Calligram

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/calligram

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the artistic medium?Textual elements arranged to form a visually representative image
2. What is the originating tradition?Ancient Greek 'shaped poems' (technopaegnia)
3. How do calligrams make pictures?By putting the words in a special order, spacing, and font, the letters form a shape that matches the topic, like a bird or a face.
4. Why do people love calligrams?They let us read and see a picture at the same time, making the story easier to remember and more fun.

Calligram: A literary composition where the visual arrangement of words forms an image related to the text's subject.
Semiotics: The study of signs and symbols and their interpretation, including how words convey meaning.
Typography: The art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and appealing when displayed.