Characterization and symbolism in 'Maus'

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, British
Cover of the book Characterization and symbolism in 'Maus' by Patrick Spieß, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Patrick Spieß ISBN: 9783640883165
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: April 4, 2011
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Patrick Spieß
ISBN: 9783640883165
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: April 4, 2011
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,3, Martin Luther University, language: English, abstract: 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.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,3, Martin Luther University, language: English, abstract: 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.

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book How American is German Politics? by Patrick Spieß
Cover of the book Will using interaction in small groups about homework assignments increase students' completion of homework assignments? by Patrick Spieß
Cover of the book Jugend und Jugendkulturen im 21. Jahrhundert by Patrick Spieß
Cover of the book Emissions Trading by Patrick Spieß
Cover of the book The Irish and the American Civil War by Patrick Spieß
Cover of the book Environmental Auditing by Patrick Spieß
Cover of the book The Chinese in Canada by Patrick Spieß
Cover of the book The V-Chip, ratings and sex & violence on cable. A status report by Patrick Spieß
Cover of the book How was the behavior of the US in Foreign Policy from 1917 till the end of the Vietnam War and what are the different possibilities? by Patrick Spieß
Cover of the book Cultural Resilience in Louise Erdrich's Love Medicine by Patrick Spieß
Cover of the book Sport Management. Sponsoring in General by Patrick Spieß
Cover of the book The Economics of European Integration - The Single Market Programme and its weaknesses by Patrick Spieß
Cover of the book Lesson Plan for Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World' by Patrick Spieß
Cover of the book Native American Horse Culture: Looking at the change in culture the horse brought to the Blackfoot, Cheyenne and Comanche tribes. by Patrick Spieß
Cover of the book The Place of Government and the Press in rousing unemployed Graduates' interest to Entrepreneurship by Patrick Spieß
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy