Maus I

Miloch

Vladek’s cousin, living with his wife and son in a trash hole, was going to take Vladek and Anja’s place in their hiding spot at the house

Haskel

Vladek’s cousin, known for being a crook, willing to take Jewels but not save lives, always trying to get himself ahead, still receives gifts from Vladek as a way to keep in contact and to make up for a sense of guilt

Artie

Vladek and Anja’s 2nd son, writing the story, often receives his father’s disapproval

Anja

Vladek’s 1st wife, came from a family with money, survived the war with Vladek, died by suicide, very clever, has bottles of pills in her closet

Vladek

retelling his experiences during the Holocaust, an old grumpy man, was(and still is) a wreck after Anja died

Richieu

Vladek and Anja’s 1st son, was sent to live with someone to hopefully survive the war, died by poison from Anja’s sister because concentration camps were worse

Mala

Vladek’s 2nd wife, tired of his cheapness, takes the brunt of his anger, also survived the war, knew Vladek and Anja before the war

Abraham

went to Hungary for a better life, wrote back to family saying that it was safe and that he made it

Ms. Stefanska

Seamstress that took the fall for Anja’s Communist translation papers

Lucia

Vladek’s girlfriend, came from a poor family, very impressed with him and his lifestyle

Smugglers

claimed they would help everyone escape to Hungary for a large price but ended up getting most of them caught

Kombinator

a schemer, a crook, used to describe Haskel

Jewish Police

special group of Jews selected by the Nazis to help them, they hoped this would eventually lead to a better life

Parsha Truma

the week in which Vladek’s dream said he would be free

Auschwitz

one of the worst concentration camps, Richieu and the other children were poisoned so they wouldn’t have to go, Vladek and Anja are eventually sent there, Mala’s mother died there

Rudolph Valentino

an actor that many people compared Vladek to when he was younger

International Law

did not protect Jewish war prisoners

Hiding Places and Bunkers

fake coal room (Vladek made), fake chandelier ceiling (Vladek made), fake backyard shed, shoe tunnel, trash pit, backyard barn, basement closet

Secret Documents and Letters

Anja translated Communist papers into German and almost got caught but framed the seamstress instead

Where Vladek Hides Valuables

kept valuables from before being taken in the fireplace/chimney, he kept the watch from Anja’s father in a can of shoe polish

Anja and Vladek’s family

Anja comes from a rich family with many relatives, Vladek’s parents moved to Sosnowiec

Smuggling

 items were smuggled on the black market by lying about their purpose, people were smuggled to Hungary by train with tickets that came with a hefty price tag

Characters and Plot Development

 as the story goes on, Mala and Vladek begin fighting more, Anja has more mental health issues develop, Vladek has to get more resourceful to stay alive

Mice

represent Jews

Cats

represent Nazis

Pigs

represent Poles

Dogs

represent Americans

Fish

represent British

Frogs

represent French

Vladek’s Life Prior to Anja

had to deal with Lucia and wasn’t truly happy with her, quit school at 14 to work, simple but nice life

Lucia’s Relationship with Vladek and Anja’s Connection to Him

 Lucia dated him for 3-4 years, wanted to get engaged but Vladek didn’t, Anja met him while dating Lucia, Vladek wanted to marry Anja but Lucia didn’t believe him

Anja and the Sanitarium

she had postpartum depression, so Vladek took time off from his factory to take her to Czechoslovakia to get better

Vladek’s Time in and Avoiding the Army

Vladek was starved to avoid the army, but ultimately had to go into the Polish army when he couldn't take starving anymore, training was a few days before they were sent out

Mala and Vladek’s Relationship

Mala wants money, freedom, and to change his will, Vladek views her as a burden

Vladek’s Health

Vladek has heart issues, so he pedals on the bike to stay healthy and has emergency pills if he starts feeling bad

“Prisoner on the Hell Planet” (Suicide Comic)

Depicts Anja’s suicide and how she was blamed for it, but it was really because Artie ignore her and likely because of the trauma she’s been through and possibly a change in treatment from Vladek

Vladek’s Payment for Saftey and His Posseions

he still has/had the watch from Anja’s father when they got married, he was willing to sell anything valuable to anyone who would let him stay or provide food

Soap Incident

Pesach used laundry soap instead of flour when making a cake and made a lot of people sick

Vladek Escaping to Hungary

he paid with most of what he still had for him and Anja to be smuggled into Hungary, but it was really a trap and they were arrested and taken to concentration camps

Key Aspects of the Holocaust Museum

The museum was designed in a way to try and replicate some of the conditions and spaces that people in concentration camps were forced to live in. It helps visitors better understand and feel for the people who actually had to experience it.

“You are my witnesses”

located on the museum enterance’s wall, tells you it’s your job to pay attention to the Holocaust

“Work makes one free.”

propaganda above the entrance to concentration camps to trick people into working hard

“Only guard yourself and guard your soul carefully, lest you forget the things your eyes saw. . . . And you shall make them known to your children, and to your children's children.”

the reason why we remember the holocaust and the importance of passing it down to new generations to prevent it from happening again

Reason Why Artie Became an Artist

he did because he knew Vladek would not support it

12 family members

number of family members that had to share 2.5 rooms in the ghetto

Orbach

claims Vladek as a relative so he could be released from the Lubin camp

1970s

time when Vladek was telling Artie his stories

allegory

the type of story Maus can be considered

Anja's closet/clothes

what Vladek offered to Mala when she requested new clothes

German train car

where Vladek prefers to ride because he can better blend in

Vladek is difficult

the reason why Artie doesn’t want to go over and help Vladek fix the drainpipe

Anja’s diaries

Arite became very upset when he learned Vladek burnt these

windbreaker

the type of coat Vladek gave Artie after he threw his away

delicate hands

both Artie and Vladek have these

moving tree

reason why Vladek shoots a German soldier

Anja’s father

gave Vladek the money to start a new factory