Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began
Author: Art Spiegelman
Publisher: Pantheon Books
Year Published: 1986; 1992
Genre: Graphic Novel, Autobiography/Biography. Historical Fiction/Non-fiction
Reader Recommendation:
- High School Students
- Both Genders
- For students seeking to learn about the Holocaust and its mark on history.
- Students looking for a powerful, haunting, and thought-provoking text
- Graphic novel aspect makes it accessible to struggling readers
- Visual Learners
Why Maus? Maus will captivate you and leave you feeling the weight of its history. The images at times are often hard to digest but necessary to face as ignorance can no longer be bliss after this read. Students will approach the Holocaust in a new way with this novel and it will be one they will not forget. It is non-fiction but is not just an informative text as it tells a story; one of the millions of stories of the individuals who bare this past. The story aspect heightens the connection between reader and text and between past and present.
Themes:
War/The Holocaust: Artie's Father went through the concentration camps and tells his story as well as the story of his friends and family who went through this alongside him.
Suffering: Readers are exposed to the suffering Vladek experienced during the Holocaust as well as the suffering Artie experiences in learning about his father's past.
Past & Present: Artie is forced to ask himself tough questions about the Holocaust and what it means for today. How the past impacts the present.
Guilt/Blame: Maus raises questions about who should bare the burden of guilt for the horrors of the Holocaust.
Power: Readers are exposed to Hitler's reign and the power the Germans exerted over the Jews (Cat and Mouse relationship).
Family: Artie goes through the process of understanding his father and why he is the way he is while also uncovering the truth about his mother whose memory still haunts him. The relationship between father and son is explored.
Maus would be appropriate for units that cover topics such as: past and present, suffering, and tragedy. It can be taught as a multi-disciplinary unit alongside a history classroom.
Teaching Maus:
Connecting Activity: Stepping into the chilling reality of concentration camps. As class begins, give each student a number. Throughout class, only call students by their assigned number to help them connect to the way those sent to concentration camps lost all of their identity, including their names.
Image Reflection: Throughout Maus, there are many images that are hard to process. Have students spend time reflecting on specific images and have them respond in writing how they feel while looking at them. Example Images: P. 194, 201, 242, 255, 294
Class Discussion: Discuss the following questions (whole class, partner, small group)
How did the imagery used within Maus (mice to represent Jews and cats as Germans) contribute to the story/add another layer for you as a reader?Additional Resources:
How would you describe Vladek and Artie’s relationship? Use text-based examples. Why do you think Artie gets so easily annoyed with his father’s ways?
What are your thoughts on Artie’s quote on page 202 ("Maybe everyone should feel guilty forever")? Do you agree with him? Why or why not? Think about it on an individual as well as societal level.
Interviews with Art Spiegelman
http://www.comicsineducation.com/home/comics-in-education-presents-resources-for-teaching-art-spiegelmans-maus
Looking for more Maus?
Metamaus By: Art Spiegelman
Includes additional resources, documents, and Spiegelman’s original writings and sketches
Google Cultural Institute
Primary sources, online exhibits, photos, stories, videos
Search “The Holocaust”
Access to: Holocaust historical event
Acts as a virtual field trip for students
Holocaust Memorial Center
Website: https://www.holocaustcenter.org/
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Website: https://www.ushmm.org/
Holocaust Teacher Resource Center
http://www.holocaust-trc.org/
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