Maus: a Survivor's Tale: My Father Breeds History

1. When do Vladek and Anja realize that the war is coming? How do they know? Use specific pictures and text to support your answer.

Vladek receives a letter from the government. Vladek is a part of the Army Reserves and he is to report to duty to go to war, or prepare for war. On Page 40, is where the letter came to Vladek. He stated that it was a draft notice and he had to leave.

2. Why do the Germans hang Nahum Cohn and his son? What effect does this hanging have on other people?

Nahum and his son were selling goods without any coupons. At this time, people must have bought their goods with coupons. This sets an example of what would happen if someone were to continue to sell goods without coupons.

3. On page 116, Vladek refers to Haskel as a “kombinator.” What is a “kombinator”? Why does Vladek call Haskel a “kombinator”? Do you agree with him? Why or why not?

A Kombinator is a person who’s ethics are in question. I do agree with him, Haskel is a kombinator because he does whatever it takes to get something done.

4. Why does Anja’s nephew Luke refuse to go to the hidden bunker? Does he make a smart decision? Why or why not?

Luke refuses because he does not want to continue hiding. He made a smart decision because he made it out of the camp that he was sent to ( Auschwitz) and he eventually became a college professor.

5. Why does Art Spiegelman portray the paths in the image to the right as a swastika? How does this image express Vladek and Anja’s situation?

Spiegelman makes it seem like although they are moving around, and they are avoiding the German’s in their lives, it is still not free, and the German’s still have control of their surroundings. It is basically a sign of bad things to come, and they cannot avoid them.