Chapter 3 -- "Prisoner of War"

*(SEE NOTE AT BOTTOM BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO WRITE YOUR COMMENT!!!!)

World War II begins in 1939, as we see Vladek Spieglman describe it in Chapter 3.  For today's blog, I want you to do some quick Internet research on the year 1939.  For your comment, write a short ORIGINAL paragraph about something that happened that year.  (By "original," I mean you are not allowed to cut and paste -- aka "plagiarize" -- someone else's comment.  I want the comment in your words.)  Don't feel limited to war information, though you may comment on the war in 1939 if you so choose.  Try taking a look at what was happening in America in popular culture: music, movies, movie stars, books/magazines & radio shows (they were the popular home entertainment back then, as there was no television), fashion, American politics and the economy ... whatever you find interesting!

My 1939 fact:  Did you know that one of the most popular movies of all time, Gone With The Wind, was released in 1939?  Based on the best-selling novel of 1936, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1937, the film's premiere and release was one of America's most anticipated moments of the entire year.  (Since the book was so popular, Americans followed the story as Hollywood cast the stars and filmed the movie.  They couldn't wait to see how the movie turned out!)

INTERESTING FACT:  Another one of America's most famous and popular movies was also released that year.  I'll bet almost everyone in the entire class has seen it once, if not multiple times.  Can you name it?

*NOTE:  No two classmates may post the same "fact" ... I want you all to share different information about 1939.  If someone has already posted what you were going to write about, you'll have to choose another topic.  So, no one else may write about Gone With The Wind as I already did that.  (Repeats on same topic will get a "zero" for this journal grade.)

Chapter 2 -- Spiegelman's choices

Though a graphic novel, never forget that Maus is both a biography and an autobiography.  Art Spiegelman interviewed his father to find out Vladek's story.  Still, as an author, Spiegelman had a choice of what to include and how to draw/present it when writing his book.  Always think about why he decided to include certain events -- both past and present -- and how he decided to present them. 

Please answer one of the following questions for Chapter 2 in its entirety.  (That means answer all portions of the question.)  Make sure you begin your "comment" with the question number so we know which question you are answering.  This is a required comment.  Always remember to employ your literary vocabulary, AND TO USE COMPLETE SENTENCES, CORRECT SPELLING, AND PROPER PUNCTUATION!  This is an English class and an English assignment. 

NO MORE THAN 5 PEOPLE MAY ANSWER ANY OF THE ANSWERS BELOW.  After 5 have answered one question, it is "closed," and you must comment on another question.  That way, as a class, we know that all questions will be answered.

1.)  Comment on the art and text that precede the chapter, "The Honeymoon."  What sensory images does the art conjure?  What do you think is the significance of this picture and chapter title?

2.)  Comment on the type of animal that arrests the seamstress.  How do you deduce what race/religion they are supposed to represent?

3.)  Why do you think Spiegelman included the incident about his father spilling his pills in the "present?"  What is the father's reaction?  Artie's reaction?  What does it signify?

4.)   Why do you think the author chose to include incidents about Anja's pill usage (Ch. 1) and her stay at the sanitorium (Ch. 2)?  What might it signify for the story?

5.)  In Chapter 2, the author introduces the Nazis.  How did he choose to do this?  Why do you think this was a good or poor choice on Spiegelman's part?

6.)  Write on any one specific image (frame) that may have intrigued you or caught your attention in Chapter 2.  Give details on why that frame intrigued you.  Please include the page/text from the frame so we know to which picture you are referring.

"The Sheik"

Here is a photo of Rudolph Valentin in a famous still from "The Sheik." Notice Spiegelman was emulating (imitating) the style of the film still (photo) in that particular frame of the book.  (You do NOT have to comment on this photo.)

First Response

CHAPTER ONE:  After reading Chapter 1 (to pg. 23), comment on your initial response to the material.  You may comment on the artwork, the text, plot, or one specific thing that may have caught your eye.  WRITE INTELLIGENTLY, using literary terms and/or background knowledge you may have about the subject -- such as the materials we discussed about WWII and concentration camps.  Do not just say "I liked ... " or "I didn't like ..." without giving an intelligent reason WHY.