1. This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

2. What is the message of this cartoon?

3. Denotation Connotation
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 - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

4. Denotation Connotation Meaning An Iron Curtain.
Iron is hard and the material of war. A curtain is both a divider, and a screen to hide what you are doing.
Meaning
Stalin has created an ‘iron curtain’ – an impenetrable barrier – and we didn’t fully realise until yesterday what was going on behind it.
This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

5. Denotation Connotation Meaning
Churchill is having ‘a peep under the iron curtain’.
Connotation
To ‘peep’ is brave (though criticised by some) – and gives us a glimpse of the truth.
Meaning
Although the cartoon shows CHURCHILL peeping under the curtain, it is US, the readers, who have been shown what is going on.
This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

6. Denotation Connotation Meaning
A nightmare world of planes, factories and smoke, dominated by the Soviet flag.
Connotation
Factories = economic strength.
Planes = military strength.
Black = evil and dangerous.
Meaning
Behind the Iron Curtain, the Soviet Union is developing strong forces which we need to fear.
This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

7. Denotation Connotation Meaning
Stalin hangs over the curtain – he appears to have a gun.
Connotation
Gun = the Red Army.
Meaning
Stalin is a tyrant, who has erected the curtain to cut off eastern Europe from freedom, and keeps control there by force.
This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

8. Denotation Connotation Meaning A blocked railway.
= blocked progress, hindering economic activity.
Meaning
Western leaders often complained that Soviet policy was hindering economic recovery.
This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

9. Denotation Connotation Meaning A ruined house.
By contrast to eastern Europe, western Europe is shown as in ruins after the War.
Meaning
Western Europe is weak – perhaps not strong enough to resist Stalin.
This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

10. Denotation Connotation Meaning
A man close to Stalin is running away in terror.
Connotation
Soviet communism is terrifyingly dangerous, and we need to be very scared of it.
Meaning
The inculcation of fear of the Soviets was a major part of western propaganda to mobilise public opinion against the Soviet Union.
This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

11. Origin Date Finally, always remember to look at: (who drew it)
(when it was published)
This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

12. Date Details Significance 6 March 1946.
The day after the Fulton speech.
Significance
Illingworth is praising Churchill for making us aware of what is going on behind the Iron Curtain, and of the danger the world is in.
This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.

13. Origin Details Significance
The British cartoonist Illingworth in the Daily Mail.
Details
The Daily Mail was a right-wing newspaper very opposed to the Soviet Union and communism.
Significance
This is an anti-Soviet propaganda cartoon, supporting Churchill’s call for a stand against the Soviet Union, by playing to people’s fears.
This cartoon - ‘A peep under the Iron Curtain' - by the British cartoonist Illingworth was published in the Daily Mail on 6 March ‘Joe’ is Joseph Stalin.