Teaching Theme
Themes run throughout Spiegelman's story. However, teaching students theme can be difficult. Written below is an activity to help students learn how to depict themes from stories. I did not create this lesson plan, but it uses children's stories to help student's learn a difficult concept.
Activity
Click HERE for the lesson.
Listed below are some themes presented in this graphic novel. This is not an exhausted list, but these are some suggested topics to discuss with your classroom.
Race
Picture Referenced
The class may have already exhausted racism in class. Click HERE for racism ideas listed in this site.
Survival
Picture Referenced
Vladek and Anja are constantly trying to avoid capture by the Nazis. They have to continually try to survive in this time period. What is the author trying to say about survival?
Dominance
Picture Referenced
This thematic element stems back to situational irony. Vladek was suppressed by the Nazis who dominated over others. However, after the liberation Vladek becomes very dominating towards others, his children and Mala in particular. What is the author's opinion on dominance?
Role of Women
Picture Referenced
Mala is an important character to consider when discussing the role of women in the text. Here, students can be introduced to feminist criticism.
Feminist criticism is a literary criticism influenced by feminist theory. It is a way of examining a piece of literature through its view and portrayal of women.
What does this text say about women?
How is Mala treated differently than the men in the story?
Does the theme of dominance relate to the role of women in the text? Why or why not?
Feminist criticism is a literary criticism influenced by feminist theory. It is a way of examining a piece of literature through its view and portrayal of women.
What does this text say about women?
How is Mala treated differently than the men in the story?
Does the theme of dominance relate to the role of women in the text? Why or why not?