This seminar paper deals with the graphic novel “Maus” by Art Spiegelman. The book was
published in two volumes. The first volume with the subtitle: “My Father Bleeds
History”(1986) and the second volume had the subtitle: “And Here My Troubles Began”
(1991). The novel is about the genocide of European Jews. The action is centered on the
Holocaust survivor Vladek Spiegelman, who was imprisoned in Auschwitz. His son Art
Spiegelman reconstructs the story of his father by interviewing him and taking notes. During
the novel the author Art Spiegelman informs the reader also about his mother Anja and
himself. First of all, there is the question of how to deal with the medium comic, because
comics represent actually funny stories but the Holocaust is anything but funny thus they are
extreme opposites. However, Spiegelman started a new era of comics, because he showed
which opportunities exist in this medium and introduced the genre to a mass audience. He
was able to do this, because he does not want to tell the complete history of the Holocaust but
only a story of a survivor. The book includes three different time levels. The first one is the
tale of woe of his father, who survives the Holocaust, the second one is where Art interviews
his father about his experiences and memories and the third time level acts after Vladek's
death and shows Art working on the second volume of “Maus”. Due to the jumping between
the time levels emerges close connection between present and past, thereby the story appears
truer. The exact title of this seminar paper is Characterization and symbolism in “Maus” and
will deal with the question of what happens with stereotypes of nationalism and how
Spiegelman reflect personalities. First, the genre of the book will be examined by
characteristics of fables and allegories. Furthermore, the question will be why Spiegelman
decided to choose animal figures and how he characterized them and which advantages the
choice of animals in correspondence with the medium comic has. The characterization and
symbolism will be mostly checked on the basis of the primary literature. Critical voices will
be obtained by secondary literature. Moreover, this seminar paper will amplify several
symbols and metaphors and ultimately, the last chapter will try to read out a moral and a
massage. Questions whether “Maus” is a biography or an autobiography, yiddishkeit and
parenthood will be left out, because it would go beyond the scope of this paper.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Fable or allegory?
- 3. Anthropomorphism and character traits
- 3.1 Why did Spiegelman choose animal figures?
- 3.2 Animals and their allegorical meaning
- 3.3 Untypical characterization and particularities
- 4. Other symbolism
- 5. Moral and message
Objectives and Key Themes
This seminar paper analyzes Art Spiegelman's graphic novel "Maus," exploring its characterization and symbolism within the context of the Holocaust. The paper examines the narrative structure, the use of animal figures as allegorical representations, and the overall moral message conveyed.
- The effectiveness of using animal figures (mice, cats, etc.) as metaphors for human groups.
- The exploration of "Maus" as a fable or allegory and its narrative techniques.
- Analysis of characterization and its relationship to stereotypical representations of nationality.
- The interpretation of various symbols and metaphors within the narrative.
- The extraction of the moral and message conveyed by Spiegelman.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis of Art Spiegelman's "Maus," highlighting the novel's unique approach to depicting the Holocaust through the medium of comics. It introduces the book's structure, encompassing three distinct time levels: Vladek's experiences during the Holocaust, Art's interviews with his father, and Art's post-Vladek's death work on the second volume. This interweaving creates a powerful connection between past and present, enhancing the narrative's authenticity. The chapter also outlines the paper's objectives: examining the genre (fable/allegory), Spiegelman's choice of animal figures, characterization, symbolism, and the overall moral message. The paper's scope is clearly defined, excluding topics like the autobiography/biography debate, Yiddishkeit, and parenthood.
2. Fable or allegory?: This chapter delves into the genre of "Maus," questioning whether it functions as a fable or an allegory. Using Erwin Leibfried's work on fables as a framework, the chapter analyzes "Maus"'s adherence to key characteristics of fables: inanimate objects, known animals as actors, limited number of figures, and anthropomorphism. The chapter acknowledges that "Maus" fulfills some, but not all, of these criteria. Unlike a traditional fable, "Maus" depicts a real historical event, making it longer and less fictional. The chapter then moves to an examination of allegory, noting that "Maus" possesses both literal and allegorical meanings, requiring an understanding of the symbolic representation of animals to fully grasp its message. The chapter concludes by positioning "Maus" as a complex work incorporating elements of both fable and allegory, lacking a clear-cut categorization.
3. Anthropomorphism and character traits: This chapter focuses on Spiegelman's unconventional choice of using animal figures. The chapter explores the advantages of this approach. It argues that the animal figures serve as effective metaphors, simplifying the identification of roles (victims, perpetrators) and enhancing the reader's ability to connect with the story. Spiegelman's use of animals is also analyzed in relation to his need to maintain a distance from the intensely personal story of his father, thereby avoiding an unrealistic or incomplete portrayal of events. The chapter highlights the advantageous abstractness of animal characters which facilitates the identification with a larger group, allowing the actions of individuals to represent the experiences of a collective. The chapter further emphasizes how the use of animal characters leaves room for the reader's interpretations.
Keywords
Graphic novel, Maus, Art Spiegelman, Holocaust, allegory, fable, anthropomorphism, characterization, symbolism, metaphor, animal figures, narrative structure, moral message, historical representation.
Art Spiegelman's "Maus": A Comprehensive FAQ
What is this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of an academic analysis of Art Spiegelman's graphic novel "Maus." It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The focus is on the novel's characterization, symbolism, and overall moral message, examining its use of animal figures as allegorical representations within the context of the Holocaust.
What are the main themes explored in the analysis of "Maus"?
The analysis explores several key themes: the effectiveness of using animal figures as metaphors; "Maus" as a fable or allegory and its narrative techniques; characterization and its relationship to stereotypical representations of nationality; the interpretation of various symbols and metaphors; and the extraction of the moral message conveyed by Spiegelman.
What are the chapter summaries included in the preview?
The preview includes summaries for the following chapters:
- Chapter 1: Introduction: Sets the stage for the analysis, introducing "Maus"'s unique approach to depicting the Holocaust, its structure (three time levels), and the paper's objectives (genre, animal figures, characterization, symbolism, moral message).
- Chapter 2: Fable or Allegory?: Explores whether "Maus" functions as a fable or an allegory, examining its adherence to characteristics of both genres. It concludes that "Maus" is a complex work incorporating elements of both.
- Chapter 3: Anthropomorphism and Character Traits: Focuses on Spiegelman's use of animal figures, exploring the advantages of this approach, its role in maintaining distance from the intensely personal story, and its facilitation of reader interpretation.
What is the overall objective of the academic paper previewed here?
The main objective is to analyze Art Spiegelman's "Maus," focusing on its characterization and symbolism within the context of the Holocaust. It aims to examine the narrative structure, the use of animal figures as allegorical representations, and the overall moral message conveyed by the graphic novel.
What are the key words associated with this analysis of "Maus"?
The keywords include: Graphic novel, Maus, Art Spiegelman, Holocaust, allegory, fable, anthropomorphism, characterization, symbolism, metaphor, animal figures, narrative structure, moral message, historical representation.
What aspects of "Maus" are explicitly excluded from this analysis?
The analysis explicitly excludes topics such as the autobiography/biography debate surrounding "Maus", discussions of Yiddishkeit, and detailed analysis of the author's role as a parent within the narrative.
What is the significance of the use of animal figures in "Maus"?
The analysis highlights the significance of Spiegelman's choice to use animal figures (mice, cats, etc.) as metaphors for human groups. It suggests this technique simplifies the identification of roles (victims, perpetrators), enhances reader connection, and allows for a more abstract representation that facilitates identification with a larger group, enabling the actions of individuals to represent the experiences of a collective.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Patrick Spieß (Autor:in), 2010, Characterization and symbolism in “Maus”, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/169862
