If you’re looking for a compelling text to add to your curriculum, then you’re looking for Maus! In this post, I’ll share why you NEED to teach Maus if you haven’t already added it to your classroom.
The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman is a graphic novel that recounts the harrowing experiences of the author’s father, Vladek Spiegelman, a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, through a series of interviews. In this story, Vladek’s past in Nazi-occupied Europe intertwines with Artie’s present-day struggles to understand and depict his father’s trauma and their complex relationship.
Keep reading to find out more about why Maus is perfect for English classes.
Or, if you already know you want to teach Maus, check out these done-for-you activities to make prepping your unit simple!
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Why You Need to Teach Maus Reason #1: It’s Short
Let’s be realistic. When you look at a possible novel to teach, you first look at the number of pages. Right?
After all, we teachers have a very finite amount of time.
Maus’s brevity is one of its finest qualities. In page numbers, it’s fairly long (especially if you plan on reading Maus I and Maus II which I recommend).
But because it’s a graphic novel, the amount of time it takes to read is pretty short. If you glance at the audiobook or any YouTube readings, Maus clocks in at about twenty minutes per chapter (give or take).
With 11 chapters across the two books, you could theoretically read both in about two hours.
This leaves tons of time for teaching the historical context and analyzing the text itself.
Why You Need to Teach Maus Reason #2: It’s Perfect for ELLs and Struggling Readers
Ah, graphic novels. They really are perfect for our struggling readers.
The format itself comes with built-in scaffolding! Emerging readers can use clues from the illustrations to help them decipher the text as they read.
Maus especially conveys so much emotion and storytelling in its illustrations. They are incredibly compelling and an essential part of Maus’s story.
Why You Need to Teach Maus Reason #3: It Has Novelty
There’s a good chance your students have already read at least one Holocaust story before entering your classroom: The Devil’s Arithmetic, The Book Thief, The Diary of Anne Frank, etc.
It’s easy for readers to get emotionally burnt out on them. (At least, this is true for me.) But you may still have a Holocaust unit on your curriculum to check off.
Maus’s graphic novel format adds some novelty to this genre. While your students have probably read a Holocaust story, maybe even a Holocaust memoir, they probably haven’t read a Holocaust comic book!
Why You Need to Teach Maus Reason #4: It’s Historically Significant
Maus provides a personal and detailed account of the Holocaust, helping students understand the human impact of this historical atrocity. When students read it, Maus personalizes history, making it more relatable and memorable.
Reading this book in tandem with studying the Holocaust or world genocides is sure to build some empathy within your students.
Why You Need to Teach Maus Reason #5: It’s Perfect for Promoting Critical Thinking
If you’re looking for a story to get students thinking, this is it.
Maus presents different viewpoints, including the complex relationship between Artie and his father, encouraging students to analyze and empathize with varied perspectives.
There are times when the author breaks the fourth wall, admitting to his readers that he’s not sure he’s doing justice to the experience of Holocaust survivors. Other times, it’s pointed out that there are discrepancies in Vladek’s story. Students are left to ask questions, fill the gaps, and determine for themselves how reliable the storytelling is from both Vladek and Artie.
Further, Maus prompts students to consider moral and ethical questions about human behavior, prejudice, and the consequences of hatred and intolerance. There is a wealth of deep themes worth discussing throughout the text.
Conclusion
If you need a Holocaust novel, memoir, or just a short read to round out your curriculum, you can’t go wrong with Maus.
Adding Maus to your curriculum? Find all the activities you need to teach this Pulitzer Prize-winning text right here!