Maus Chapters 1 and 2

“maus” Chapters 1 & 2

Lesson objectives

Students will be able to:

• Analyze how Art Spiegelman introduces characters, setting, and historical context in the first two chapters of Maus.
• Identify and interpret the use of visual elements and symbols in the graphic novel format.
• Explain the relationship between Vladek’s experiences during the Holocaust and his storytelling through his son, Artie.

Do Now

• Think about a story your family has told you about the past.
• How do stories from the past shape the way you understand your family or history?
• Answer in the chat!

Maus I Chapter 1: The Sheik

Summary

• Artie visits his father Vladek in Rego Park (neighborhood in Queens, New York) where Vladek lives with his second wife Mala (Vladek’s first wife Anja committed suicide). Vladek and Mala don’t get along. Artie asks his father to tell him the story of how he survived the Holocaust, starting with how Vladek met Anja.
• Vladek tells Artie first about a previous girlfriend Lucia. Lucia was very attached to Vladek, but her family had no money, and Vladek was never in love with her.

Maus I Chapter 1: The Sheik

Summary (Cont.)

• When Vladek meets Anja, he falls for her quickly. She is smart, and her family is very wealthy. He breaks up with Lucia and tells her he will marry Anja. When Vladek meets Anja’s family, he goes looking through her things to determine if she’s a good housekeeper. He finds pills, but his friend assures him these pills are just for nervousness.
• Lucia tries to stop their engagement. She begs Vladek to stay with her and sends an anonymous letter to Anja. In the end, however, Vladek is able to convince Anja of his loyalty, and they marry.
• In the present, Vladek asks Artie not to include this story in his book, but the reader can see that Artie has not followed Vladek’s wishes.

Maus I Chapter 1: The Sheik

Chapter 1 introduces a few major characters. One is Vladek.

• How would you describe Vladek so far?
• What do we learn about him through the story of his relationship with Lucia and later Anja?
• Tell me in the chat!

Maus I Chapter 1: The Sheik

Chapter 1 introduces a few major characters. Another is Artie.

• What do we know about Artie so far? How would you describe Artie and Vladek’s relationship?
• Why do you think Artie wanted to write this book?
• Tell me in the chat!

Maus I Chapter 1: The Sheik

Throughout Maus, Spiegelman represents human beings as animals. Jews are represented by mice, Germans are cats, Poles are pigs, Americans are dogs, and so on. Why do you think Spiegelman chose to represent Jews as mice? Tell me in the chat!

German political cartoon depicting Jews as rats

Maus I Chapter 1: The Sheik

Maus is essentially two stories. There is the story of Vladek’s survival, but there is also the story of a father and son’s relationship.

• How does Spiegelman alternate between these two stories?
• Which do you think is the “main” storyline?
• Tell me in the chat!

The Art of Spiegelman

Maus I Chapter 2: The Honeymoon

Summary

• Artie visits his father to hear more of his story. Vladek is counting the pills he takes for his various health conditions.
• Anja is almost arrested because she was translating documents for Communists. She asks her seamstress to hide the documents, and the seamstress is wrongfully arrested. Eventually, the seamstress is released from prison due to lack of evidence, and Anja promises to cut all ties with her Communist friend.
• Anja’s father gives Vladek the money to start a textile factory. Anja and Vladek have a son, Richieu. After the birth of her son, Anja has a mental breakdown. She and Vladek go to a sanitorium for her mental health.

Maus I Chapter 2: The Honeymoon

Summary (Cont.)

• On the way to the sanatorium, they spot signs of the approaching war–Nazi flags with the swastika and a Jew-free town.
• At the sanitorium, Anja sees doctors and nurses. She and Vladek spend the evenings dancing and spending quality time with one another. After three months, Anja and Vladek return home with Anja feeling much better.
• After getting home, there are more signs of the impending war. Vladek’s factory has been robbed. There are anti-Jewish riots downtown.
• Vladek receives a draft letter. In the present, Vladek spills his pills, interrupting the story.

Maus I Chapter 2: The Honeymoon

On page 32 & 33, Vladek and other see signs of the Nazis’ growing influence. Analyze the illustrations in the panels on these pages. What compositional choices do you think Spiegelman made deliberately? In other words, how does he show the growing Nazi influence in the way he drew these page?

Maus I Chapter 2: The Honeymoon

Vladek ends up taking Anja to a sanatorium. What happened to Anja after the birth of Richieu? Is this surprising given what we already know about Anja? Tell me in the chat!

Maus I Chapter 2: The Honeymoon

Poles are represented as pigs by Spiegelman in Maus.

• How do you think the Polish people reacted to being portrayed as pigs when this book was first published?
• Why do you think Spiegelman chose pigs at all?
• What about Polish characters who are sympathetic to the Jews (like Richieu’s nurse who says, “Mrs. Spiegelman… I think of you as part of my own family!”)
• Answer in the chat!

Homework

1. Chapters One and Two Comprehension Questions

2. Write a 1-page response analyzing Vladek’s character in Chapters 1–2 of Maus. Your response should:

• Use text and visual evidence from the novel
• Explain how Spiegelman uses visuals to show emotion or tension
• Reflect on how Vladek’s storytelling helps you understand the Holocaust

Assignment Rubric

Exit Ticket

• Choose one panel from Chapters 1 or 2.
• Write 1–2 sentences explaining how the combination of image and text changes or enhances your understanding of the story.
• Write it in the chat!