A Multimodal Intertextual Analysis of the Shift from Picturebook to Graphic Novel in the Adaptation of Winnie-the-Pooh
Presenter Bio
I am Treessa Dolly, a postgraduate student at the University of Madras with a deep interest in children's literature, cultural studies, and ecocriticism. As a nature lover who fell in love with the Hundred Acre Wood, I am excited to present my research on visual and textual storytelling. My presentation today is titled, "A Multimodal Intertextual Analysis of the Shift from Picturebook to Graphic Novel in the Adaptation of Winnie-the-Pooh.
Session
Adaptation Studies
Start Date
12-7-2026 11:00 AM
End Date
12-7-2026 12:15 PM
Abstract
Picturebooks and graphic novels are both multimodal texts in which meaning emerges through the interaction of verbal and visual resources. This paper examines the adaptation of Winnie-the-Pooh, originally written by A. A. Milne and illustrated by E. H. Shepard, and its graphic retelling by Travis Dandro following the work’s entry into the public domain. The two texts are analysed through a multimodal intertextual framework to explore how meaning is constructed across forms. Placing the texts in an intertextual relationship, the study demonstrates that the adaptation functions as a “palimpsest”, where the original narrative remains visible beneath newly imposed visual, spatial, and narrative layers. Although both versions share the same plot and characters, the shift from picturebook to graphic novel significantly transforms the process of meaning-making. In this sense, the graphic novel operates as a form of translation, involving the selective retention, modification, and omission of elements from the source text. The analysis further shows that the graphic novel redistributes meaning-making more evenly between words and images, enhancing the role of visual narration. Drawing on Lawrence Sipe’s concept of “synergy,” the study emphasises that the overall effect of the text depends on the dynamic interaction between verbal and visual modes.
A Multimodal Intertextual Analysis of the Shift from Picturebook to Graphic Novel in the Adaptation of Winnie-the-Pooh
Picturebooks and graphic novels are both multimodal texts in which meaning emerges through the interaction of verbal and visual resources. This paper examines the adaptation of Winnie-the-Pooh, originally written by A. A. Milne and illustrated by E. H. Shepard, and its graphic retelling by Travis Dandro following the work’s entry into the public domain. The two texts are analysed through a multimodal intertextual framework to explore how meaning is constructed across forms. Placing the texts in an intertextual relationship, the study demonstrates that the adaptation functions as a “palimpsest”, where the original narrative remains visible beneath newly imposed visual, spatial, and narrative layers. Although both versions share the same plot and characters, the shift from picturebook to graphic novel significantly transforms the process of meaning-making. In this sense, the graphic novel operates as a form of translation, involving the selective retention, modification, and omission of elements from the source text. The analysis further shows that the graphic novel redistributes meaning-making more evenly between words and images, enhancing the role of visual narration. Drawing on Lawrence Sipe’s concept of “synergy,” the study emphasises that the overall effect of the text depends on the dynamic interaction between verbal and visual modes.