Maus by Art Spiegelman
Introduction to "Maus"
"The Poisonous Mushroom" - overview of stories
"The Poisonous Mushroom: A children's book published in 1938 in Germany by Ernst Hiemer"
The Poisonous Mushroom
Jewish Characterization
1. How does the author, Ernst Hiemer, characterize the Jewish people physically? (Include at least five details.)
2. How would these physical details create a negative picture for a young child?
3. How does Hiemer characterize the Jewish people mentally/emotionally? (Include at least five details.)
4. How would these mental/emotional details create a negative picture for a young child?
Aryan Characterization
1. How does Hiemer characterize the Aryan people physically? (Include at least five details.)
2. How would these physical details create a positive picture for a young child?
3. How does Hiemer characterize the Aryan people mentally/emotionally? (Include at least five details.)
4. How would these mental/emotion details create a positive picture for a young child?
How Propaganda Works
1. Why did the author, Ernest Hiemer, target young children as the audience for his book?
2. Why did Hiemer choose a mushroom/toadstool as his main metaphor?
3. What were Hiemer’s arguments against the Jews? Was he effective in swaying people? Why or why not?
4. Where, in today’s world, is there a similar kind of propaganda? Pick a specific incident and explain.
Inge's Visit to a Jewish Doctor
1.Examine the image and caption to the image. What reaction is this designed to create in the reader?
2.What suggestions are made about the Jewish doctor? Why would these suggestions be made?
3.What is the moral to this story – what has the mother learnt?
4.Read the poem at the end of the story. What words are used to describe Jews? What words are used to describe Germans?
"The Poisonous Mushroom" - overview of stories
"The Poisonous Mushroom: A children's book published in 1938 in Germany by Ernst Hiemer"
The Poisonous Mushroom
Jewish Characterization
1. How does the author, Ernst Hiemer, characterize the Jewish people physically? (Include at least five details.)
2. How would these physical details create a negative picture for a young child?
3. How does Hiemer characterize the Jewish people mentally/emotionally? (Include at least five details.)
4. How would these mental/emotional details create a negative picture for a young child?
Aryan Characterization
1. How does Hiemer characterize the Aryan people physically? (Include at least five details.)
2. How would these physical details create a positive picture for a young child?
3. How does Hiemer characterize the Aryan people mentally/emotionally? (Include at least five details.)
4. How would these mental/emotion details create a positive picture for a young child?
How Propaganda Works
1. Why did the author, Ernest Hiemer, target young children as the audience for his book?
2. Why did Hiemer choose a mushroom/toadstool as his main metaphor?
3. What were Hiemer’s arguments against the Jews? Was he effective in swaying people? Why or why not?
4. Where, in today’s world, is there a similar kind of propaganda? Pick a specific incident and explain.
Inge's Visit to a Jewish Doctor
1.Examine the image and caption to the image. What reaction is this designed to create in the reader?
2.What suggestions are made about the Jewish doctor? Why would these suggestions be made?
3.What is the moral to this story – what has the mother learnt?
4.Read the poem at the end of the story. What words are used to describe Jews? What words are used to describe Germans?