MLA's teaching of the graphic novel can enhance understanding by making literature more accessible. Graphic novels have a visual component that can help students who may struggle with traditional text - only literature. For example, a student who has difficulty visualizing a scene from a novel might find it easier in a graphic novel format.
It enhances understanding by showing different forms of storytelling. Students learn that literature isn't just about written words but also about how those words interact with images. In the case of graphic novels, they see how a story can be told through a combination of panels, speech bubbles, and illustrations. This broadens their perspective on what literature can be. Also, the study of graphic novels can introduce students to new genres and themes that they may not have encountered in traditional literature, thus expanding their literary knowledge.