MAUS blog: Group 505

Why did Vladek think that Sosnoviec would be a safer place for Jews than Bielsko?

What political party is Anja involved with, and how does Vladek react to the news of her involvment? Why?

What do you think of the medium (comic book) used to tell the story? How do you personally like it? How does it affect the story? Is it a good way of telling the story? Is your opinion now, after reading 2 chapters, the same as it was when you read the first couple of pages? For instance, you may consider the following elements to answer:

- Medium: cartoon characters, animals with human bodies

- Characters speaking instead of the story being narrated or told as in a novel

Look at the incident on p. 32. What happens? Who is accused of having caused the incident? As a reader, do you blame Art for not getting along with his father?

Look at the image on the title page of this chapter. In terms of mood, what is the effect of the presence of a NAZI flag?

Why do you think Vladek chose Anja over Lucia?

Why do you think Spiegelman chooses to re-introduce the Vladek of the present, pedaling on his cycle, against the background of the poster for The Sheik? (p.15)

How does Vladek respond when Art first asks him about his life in Poland? Why might he be reluctant to talk about those years? (p.14)

Read p. 13 again. What can be inferred (deduced) about the father-son relationship? About Vladek's character, personality? (Hint: How long has it been since Art last visited his father? What do you think is responsible for their separation?)

Briefly characterize Art's father's response to Art's problem in the prologue (before chapter 1). What kind of response is it? What does it reveal to us about Vladek? About this father-son relationship?

What is the significance (meaning and importance) of the quote from Adolf Hitler on p. 10? Why is it so relevant in the context of Maus?

What literary device is Spiegelman using in Maus's subtitle "My Father Bleeds History"? How can it be interpreted?

Here is a link to a very useful website explaining many different types of literary devices: http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/de/resources/litdevices/index.html