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LEARNING INTENTIONS
LEARNING INTENTIONS
To read and understand the memoir Maus by Art Spiegelman.
To read and understand the memoir Maus by Art Spiegelman.
To evaluate how sharing personal stories can increase empathy and understanding about how others live.
To evaluate how sharing personal stories can increase empathy and understanding about how others live.
Maus
Maus
Maus is a graphic novel by American cartoonist Art Spiegelman. It depicts Spiegelman interviewing his father about his experiences as a Polish Jew and Holocaust survivor. The work represents Jews as mice, Germans as cats, and Poles as pigs. Critics have classified Maus as memoir, biography, history, fiction, autobiography, or a mix of genres. In 1992, it became the first graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize.
Maus is a graphic novel by American cartoonist Art Spiegelman. It depicts Spiegelman interviewing his father about his experiences as a Polish Jew and Holocaust survivor. The work represents Jews as mice, Germans as cats, and Poles as pigs. Critics have classified Maus as memoir, biography, history, fiction, autobiography, or a mix of genres. In 1992, it became the first graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize.
Prologue
Prologue
What is your first impression of Vladek Spiegelman?
What is your first impression of Vladek Spiegelman?
This is a graphic memoir. A graphic memoir tells a person’s life through text and drawings. Why do you think Art Spiegelman used mice instead of people to portray the characters in the story? What might the mice represent?
This is a graphic memoir. A graphic memoir tells a person’s life through text and drawings. Why do you think Art Spiegelman used mice instead of people to portray the characters in the story? What might the mice represent?
Chapter One - The Sheik
Chapter One - The Sheik
In what point of view is the novel written? How will this affect our understanding?
In what point of view is the novel written? How will this affect our understanding?
What kind of relationship does Art Spiegelman and his father, Vladek have? Use specific pictures and text to support your answer.
What kind of relationship does Art Spiegelman and his father, Vladek have? Use specific pictures and text to support your answer.
How does Vladek respond when Artie first asks him about his life in Poland? Why might he be reluctant to talk about those years?
How does Vladek respond when Artie first asks him about his life in Poland? Why might he be reluctant to talk about those years?
On page 12 we see a close-up of Vladek as he pedals his exercise bicycle. What is the meaning of the numbers tattooed on his wrist? How does this single image manage to convey information that might occupy paragraphs of text?
On page 12 we see a close-up of Vladek as he pedals his exercise bicycle. What is the meaning of the numbers tattooed on his wrist? How does this single image manage to convey information that might occupy paragraphs of text?
What conflicts could you predict Art might have in writing this book? Why? (Consider who he needs to interview for this book to happen.)
What conflicts could you predict Art might have in writing this book? Why? (Consider who he needs to interview for this book to happen.)
How does the composer indicate when the story moves back in time away from the present and into the past?
How does the composer indicate when the story moves back in time away from the present and into the past?
What do you think the phrase "my father bleeds history" means?
What do you think the phrase "my father bleeds history" means?
Chapter Two - The Honeymoon
Chapter Two - The Honeymoon
When do Vladek and Anja realize that the war is coming? How do they know? Use specific pictures and text to support your answer.
When do Vladek and Anja realize that the war is coming? How do they know? Use specific pictures and text to support your answer.
How does present day Vladek’s personality compared to his past self? How has the Holocaust likely affected his character?
How does present day Vladek’s personality compared to his past self? How has the Holocaust likely affected his character?
How does the grammatical structure of Vladek's narration compare to his dialogue in flashbacks? Why does he speak perfect English in flashbacks, but broken English in the present?
How does the grammatical structure of Vladek's narration compare to his dialogue in flashbacks? Why does he speak perfect English in flashbacks, but broken English in the present?
Chapter Three - Prisoners of War
Chapter Three - Prisoners of War
On page 43, Vladek tells Art that he must finish the food on his plate during dinner. Why is Vladek so insistent?
On page 43, Vladek tells Art that he must finish the food on his plate during dinner. Why is Vladek so insistent?
How does Vladek prove to be a leader and intelligent during his time as a prisoner of war?
How does Vladek prove to be a leader and intelligent during his time as a prisoner of war?
Chapter Four - The Noose Tightens
Chapter Four - The Noose Tightens
At the start of the chapter, what two things do Art and his father, Vladek, argue about? What does this reveal about Vladek’s character and their father-son relationship?
At the start of the chapter, what two things do Art and his father, Vladek, argue about? What does this reveal about Vladek’s character and their father-son relationship?
By the time Vladek returns to Sosnowiec from the prisoner of war camp, what has happened to the food supply?
By the time Vladek returns to Sosnowiec from the prisoner of war camp, what has happened to the food supply?
How were Jews divided at the stadium? What happened to Vladek's father? What does the scene on pp. 90-91 suggest about the ways in which some Jews died and others survived?
How were Jews divided at the stadium? What happened to Vladek's father? What does the scene on pp. 90-91 suggest about the ways in which some Jews died and others survived?
What is Art looking for at the end of the chapter? Why do you think he is looking for them? How would it change the memoir?
What is Art looking for at the end of the chapter? Why do you think he is looking for them? How would it change the memoir?
Chapter Five - Mouse Holes
Chapter Five - Mouse Holes
What is “Prisoner on the Hell Planet”? How is this comic different from Maus? How is it similar?
What is “Prisoner on the Hell Planet”? How is this comic different from Maus? How is it similar?
How did Vladek care for Anja after the destruction of the Srodula ghetto? Contrast his behavior toward his first wife, during the worst years of the war, with the way he treats Mala. Why do you think he remarried?
How did Vladek care for Anja after the destruction of the Srodula ghetto? Contrast his behavior toward his first wife, during the worst years of the war, with the way he treats Mala. Why do you think he remarried?
Why does Art Spiegelman portray the paths as a swastika? How does this image express Vladek and Anja’s situation?
Why does Art Spiegelman portray the paths as a swastika? How does this image express Vladek and Anja’s situation?
Why is “Mouse Holes” an appropriate title for this chapter?
Why is “Mouse Holes” an appropriate title for this chapter?
Chapter Six - Mouse Trap
Chapter Six - Mouse Trap
Why does Art worry about the way he’s portraying his father, Vladek in the book? Should Art worry about this? Explain.
Why does Art worry about the way he’s portraying his father, Vladek in the book? Should Art worry about this? Explain.
Is Vladek happy about Art’s book? Explain. Why would Vladek compare Art to Walt Disney?
Is Vladek happy about Art’s book? Explain. Why would Vladek compare Art to Walt Disney?
One of the themes of Maus is “Friendship and family relationships are tested when lives are at stake.” How has that been represented in this chapter?
One of the themes of Maus is “Friendship and family relationships are tested when lives are at stake.” How has that been represented in this chapter?
What happens to Anja’s diaries? Why does this upset Art? Why does Art call his father a “murderer”? Explain his response.
What happens to Anja’s diaries? Why does this upset Art? Why does Art call his father a “murderer”? Explain his response.
What does this ending tell us about the relationship between Artie and Vladek? Consider his dedications/thank you on the copyright page. What do you think of this? Do you think that Anja and Vladek would approve of this ending? Explain.
What does this ending tell us about the relationship between Artie and Vladek? Consider his dedications/thank you on the copyright page. What do you think of this? Do you think that Anja and Vladek would approve of this ending? Explain.
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