Textual Analysis Maus Explanation 2024

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Textual Analysis

Maus

Textual Analysis | When?

• You are going to write the textual analysis about Maus in the test week.
• You have 90 minutes.
• You'll write the textual analysis on paper at school.
• You'll get one set of ± 4 pages.

Structure

You already know the structure, as you have written an essay about Fahrenheit 451 before. The structure is similar.

Introduction (Final sentence: thesis statement)

Body paragraphs (Point, Example, Explanation)

Conclusion (recap main points and answer your thesis statement)

Structure

Thesis statement:

What is the meaning / main significance of these pages? In other words, what does Spiegelman show here and to what effect?

Body paragraphs:

How is this created through words and visuals?

Introduction

- Introduce Maus and its factual information and context,

- Explain in a nutshell what the work is about,

- Place the pages into context, what are they about?

- Introduce thesis statement / main observation

- Thesis statement integrated in your introduction: In this passage/extract….

(Use the guiding questions and try to answer the question: how are these pages significant to the plot?)

Thesis statement

This passage is significant because…..

This passage illustrates Spiegelman’s …….

These pages are significant as Spiegelman uses ..... on these pages to show .... / explore the theme of ... / to depict ....

These pages are significant as Spiegelman illustrates.... 

through ....

Point: Statement which you are going to prove in your body paragraph. This statement supports your thesis statement.

Phrases to help you:

“Spiegelman depicts …. to highlight….”

“In this passage, the visual motif of ….. appears to…..”

“The narration used in this passage is significant as…..”

Example: You discuss an example. This means you refer to specific panels and discuss these in detail. How has he visualized a particular event? What choices has he made? Think of: colour (black/white/grey/lines) and drawing style (detailed, sketchy), (foreground / background), etc.

Explanation: You explain the significance. (Do not summarize - analyze!) What is the effect? What does this show us? This illustrates... This highlights...

Note: I expect you to use abundant examples from the pages. 

Conclusion

Briefly summarize your main observations

Come back to your main observation and end with a strong final statement that answers what you believe to be Spiegelman’s message in writing this work.

Aspects to focus on

Narrative voice

Who is telling the story? Art or Vladek? What is he discussing and why is it relevant that we get his perspective? Comment on the voice-over and/or dialogue. Do they interrupt each other? How does he portray this event? Does he leave out parts? Can we trust him? Think about the features of postmodernism - there is no absolute truth presented, only someone's perspective.

Characterization

The depiction of characters (next to each other, one above the other, do they look at each other, do they look away, expressions, emanata, etc). 

How do they interact with each other (speech bubbles, tone, word choice)?

Anthropomorphism

Structure 

The type of panels, size, shape, how you read the panels (is one bigger than the other - why?, different shape - why?, what are your eyes drawn to and why is that, how do you read these panels), how are they linked (flashback, one event, same event from different perspectives)

Imagery / Visuals / Symbolism

What about the visuals? What does Spiegelman show us on this page and how? Do you see any motifs (stationary bike, circle/spotlight, train, etc)? How has he drawn these and what is the effect, what does it show us, what is the meaning?

Important

You always discuss the visuals as well as the language. 

This means you need to QUOTE from the speech bubbles and voice-over. Use quotation marks and explain why this is important, what this shows us about WWII, Vladek's trauma, his relationship with his son, etc.

Formulating an effective point

"This page is significant because of Spiegelman's use of graphic weight."

"Spiegelman uses graphic weight and mirroring panels, to emphasize the different perspectives of Archie and Vladek"

Rubric

A: Analysis of the conext and evaluation of how language and visuals are used to construct meaning (10)

B: Coherence, focus and organisation (5)

C: Language (5)

Maximum = 20 

Mock Textual Analysis

Time to practice! You'll get a mock test: a set of 4 pages with two guiding questions. 

Individually

1. Read and annotate the pages. 
2. Read the guiding questions

In pairs

1. Formulate a thesis statement 
2. Write your introduction (include your thesis statement at the end)

Example Introduction / Outline

Read the sample introduction and outline on Classroom. 

Note: You are NOT allowed to use these for your textual analysis - you need to write your own. If you so use (parts) of this it's plagiarism and you get a 1.1

Sample outline

Thesis Statement: Thus, these pages are significant as Spiegelman uses different bordered panels and the composition on these pages to make the reader an active party to both past and present narratives whilst also providing insight into Vladek’s character as a Holocaust survivor.

Point one:

These pages depict the start of Art interviewing his father and this overarching narrative is depicted through him questioning and interrupting Vladek, thus combining past and present narratives.

Point two:

Secondly, Spiegelman has deliberately chosen for this opening scene to take place in Art’s old bedroom to show the distance between him and his father and focus on their strained relationship.

Point three:

In these pages, Spiegelman introduces Vladek as a Holocaust survivor through the scene with the coat hanger and him being on a stationary bike whilst speaking to his son about his traumatic past.

Point four:

Lastly, Spiegelman highlights the way Vladek consistently perceives and presents himself in a positive manner and this supports the postmodernist feature that there is no absolute truth.

Themes:

• past and present intertwined
• Family
• Betrayal
• Racism
• Trauma (Holocaust survivor)
• Guilt & Blame
• Survivor's instinct
• Race & Class
• Importance of Luck
• Human interdependence
• Morality

Motifs:

• circles / spotlight
• stationary bike
• train
• grid / window