- What different themes does this book explore? Be as detailed and exhaustive as possible.
- Pick a panel and analyze how Moore and Gibbons combine text and visuals to their utmost effect.
- Pick a page and analyze its overall layout. How does the page as a whole make use of the comic book format to achieve meaning and impact. You might find it helpful to consider the larger themes of Watchmen.
- Visual motifs are recurrent images that take on specific meanings relevant to a given work. What visual motifs appear throughout Watchmen and what meanings do they suggest?
- How does the issue of crimefighting evolve over time in the world imagined in Watchmen?
- Consider the names “Rorschach” and “Ozymandias.” Why are these particularly appropriate names for these two characters?
- Which character or characters do you sympathize with most? Why?
- What does Chapter IV, “Watchmaker,” reveal to us about Dr. Manhattan? How does he experience time? What are his interests? How would you summarize his view of existence?
- How do Moore and Gibbons use the imagined history in Watchmen to comment on real events in 20th century America?
- Look closely at Chapter V, “Fearful Symmetry.” How does the idea of “symmetry” play out in this chapter in both form and content?
- What are the worldviews of Dr. Manhattan, Rorschach, and Adrian Veidt? Where do these worldviews intersect? Where do they differ?
- What does Watchmen suggest about masked crimefighters and their costumes? Which characters bring these ideas most clearly into focus?
- What is the purpose of the subplot involving the story from Tales from the Black Freighter? Which of the main characters does it relate to? How?
- What specific examples of social criticism do Moore and Gibbons put forth?
- What is your opinion of the text sections that follow each chapter? Which are most interesting? Why?
- Which chapter is your favorite? Why? Be specific.
- What do you think of Veidt’s solution to the problems faced by the world in Watchmen?
- What is the meaning of the book’s title?
- What do you think is the book’s most significant achievement?
- What are some other issues relevant to Watchmen that have not been covered by these questions? Be as complete as possible.
Reading With Pictures: Comics That Make Kids Smarter
