Chapter Summaries

Each of you have been given a chapter from the book to summarise.

In your summary you need to do the following:

1. Give a general overview (description) of what happens in this chapter.
2. Identify which main themes are seen in this chapter.
3. Tell us what we learn about the main characters in this chapter.
4. Explain what Art Speigelman is trying to tell us about the main themes in this chapter (what is his message?)
5. Identify the various techniques that Art Speigelman uses in this chapter to help us understand the themes and the characters.
6. Explain why/how these techniques are effective.

Before you start, it would be a good idea to re-read your chapter and take some notes.

Once you are ready, begin typing your answers/summaries onto your blog. From there I will collate them and put a full summary on our class blog for the whole book.

Themes in 'Maus'

What are the central themes in Art Spiegelman's graphic novel, Maus?

* War

* Family

* Survival

* Journey

* Discrimination

* Guilt

* Despair

* Genocide - Holocaust - Camps

* Love

* Destruction

* Pain

* Betrayal

* Anger/grief - emotions that follow tragedy

* Loss

Now consider what Art Spiegelman is saying about the main themes (you should choose what you believe are the five most important ones) and how he is exploring them (i.e. what techniques is he using?).

The techniques you may wish to consider are: characterisation, language choices, artwork, colours, relationships/interactions between characters, sequencing of events and perspective.