The purpose of this diploma thesis is to explore how the concept of collective memory manifests
itself within graphic novels which address traumatic events and war, and how they construct
the collective memory of those who witnessed these events. The theoretical part focuses on the
explanation and the analysis of the concept of memory, the description of collective memory,
and the description of war events in Syria and their consequences. The first part also defines
trauma and trauma-related memories, as well as lays the theoretical basis for the explanation of
the importance of graphic novels in managing the victims' traumatic collective memory, and
highlights the importance of their role as witnesses and teachers. The second, empirical part
deals with the explanation of the chosen method, which is Barthes' semiotic analysis, and also
contains selected elements of formal analysis. These two methods are used to analyse three
graphic novels about the Syrian war. Results of the analysis show that the selected graphic
novels construct a traumatic collective memory of Syrian war participants, which they achieve
by different semiotic and formal elements that depict trauma with which the readers can
sympathize with.
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