” is similar to a “suck-up” or a “brown noser”.  Kiss-ups do and say extra nice things, honest or dishonest, to get something that they want.

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Feb 20th – Hi & Lois: Birdie

Hello everyone!

Today’s comic is Hi & Lois.

Comic Breakdown

“How was your golf game?” – Lois

“I shot a birdie on the 16^th hole!” – Hi

“Shooting defenseless little birdies!  I don’t think I like this golf game.” – Trixie’s thoughts

What is going on?

Trixie is upset because she thinks that golf is a game in which players hit birds.

The meaning of birdie

The word birdie has two meanings.

The first meaning is of the flying animal, a bird.

Many people, especially children, like to refer to birds as birdies.

The second meaning of birdie is specifically used in the game of golf.

The game of golf

Golf is a game that is played with a stick called a golf club and a tiny ball.  Players must try to score a hole (get the golf ball into the hole) in six tries.  A game has eighteen holes in all.  The fewer shots it takes to get the ball into a hole, the lower your score.  The player with the lowest score at the end of the eighteen holes wins the game.

In golf, a birdie means someone scores a hole in one.  This means to successfully get the golf ball into the hole in only one try.

This comic is funny because it shows how Trixie and many others that do not understand the game of golf could easily misunderstand what Hi said and believe that he actually hit an animal, a bird.  This misunderstanding makes golf sound like a very violent game.  Interestingly, golf is a very peaceful game.

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Feb 17th – Family Circus: Clones vs Cone

Hello everyone!

Today’s comic is Family Circus featuring Dolly and Jeffy.

Comic Breakdown

“Mine’s ’zactly like yours.  It’s an ice cream clone. – Dolly to Jeffy

What is Dolly saying?

“Mine is exactly like yours.  It is an ice cream cone.” 

Dolly is telling Jeffy that they both have the same ice cream.

What has Dolly said that is wrong?

Dolly has mixed up the words “cone” and “clone”.  The two words are similar in spelling and sound. 

Mixing up “clone” with “cone” is an example of a malapropism. 

A malapropism is when one mixes up two words that sound similar but do not mean the same thing.

A cone is a pointy three-dimensional shape. 

A cone can also mean an ice cream cone.  The name comes from the shape of the baked pastry which is used to hold ice cream.  It is similar to a waffle in taste but drier and crunchier. 

A clone is when you have copies of the exact same thing.

Why is this comic funny?

This comic is funny because it shows childish innocence.  Many children regularly mispronounce words that sound similar.

Also, this comic is also witty (being smart) in its word play.  The two ice cream cones are figuratively clones.  They are both exactly the same; the ice cream cones are clones too.

Malapropisms are also used as a form of word play by some in order to make conversations more interesting.

To read more examples of malapropisms, click here, here, here, and here.

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Feb 14th – Peanuts & Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Today’s comic is the Peanuts featuring the topic of Valentine’s Day

Comic Breakdown

“Waiting for Valentines!” – Charlie Brown’s excited thoughts

What is going on?

On Valentine’s Day, February 14^th, people receive gifts and cards of well wishes from friends, family, and their romantic partner.

For children, the more cards and gifts you receive the more popular people think you are.

Charlie Brown was happy that he received a Valentine’s Day card in the mail but he became sad because Snoopy received many more!

The origins of Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is an annual holiday that takes on February 14^th.  It is celebrated in many countries around the world.  Though a holiday, it is considered by many to be a voluntary celebration rather than a true holiday because people do not get the day off from work or school. 

Its origins are ancient and versions of the holiday existed in Ancient Rome and can be traced back to early Christianity.  Valentine’s Day became associated with romantic love in the Middle Ages.  People began giving out greeting cards (Valentine’s Day cards) in the 1800s. 

Today is a billion dollar industry due to all the cards, candy, food, jewellery, and gifts that are purchased for the occasion

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Feb 13th – Friday the 13th

Hello everyone!

Today is February, Friday the 13th!

Comic Breakdown

“I don’t care if it’s Friday the 13^th.  I’m just happy it’s finally Friday!

What is going on?

The person in this image is very happy that it is Friday, the end of the work week.  He does not care that it is supposed to be an unlucky day.

The Number 13

In Western Culture, the number thirteen is an unlucky number.  Some people are afraid of the number and do anything to avoid it.  Some buildings do not have a 13^th floor as a result.

Why should you care if it is Friday the 13th?

Friday the 13^th is also known as Black Friday. 

People think the number thirteen is bad and think the date of Friday the 13^th is unlucky because both the day of the week and number date are associated with the crucifixion (death) of Jesus Christ.  He was crucified (nailed to a cross and left to die) on a Friday and there were thirteen people at his last supper.

Because of the feeling of fear connected to Friday the 13^th, many people will avoid going to work or even doing risky things, such as traveling on an airplane, on that date.

Though the number thirteen has been considered unlucky by many since the Middle Ages, there is no evidence of any fear towards the date of Friday the 13^th before the 1900s.

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, and here.

Feb 10th – Mimi & Eunice: Free & Priceless

Hello everyone!

Valentine’s Day is in a few days.  The idea of love is all around at the moment.

Today’s comic is Mimi & Eunice featuring the word free. 

Comic Breakdown

“How much does your love cost?” – Eunice asks Mimi

“Love is free! – Mimi replies to Eunice

“Don’t you value love?” – Eunice’s response to Mimi

What is going on?

Eunice wants to know what it takes to be loved by Mimi.  Mimi says her love is free which means one does not have to do anything special to get her love.  The ones that are important to her will just be loved.  Love is not about giving and taking.  This worries Eunice because she thinks from Mimi’s answer that Mimi does not think love is important.

The meaning of free

Free means one does not have to pay any money or give anything for something.  The something can be an object or a service.  For example, the library gives the public access to books for free. 

Love is free?

The idea that love is free means that you cannot put any value on love because it is priceless.  This means it is very important and precious.  There is no money in the world that can buy it or create it.  Love is an emotion that just happens and true love (familial, romantic, or friendship) cannot be purchased the way goods or services are. 

In conclusion, for Mimi to say that love is free means that she values it very much. Eunice took the meaning of love being free too literally.  When something is free it means you do not have to pay anything for it.  Mimi meant that love is free in that it is priceless.

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, and here.

Feb 8th – Family Circus: Draw

Hello everyone!

Today’s comic is Family Circus featuring the word draw.

Comic Breakdown

“Grandma, you don’t hafta draw me a bath.  I know what they look like.” – Jeffy to his grandmother

Note: Hafta is the informal short form of “have to” that many say when they speak.

What is going on?

Grandma is getting a bath ready for Jeffy. 

The meaning of draw

The word draw is a verb and has more than one meaning.

The most common meaning of draw means to create an image or picture using a device that has ink such as a pencil, crayon, marker, etc.

Another meaning for the word draw means to bring or take something.

For example:  Drawing (getting/taking) water from a well.

Drawing a bath

The phrase “draw a bath” means to “prepare a bath”.   In this context, the meaning of draw is to take or bring.  The phrase “draw a bath” is from a long time ago when people did not have running water and would have to draw water from the well and bring it into the house to prepare a bath. 

In conclusion, this comic is funny because Jeffy has misunderstood what his grandmother meant when she said she would “draw” him a bath.  She meant she would get the bath ready for him but he thought she was going to draw him a picture of a bath.

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, here, and here. 

Feb 5th – Hi & Lois: This Little Piggy

Hello everyone!

Today’s comic is Hi & Lois featuring a popular English nursery rhyme. 

Comic Breakdown

“…and this little piggy had none.” – Hi telling a nursery rhyme to Trixie

Later in the day.

“Trixie!  Why are you putting your foot in Dawg’s bowl?” – Lois confused by her daughter’s actions

“This little piggy is hungry.” – Trixie’s thoughts and explanation for her odd actions

What is a nursery rhyme?

A nursery rhyme is a song or poem meant for young children.  These poems and songs have been around for centuries.  Popular English language nursery rhymes mostly date from the 1700s and 1800s.

Many nursery rhymes are also used to teach a moral or academic lesson.  They are similar to fairy tales but shorter and meant for a younger audience. 

What is going on?

Hi is telling a nursery rhyme to his baby daughter Trixie.  The nursery rhyme is “This Little Piggy”.  The nursery rhyme tells of a short story of a group of little pigs and different things that they do.  Every finger or toe represents a pig.  The rhyme is often used to teach young children how to count. 

Trixie has taken the rhyme too literally and thinks that her toes are little pigs therefore she needs to feed them!

This Little Piggy

“This Little Piggy”, also known by the name “This Little Pig”, is a fingerplay nursery rhyme for very young children.  It exercises finger and toe coordination for young children.  It also teaches them to count and track small numbers.  The rhyme originated in the early 1700s.

Every toe or finger represents a pig in the story.  The rhyme is mostly played using toes.

There are several versions of “This Little Piggy”.  The most common one used today is:

This little piggy went to market,

This little piggy stayed home,

This little piggy had jam and bread,

This little piggy had none,

And this little piggy went crying all the way to town.

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, here, and here.