“A Different

Kind of
Holocaust
Literature”
Prof. Randy Bass
 • MAUS is not merely a narrative
of the Holocaust, but also a story
of human suffering and struggle,
not just after a devastating
experience like the concentration
camps, but also afterwards; not
Extract just of one generation, but also of
succeeding ones.
 Question
To what extent is this statement justified when considering “ The
Complete Maus”.
Quotes

“I know this is insane,

“Maybe your father
but I somehow wish I
“Don’t get me wrong. I needed to show that
had been in Auschwitz
wasn’t obsessed with he was always right-
with my parents so I
this stuff… it’s just that that he could always
could really know “He drives me crazy.
sometimes I’d survive-because he felt
what they lived He is more attached to
fantasize Zyklon B guilty about surviving.
through! I guess it’s people than things”.
coming out of our And he took his guilt
some kind of guilt (Book 1, Chapter 4)
shower instead of out on you, where it
about having had an
water”. (Book 2, was safe… on the real
easier life than they
chapter 1) survivor.”(Book 2,
did”.(Book 2, Chapter
Chapter 1)
1)
Quotes

Pavel explains to Art he

“He loved showing how
was trying to convince
handy he was…and proving
himself that he was handy,
that anything I did was all
skilled and able- that he
wrong”.
deserved to survive.
Key sentiments

Guilt

Resentment

Anger