Maus I and II Test

frame narrative

a story within a story

metaphor: Jews/mice

“vermin”, save food, run and hide, seen as innocent, weak, vile, small/insignificant, “vile”, “dirty”, extermination attempts

metaphor: Germans/cats

kill/hunt mice, vicious, cunning and stealthy, scared of dogs

metaphor: Americans/dogs

chase cats, loyal/protective, helpful, rescuers

metaphor: Poles/pigs

lazy, indifferent, followers, brutal, strong

panel

the box that contains the image/text

border/frame

surrounds and contains panel

gutter

space between the panels

closure

the reader’s mind fills in the details between panels

bleeding

when the image goes beyond the borders of the panel/page

moment to moment

something moves/changes slightly over a very small time frame

action to action

a figure doing an action by a sequence of frames

subject to subject

changes the subject but still the same scene/idea

scene to scene

transports reader across significant distance of time/space

aspect to aspect

bypasses time and sets the wandering eye on different aspects of a place, idea, or mood

non-sequitur

offers no logical relationship between panels

man vs self

protagonist vs themself, internal conflict; needs to make decision to overcome

man vs man

protagonist vs a human (or a human-like) antagonist: supernatural beings, personified animals

man vs society

sets protagonist vs elements of government, culture, etc.

man vs nature

sets the protagonist against a force of nature; can be a living thing, if not human-like

stereotypes

a

anti-semitism

b

propaganda

a type of message aimed at influencing opinions/behaviors of people. It may only sometimes provide partial or misleading info

spin

heavily biased portrayal in one’s favor of an event or situation

ad hominem

attacking your opponent instead of attacking their argument

ad nauseam

tireless repetition of an idea

appeal to authority

quoting or using prominent people to support a position

appeal to fear

seeks to build support by instilling fear, anxiety, and panic in the general population

bandwagon

persuades people that “everyone else is doing it”, they should too

black and white

presenting only two choices

demonizing the enemy

making individuals from the opposing group appear subhuman, worthless, or immoral

euphoria

uses an event that generates happiness