Structure | Maus: A Survivor’s Tale

Perhaps the structural layout of was to convene both Past and Present as a means of the viewer, reporter (Speigleman) and interviewer (Vladek) all concluding with a more in-depth understanding of events, no matter the time-frame. 

“In the graphic novel, Maus, Spiegelman introduces himself along with his father, Vladek, in the actual creation of the book while he puts into picture the re-telling of his father's story as a young Jew in the early part of the Nazi regime. 

While Vladek unfolds his story, you get not only a sense of the pain and losses he dealt with in his past, but also the current trouble he has with his son. Throughout this narrative of the father and son relationship, one is able to sense the importance of hearing the stories of one's own past and heritage, a valuable attribute that adds to the understanding of one's own life and history.” (Stein, A., Gorlewski, K. 2015). 

Due to the fact that this is not only a graphic memoir, but also a recording of another person’s memoir, proves to have a unique structure overall. Archie Spiegelman was a graphic artist, illustrating typically for comic books, and wanted to write a book about his father’s time during World War II. Spiegelman interpreted the tales of his father through a comic strip layout, his approach was to utilize personification for the representation of various ‘breeds’ or types of people in society.

Mouse = Jewish People

Pig = Polish People

Cat = German Nazis

Also, throughout the memoir, the recollection of Vladek's (his father) memories are represented through flashback-like scenes, allowing for the reader to see through both Vladek’s perspective, but also through Spiegelman’s perspective of how he portrayed the information being stated. 

Figure 1

Figure 2

Therefore the overall structure of Maus: A survivor’s Tale is a comic-like approach with reoccurring jumps between the Past and Present.

Past | 1935 a few years before the beginning of the war until around 1944 in Poland 

Present | 1980’s in the United Sates  

Perhaps the structural layout of was to convene both Past and Present as a means of the viewer (Audience), reporter (Speigleman) and interviewer (Vladek) all concluding with a more in-depth understanding of events, no matter the time-frame. 

Reference List

Figure 1 | Cronin, B. (2009). Comic Book Legends Revealed #202. [virtual image]. Retrieved Apr 5, 2015 from http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/04/09/comic-book-legends-revealed-202/

Figure 2 | Stein, A., Gorlewski, K. (2015). Maus - A Survivor's Tale - My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman. [virtual image]. Retrieved Apr 5, 2015 from https://yareviews.wikispaces.com/Maus+-+A+Survivor%27s+Tale+-+My+Father+Bleeds+History+by+Art+Spiegelman  

Young Adult Literature. (2015). Maus - A Survivor's Tale - My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman. Retrieved Apr 5, 2015 from https://yareviews.wikispaces.com/Maus+-+A+Survivor%27s+Tale+-+My+Father+Bleeds+History+by+Art+Spiegelman