I find the idea of presenting reading material for a predominantly adult audience in the form of graphic novels both fascinating and simply a joy to look at.

Even before I took the ‘Graphic Stories’ module, I had a few graphic novels on my bookshelf at home. I’m 25 years old, in my final semester of a Master’s degree in Special Educational Needs and Art, and rapidly approaching my teaching placement. In my view, a story told through pictures – even if it is complex – can be ideally integrated into the classroom, such as The Diary of Anne Frank as a ‘graphic diary’. And that is also the idea behind my adaptation of the ballad ‘Der Knabe im Moor’ by Annette von Droste-Hülshoff.

Adapting literary works is essential, particularly when teaching children with intellectual or learning difficulties, which means that new forms of teaching must constantly be devised. A graphic novel is particularly well-suited to helping the class engage with a ballad such as this. Creating comics or short picture stories can also form part of the lesson, and I can say from my own experience that the pupils have an absolute blast doing so.

When creating the artwork, I was particularly drawn to the ballad’s sombre atmosphere; moreover, working with Indian ink was a new experience for me. I spent countless hours on the artwork – with 23 pages, that really adds up to a lot of working time.

Wiebke Cassens

This text first appeared in the university newspaper UNI-INFO in April 2021.

Editor: Deike Stolz