Podcast
Questions and Answers
What has happened to Vladek as we begin Volume Two?
What has happened to Vladek as we begin Volume Two?
He pretends to have a heart attack but Mala has left him.
What does Art think about his relationship with his father and his attempt to write the book?
What does Art think about his relationship with his father and his attempt to write the book?
He has complex feelings about him; he wishes he had been in the Holocaust so he would have known what it was like. He imagines that if he were to choose which parent should have died, it would have been his father.
What are Art's thoughts about his brother, Richieu, who died in the Holocaust?
What are Art's thoughts about his brother, Richieu, who died in the Holocaust?
He is jealous of his brother, who he saw as the perfect child that his parents loved more than they loved him. He cannot compete with his dead brother.
What insights do we gain in this chapter about the issues confronting the children of Holocaust survivors?
What insights do we gain in this chapter about the issues confronting the children of Holocaust survivors?
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What does Art think about his, or anyone's, attempt to depict the Holocaust?
What does Art think about his, or anyone's, attempt to depict the Holocaust?
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Why does Art say to Francoise, 'in real life you'd never have let me talk this long'?
Why does Art say to Francoise, 'in real life you'd never have let me talk this long'?
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What has happened to Mala? How does Vladek react?
What has happened to Mala? How does Vladek react?
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Francoise comments, 'Maybe Auschwitz made him like that.' Does Art agree?
Francoise comments, 'Maybe Auschwitz made him like that.' Does Art agree?
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What happens when they get to Auschwitz? Whom do Vladek and Mandelbaum meet there and what do they learn?
What happens when they get to Auschwitz? Whom do Vladek and Mandelbaum meet there and what do they learn?
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What does the priest tell Vladek about his tattoo number?
What does the priest tell Vladek about his tattoo number?
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What arrangement does Vladek make with the barrack's Kapo? How does this help him?
What arrangement does Vladek make with the barrack's Kapo? How does this help him?
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What happens to Mandelbaum? What does Vladek speculate?
What happens to Mandelbaum? What does Vladek speculate?
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Study Notes
Chapter 1 - Mauschwitz
- Vladek fakes a heart attack, highlighting his fragile state after Mala's departure, which he perceives as a betrayal.
- Art struggles with complex feelings towards his father, expressing a desire to understand the Holocaust firsthand; he even wishes his father had been the one to die.
- Art experiences jealousy towards his deceased brother, Richieu, viewing him as the "perfect child," leading to feelings of inadequacy in his own relationship with their parents.
- Children of Holocaust survivors face survivor’s guilt and a significant disconnect from their parents' traumatic experiences, making emotional connection and understanding difficult.
- Art believes it is impossible to accurately convey the horrors of the Holocaust; reality surpasses the imagination's darkest fears.
- A moment of vulnerability arises when Art tells Francoise that in real life, she wouldn’t listen to him as he vents about his past, likening her to a therapist.
- Vladek is deeply affected by Mala's departure; he wants to take legal action against her for allegedly stealing his money, showcasing his feelings of victimization.
- Francoise speculates that Vladek's behavior may stem from his time in Auschwitz; Art disagrees, pointing out that not all survivors react similarly.
- Upon reaching Auschwitz, Vladek and Mandelbaum meet their nephew Abraham, who had been compelled to send a letter falsely claiming happiness in Hungary.
- A priest informs Vladek that his tattoo number signifies survival; it begins with 17 and totals 18 (chai, meaning life), while 13 symbolizes the coming of age.
- Vladek secures an arrangement with the barrack's Kapo, trading English lessons for food and protection from transport and selection processes, enhancing his chances of survival.
- Mandelbaum is selected for work by the Germans, and Vladek suspects he did not survive; this foreshadows the dangers faced by those in concentration camps.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the first chapter of Maus Volume Two. Explore the complex relationships and experiences of the characters, especially Vladek and Art. This quiz challenges you to recall key events and themes presented in the narrative.
