Valdek, Memory, and Historical Accuracy

Vladek's story of his experiences in WWII is being told several decades after the event. Artie tries to keep Vladek's story as authentic as possible.

Watch this video and listen to VLADEK's VOICE...Art Spiegelman discusses his creation of the book.

People tend to remember events with which they emotionally connect very vividly. How is this true for Vladek?

What tendencies of Vladek's demonstrate to the reader that Vladek not only had vivid memories of his experiences during WWII but also carries the "baggage" of that experience with him on a daily basis?

Respond with textual evidence in MLA format in 75-100 words  (pick valuable words...blog posts are concise).

Note: Image here is Vladek in 1972 the year Art began to interview him for the book.

MAUS II

MAUS II is subtitled "and here my troubles began". In this portion of the story we experience some of Artie's and Vladek's pain. How does Artie's brother that he never knew because he died during the war cause him grief? How does Vladek display survivor guilt?

Vladek was a young adult during WWII. Look at the USHMM's Online Exhibition Collaboration and Complicity, and find the TEENAGERS TAB. Listen to the other views of survivors who were young adults during WWII. How does viewing images and listening to other accounts add to the authenticity of Vladek's memory that Artie was trying so hard to deliver?
 
Respond with TEXTUAL EVIDENCE in MLA format. Indicate word count (75-100 words) after last word.

 

Human Nature

From Vladek's discussions with Artie, what did you learn about people/human nature? Did WWII and the Holocaust bring out the best or the worst in people? What examples are given in Maus of people going out of their way to care for their fellow man and what examples are there of people being fearful to stand up for what is right?

As Maus includes REAL elements, so too does this blog, The image is from the Unites States Holocaust Memorial Museum exhibit titled Collaboration and Complicity. What does this image reveal to you about human nature? Are there any other images from the USHMM exhibit that you can connect to any of the stories that Vladek shares with Artie?

Respond with TEXTUAL EVIDENCE in MLA format. Indicate word count (75-100 words) after last word.

Prisoner of War

Chapter 3 is Titled "Prisoner of War". How is Vladek both literally and figuratively a prisoner of war? An old saying is that the true test of one's self is how they react under pressure/in challenging times. How did Vladek react? What character traits of Vladek's were prominent during this time?

Respond in 50-100 words with textual evidence in MLA format. Include word count after final word.

Pre War Jewish Life in Europe

Describe Vladek's perception of his life/his world pre-WWII?

In your 50-100 word response cite TWO specific examples.