Maus:  A Survivor's Tale

Introduction
    This unit was developed as a teacher's resource for encouraging a greater variety of literacy skills in upper-level, secondary Language Arts students.  The book and the activities used in the unit will fit nicely into a two-week period.  The rationale supporting our use of comic books in the classroom is that in order to compete with the many modern mediums which occupy a student's attention, educators must adapt their traditional notions of what literature involves.  We propose that comic books provide students with a medium which is at one time colorful, fast paced, dynamic, and entertaining, and also substantive.  For this unit we have decided to use the graphic novel, Maus: A Survivor's Tale, by Art Spiegelman.

    Maus: A Survivor's Tale is the story of one Jewish man's journey through Nazi controlled Poland during World War II.  Long after the actual events of the story have taken place, the author's father remembers his journey through Nazi Europe toward Auschwitz.  The unique feature of Spiegelman's story is that he uses animals to represent people: for the Jews he uses humble mice, for the Poles he uses apathetic pigs, and for the Nazis he uses fierce Cats.  Although the horrors of the Holocaust are the main themes of this story, the struggle for recognition and love between a father and son also underlies the plot.  By studying this particular graphic novel, students will discover a powerful and personal connection to the most horrific event of the Twentieth Century.  Students will not only be able to understand W.W.II and the Holocaust better, but they will also have a greater respect for the power and excitement of literature.

Disclaimer:
    The links contained herein have been scrutinized for their grade and age appropriateness; however, contents of links on the World Wide Web change continuously. It is recommended that teachers review all links before introducing this site to students.

Click here to view the Unit Objectives!!!

To View our Proposed Activities for the unit, check this page out.

For other links related to Maus, or other comic books as literature, click here!


This webpage/unit was developed by Travis Maher-Watson, Krista MacDonald, Noella Donovan & Tyler Cronk.  All images are courtesy of Maus:  A Survivor's Tale, and were scanned by the webpage designers.  All other information contained herein may be used in classrooms without the express written consent of the creators.