The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. Czechoslovakia. Encyclopedia Britannica, inc. December 20, 2018

1. Look at the title page for the chapter. What do you think the words and images foreshadow? I believe that this image and the title foreshadow Vladek in prison, while being watched 24/7 by the Germans. It is clear that he is in a prison uniform, in the background it shows a soldier in a tower with a weapon. This is the beginning of Vladek's imprisonment. 
2. List 5 events from chapter 1. 1. Artie debating on which animal to use in order to portray his wife. It is important for him to get this right for his book because he believes it adds meaning to it. Francoise, his wife believes that she should be a bunny rabbit. Artie brings up that the french participated in harsh acts, which is not what a bunny portraits. 2. Artie is informed that his father had a heart attack. Artie calls his dad to find out what's going on but it turns out that his father just wanted him to call him back. In addition, Vladek informs Artie that Mala has taken off with part of Vladek's money. Vladek wants his son to go see him and live with him. I believe this is the part of the story where Artie and his father get closer together and build a bond. Artie will be able to find out more about the past and about his mom.  3. Vladek's friendship with Kapo is key in his life because Vladek teaches a German English. This is important because it is most likely why Vladek is still alive. 4. Mandelbaum friendship with Vladek helps Vladek build a bit more compassion and generosity. It also shows that no matter where you stand in life, things can change in a blink of an eye. 5. Artie bringing up his mother and then having his dad change the subject. It is inferred that Vladek is hiding something because he keeps running anyway from Artie's questions. 
3. How does Artie feel about his brother Richieu? I think Artie would've loved to meet him and get to know him. At the same time, I believe that Artie is jealous of his brother because he was destined to have a good career and a wealthy Jewish wife. He thinks that Richieu meant more to his parents than he does.   
4. How does the Polish priest try to cheer Vladek up when he finds Vladek crying?
5. Describe Mandelbaum. Mandelbaum appears to be a man with good values and respect. Imprisoned by the German that hold him hostage. He is different from Vladek because Vladek is a bit more creative and resourceful. Vladek is separated from him and never hears from him again. Vladek assumes that he is killed. 
6. How has Vladek changed in this chapter? List two specific examples of him displaying this new trait. Vladek has become a bit more generous in the way he is with Artie because Artie is the only person he has left. He wants Artie to stay for the whole summer or he wants to move in with him. Then, he informs Artie of the beautiful pine view and about the bingo games that they could do together. 
7. What is symbolic about the names “Mauschwitz” and “The Catskills”? Mauschwitz would represent mice because it is inferred by the word Maus. On the other hand, it is clear that cats represent Catskills. It is an unhappy relationship between the two, since its basically Jews vs Nazis. 

1. Describe pages 40- 47. How does Artie portray himself? What is the importance of this section? Be thoughtful! There is a lot to talk about with these pages. (5 sentences) Artie is wearing a mask of his own face, in a room with hundreds of dead bodies. He has nightmares of how his book will be portrayed and also includes that the ghost of his father still hangs over him (Vladek died of a disease). He is scared to include wrong information in the book because it could backfire on him. The importance of this section is to inform the reader of the struggle in creating Maus. It was tough to gather everything and make it all credible because Artie had no idea of how it all was during that time. 
2. Summarize the war part of the story Vladek tells in this chapter. (3-5 sentences) Vladek explains that it was tougher because more and more were dying or mistreated. In his case, Vladek got a beating because a guard caught Vladek and Anja talking. The way the Jews were treated everyday only got worse. Vladek had to suck up it and do what he was told or else they would kill him. The unhealthy Jews were most likely thrown in the gas chamber, while the healthy ones worked. It was a repetition that the Jews couldn't control, only the German's decided when. 
3. What is ironic about the last few panels of this chapter? These panels are a bit confusing because the first panel shows a human wearing a mask of Artie's face. Then later on in the chapter, it shows a man with two different faces, a cat and a mouse. These panels are different from others just because of how they are portrayed, these give the book a more serious tone to it because they are darker, detailed, and creative. 

1. List 5 events from chapter 3.  The five events from chapter three. 1. Artie rejects to stay with his father and informs him that the will be leaving in a day or so. His dad is heart broken because he wanted them to stay longer and he likes their company. It shows that even though his father is going through a hard time, Vladek is still a lot to deal with and Artie doesn't want to put up with it. 2. The Germans killed all the prisoners that got tired. The more they walked, the more deaths. A great amount of Jews became tired, therefore a great amount of Jews died. 3. 
2. Artie shares with Vladek a story about Jews revolting and killing 3 SS guards. How does Vladek feel about the story? Explain why Vladek may have this type of reaction. (3-5 sentences). Vladek just said "Yah. for this they all got killed", which means that it was expected. Vladek does let out a sigh in him that pretty much infers that he didn't like the story because it was sad. It reminded him of Anja's friends that were hung for sneaking out. Not a pleasing story to hear because it caused Vladek to have a flashback of the scene of the deaths. 
3. How is Vladek able to survive being locked in the cattle car? Vladek is able to survive because he has a blanket that he ties on the top of the cattle cars. He uses it as a hammock to get his own personal space. 
4. What attitude of Vladek’s disgusts Franciose? Why do you think Spiegelman includes this incident? (5 sentences). Francoise is upset about Vladek's racism. Artie decides to give someone a ride, and Vladek is unsure about it. Throughout the whole ride, Vladek keep an eye on him because he doesn't trust him. After they drop him off, Vladek said that he needed to keep an eye on him because he was a black. That was something that Francoise didn't tolerate and was mad about. I believe this is added to the story to inform the reader that Vladek is that way because of what's his been through. 
5. In this chapter, Vladek can’t remember things from the day before but can recall events from the Holocaust. What does this tell us about his experience? This lets us know that the Vladek is scarred from the war. He is sick and forgetting what happens in the past days, but he will not forget all about the war because that's a permanent scar. 
6. Why does Artie use the photograph of Vladek at the end of the book? Why not put the picture at the beginning? I believe that he added the picture  at the to allow the reader to create an image in his mind as he reads the book. It is a slow build up that he wants the reader to have. It isn't something that he wants to give the reader right out of the start. 
7. What does Spiegelman draw on his parents’ gravestone and why (names and dates are a given)? Besides giving their dates of death, he gives them a squared panel on their names, with a candle in between them. Then he has star shaped symbol on the top of the grave. Spiegelmam's name is on a rectangular panel right above their name.