Compare Accounts: Excerpts from Night & Maus
| Question | Night | Maus | |------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | What specific events from the Holocaust are described? | In Night, Elie Wiesel describes his experience in the concentration camps, including the transport of Jews in cattle cars and the horrors of his time at Auschwitz. He also shares the loss of his father while they were at Buchenwald. | In Maus, Art Spiegelman depicts the life of his father, Vladek, as he navigates the harsh realities of life in Poland before and during the Holocaust, including the constant threat of being caught by Nazis and the struggles of survival. | | What genre (type of literature) features does the author use to share facts about the historical period? | Night is a memoir that uses a first-person narrative to convey personal experiences and reflections. Wiesel’s writing is deeply emotional and personal. | Maus is a graphic novel that combines visual art with storytelling. The use of anthropomorphic animals represents different nationalities and groups, which offers a unique perspective on the events of the Holocaust. | | What details about the Holocaust experience does the author emphasize? | Wiesel emphasizes the loss of faith, the brutality of the camps, and the struggle to maintain humanity in inhumane conditions. He often reflects on the dehumanization experienced by the Jews. | Spiegelman emphasizes the resilience of the human spirit despite extreme adversity, focusing on survival, memory, and the impact of trauma on subsequent generations. He also portrays the complexity of relationships under strain from the Holocaust. | | What is the tone of each passage? What evidence do you have of the author conveying his attitude or tone about the events described? | The tone in Night is haunting and sorrowful. Wiesel’s use of vivid, distressing imagery, such as describing the “night” that took away his humanity, conveys deep despair and loss. For example, he writes about “never again” seeing children play, emphasizing the tragedy of stolen innocence. | The tone in Maus is both serious and sometimes darkly humorous. Spiegelman includes moments of levity in the face of tragedy, which can be seen when Vladek’s character displays resourcefulness despite the dire situations, such as when he cleverly barters for food. |
Overall, both Night and Maus provide powerful insights into the Holocaust, but they do so through different lenses. Wiesel's firsthand account is filled with emotional pain while Spiegelman's graphic novel uses a blend of art and narrative to portray the complexities of historical memory and its impact on future generations.