Name: ___________________________________ Date:_________________

Maus – Chapter 3 “Prisoners of War”

Objectives:
Ø SWBAT analyze the relationship between conflict and characterization.
Ø SWBAT recognize textual evidence for author’s intent in character and plot decisions.
Answer in complete sentences.
1.) When Artie refused to finish his food as a child, what did Vladek do? What did Anja do? How
does this characterize their difference in parental leniency? _________________________________
Vladek tells Artie he has to eat all his food on the plate. Anja offers Artie more green beans. Vladek is more
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strict of a parent while Anja is more loose and offers him more food.
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2.) Why was Vladek's father so reluctant to let him serve in the Polish army? What means did he
use to keep him out for one year? _____________________________________________________
Because he went to serve in the Russian army and served for 25 years. His father starved them so they
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wouldn't be a fit for the military.
3.) What is the meaning of the beard and skullcap that Vladek's father is shown wearing in the
panels on page 46? What happens to his beard later on? ___________________________________
The Beard and skull cap represent that there Jewish. The beard is gone later.
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4.) After finding the soldier he killed, what did Vladek most likely mean when he said, “Well, at
He means that at least he's doing something productive to
least I did something (50).” _________________________________________________________
show he's not lazy. Or that he shot someone.
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5.) How did the Germans treat Vladek and other Jewish prisoners after transporting them to the
Reich? How was this different from their treatment of Polish P.O.W.'s?
They treated them harshly than the others. They did extra work while the other prisoners did less.
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6.) Where is Vladek transferred to following the P.O.W. Camp? What did they have to do there
and what benefits did they have if they succeeded? _______________________________________
He is transferred to a nicer camp. Some benefits are that they are fed and better shelter
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7.) What is the significance of Vladek's dream about his grandfather? What recurring meaning
does "Parshas Truma" have in his life? _________________________________________________
His father tells him he will he will be free. He would read the Torah every
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Saturday.
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8.) How is Vladek proved a leader and intelligent during his time as a prisoner of war? _________
He tells his other friends about his dream and it comes true. But also,
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worked hard when the conditions weren't that great.
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9.) Why was Vladek still at risk of being murdered after being released as a prisoner of war? How
was this false hope similar to when the Nazis released the Jews at the end of the war? ___________
His train past his destination and they took him to a place far away to be killed in a forest. They
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thought they were being released but actually they were tricked and going to be killed.
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10.) How does Vladek arrange to be reunited with his wife and son? What visual device does
Spiegelman use to show him disguising himself as a Polish Gentile? __________________________
Spiegelman saves him. He uses a hat and glasses to disguise as a polish gentile.
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MAUS
Directions: List the difficulties Vladek faces in the present and faced in the past, then decide what type of
conflict they are and how these reveal or change his personality.

In The Past, As a Young Man : Vladek
Description/Evidence of Difficulty or Type of Conflict Personality Revealed (Trait +
Conflict (Person vs. explanation)
_____)
With Anja: à Anja is involved with Communist He is firm and commanding
Person vs.
conspirators and never tells Vladek since he threatens to break off
Person
until she almost gets arrested the marriage unless she stops
(Man vs. Man)
helping communists.
à Anja becomes mentally ill.
Anja is suffering from
man vs. self depression and Vladek helps her

As a Result of Vladek is drafted to the army Vladek is forced into the

the the army and forced to
Man vs. Society kill.
Government

then vladek becomes a prisoner of man vs. because he's in the army
war. Society he gets captured. He also
kills someone and feels
accomplished.

Personal Loss Vladek
loses contact with his man vs. self Vladek wants to reunite with
wife
and kids. his family showing he called
for them.


In the Present, As an Old Man: Vladek
Description/Evidence of Difficulty or Type of Conflict Personality Revealed (Trait +
Conflict (Person vs. explanation)
_____)
With Art(ie) Vladek gets off track when Artie writes it shows that Vladek doesn't
want to talk about his past.
down what he says. man vs. man


Artie doesn't finish his food and Man vs. Vladek talked about how his
vladek complains about it. man father use to starve him and
He says to Artie he should
finish whats on his plate.

With Mala Vladek and Mala always argue Vladek doesn't like Mala that
Man vs man much.


Health Vladek has poor health and has
man Vladek's
a fake eye. vs.self health shows
that he is
getting old.

MAUS