Maus by Art Spiegelman (Chapter 5): “Prisoner on the Hell Planet: A Case History”

“Prisoner on the Hell Planet” is a real comic by Art Spiegelman published in Breakdowns (1977).
Therefore, it exists outside of Maus

1. Reread “Prisoner on the Hell Planet: A Case History” (pp. 102-105). Compare and contrast
the style and themes to the rest of Maus.

“Prisoner on the Hell Planet” Maus

• Dark outlines around the • More speech bubbles
cartoon —> dramatic and worsens the way the situation • Less serious, one cannot see emotion that often
appears • Vladek is keeping the family together, he has to provide,
represses his emotions somewhat
• Fewer speech bubbles, more narration • Seems more objective
• Art is wearing prisoner‘s/concentration camp • More positive relationship between Art and his mother
clothing
• Real picture with his mum
—> implies happier Times and shows that they were real
• More Lines —> rigid and unwelcoming
• Faces show the émotions and are human
• Very scared faces
• The font is very clearly legible
• Vladek breaks
• Onomatopoeia —> makes situation more dramatic
• More emotions coming through
• Negative portrayal of his relationship with his mother
• Prison as a representation of his grief and guilt

2. How do Anja, Vladek and Art deal with grief in this chapter? How does grief affect them?

Anja

Vladek

Art
Maus by Art Spiegelman (Chapter 5): “Mouse Holes”

3. What physical and metaphorical mouse holes are in this chapter?

Basements, bunkers,
Metaphorical mouse holes: all the loopholes, safety, risk (lack of food and water), relief,
fear, last resort, grief

4. How is life in the bunkers represented in Maus? Use textual evidence.

Miserable —> p.125 “It was nothing to do all day but lie and starve”
Quiet —> p.125 “You’ve got to keep the baby quiet” (so as to not raise suspicion from the Nazis)
Disgusting —> Dirty,

5. What characteristics of postmodernism can be found in Maus?