This cartoon by the British cartoonist David Low appeared in the Evening Standard newspaper, 2 November 1945.

1. The cartoon caricatures Soviet foreign minister Molotov, and US and British foreign ministers Byrnes and Bevin. Molotov reads a book entitled: ‘Western political thriller’. After a breakdown of the Conference of Ministers, Britain and America had offered the Soviet Union a 25-year alliance. This cartoon by the British cartoonist David Low appeared in the Evening Standard newspaper, 2 November 1945.

2. What is the message of this cartoon?

3. The cartoon caricatures Soviet foreign minister Molotov, and US and British foreign ministers Byrnes and Bevin. Molotov reads a book entitled: ‘Western political thriller’. After a breakdown of the Conference of Ministers, Britain and America had offered the Soviet Union a 25-year alliance. To do this question, you need first to borrow two concepts from English: Denotation (what you see) Connotation (how it affects its audience) This cartoon by the British cartoonist David Low appeared in the Evening Standard newspaper, 2 November 1945.

4. Denotation The cartoon caricatures Soviet foreign minister Molotov, and US and British foreign ministers Byrnes and Bevin. Molotov reads a book entitled: ‘Western political thriller’. After a breakdown of the Conference of Ministers, Britain and America had offered the Soviet Union a 25-year alliance. Molotov is shown as a forbidding spinster playing ‘hard to get’. Connotation She is scarey, and has ‘taken her bat home’. Meaning Relations had broken down at the Conference of Ministers. This cartoon by the British cartoonist David Low appeared in the Evening Standard newspaper, 2 November 1945.

5. Denotation The cartoon caricatures Soviet foreign minister Molotov, and US and British foreign ministers Byrnes and Bevin. Molotov reads a book entitled: ‘Western political thriller’. After a breakdown of the Conference of Ministers, Britain and America had offered the Soviet Union a 25-year alliance. The weather is cold and foggy. Byrnes and Bevin are both ‘feeling the cold’. Connotation The cold indicates ‘frosty’ relations; the fog indicates lack of mutual understanding. Meaning Relations may be difficult for some time to come. This cartoon by the British cartoonist David Low appeared in the Evening Standard newspaper, 2 November 1945.

6. Denotation The cartoon caricatures Soviet foreign minister Molotov, and US and British foreign ministers Byrnes and Bevin. Molotov reads a book entitled: ‘Western political thriller’. After a breakdown of the Conference of Ministers, Britain and America had offered the Soviet Union a 25-year alliance. Molotov is reading a book entitled ’Western political thriller’. Connotation This might mean he is interested in an alliance with the west, or that international politics has become interesting at this moment. Meaning Stalin has not broken off relations – there is hope of a reconciliation yet. This cartoon by the British cartoonist David Low appeared in the Evening Standard newspaper, 2 November 1945.

7. Denotation The cartoon caricatures Soviet foreign minister Molotov, and US and British foreign ministers Byrnes and Bevin. Molotov reads a book entitled: ‘Western political thriller’. After a breakdown of the Conference of Ministers, Britain and America had offered the Soviet Union a 25-year alliance. Byrnes and Bevin are shown as two rather intimidated suitors. Connotation The Soviet Union is ‘eligible’ – it is worth chasing a marriage/alliance. Meaning The USA and Britain want to repair relations with the Soviet Union. This cartoon by the British cartoonist David Low appeared in the Evening Standard newspaper, 2 November 1945.

8. Denotation The cartoon caricatures Soviet foreign minister Molotov, and US and British foreign ministers Byrnes and Bevin. Molotov reads a book entitled: ‘Western political thriller’. After a breakdown of the Conference of Ministers, Britain and America had offered the Soviet Union a 25-year alliance. They carry gifts – Bryne cautiously offers Molotov a flower. Connotation The Soviet Union was notoriously ‘difficult’ and easily offended in negotiations. Meaning The US and Britain have offered Stalin a 25-year alliance. This cartoon by the British cartoonist David Low appeared in the Evening Standard newspaper, 2 November 1945.

9. Denotation The cartoon caricatures Soviet foreign minister Molotov, and US and British foreign ministers Byrnes and Bevin. Molotov reads a book entitled: ‘Western political thriller’. After a breakdown of the Conference of Ministers, Britain and America had offered the Soviet Union a 25-year alliance. There is a gap on the bench between Molotov, and Byrnes and Bevin. Connotation The gap is indicative of the growing hostility and lack of understanding. Meaning The Soviet Union is growing apart from the western allies (Britain and the US). This cartoon by the British cartoonist David Low appeared in the Evening Standard newspaper, 2 November 1945.

10. The cartoon caricatures Soviet foreign minister Molotov, and US and British foreign ministers Byrnes and Bevin. Molotov reads a book entitled: ‘Western political thriller’. After a breakdown of the Conference of Ministers, Britain and America had offered the Soviet Union a 25-year alliance. Finally, always remember to look at: Origin (who drew it) Date (when it was published) This cartoon by the British cartoonist David Low appeared in the Evening Standard newspaper, 2 November 1945.

11. Date The cartoon caricatures Soviet foreign minister Molotov, and US and British foreign ministers Byrnes and Bevin. Molotov reads a book entitled: ‘Western political thriller’. After a breakdown of the Conference of Ministers, Britain and America had offered the Soviet Union a 25-year alliance. 2 November 1945. Details Shortly after the end of the war, during a breakdown in the peace negotiations. Significance This cartoon shows the time when east-west relations were deteriorating – when there were ‘frosty relations’, but not yet a ‘cold war’. This cartoon by the British cartoonist David Low appeared in the Evening Standard newspaper, 2 November 1945.

12. Origin The cartoon caricatures Soviet foreign minister Molotov, and US and British foreign ministers Byrnes and Bevin. Molotov reads a book entitled: ‘Western political thriller’. After a breakdown of the Conference of Ministers, Britain and America had offered the Soviet Union a 25-year alliance. The British cartoonist David Low. Details Low was a well-informed observer. Significance This cartoon shows how British people felt whilst east-west relations were deteriorating, but before the USSR became ‘the enemy’. This cartoon by the British cartoonist David Low appeared in the Evening Standard newspaper, 2 November 1945.