1. What do cats represents in the book?
The Nazis
2. What is the main theme of the book?
Oppression and Family
3. What does the son learn a lot about in the book?
The history of his family
4. How does this book relate to RCG?
It is about the Jews and other groups who were oppressed during that time period
5. What animal were the Jews portrayed as in the book?
Rats
6. Why were the Jews portrayed as rats and the Nazis as cats?
The Jews were rats because cats chase rats and eat them, just like the Nazis are killing the Jews
7. Why do you think it is important to learn about this period in time?
So that history doesn't repeat itself
8. What happened to the father's family?
They were killed, some in concentration camps and some were just killed
9. Who is one example of a non-Jew that helped the Jews?
The person in the black market that he stayed with
10. Why did the laws keep getting harder and harder for the Jews?
So that it would get harder for them to survive
A very big theme in this book is Oppression. In RCG we always talk about how to deal with the oppression. In Maus the Jews have to deal with it and they can't do anything about it. Can someone tell me how you think the Jews are handling this situation? Right, so the Jews can't really do anything about it except for hide and try to make it out alive. Does anyone else have something to say about how people during the Holocaust were oppressed? Yes, they oppressed by not being able to leave their homes, and by all of the laws that were made that pretty much made it impossible for them to do anything.
Another main them is Family. This book talks a lot about it and it comes across as very important. The only way that they are able to survive is by sacrificing themselves for the family to survive. Does anyone relate to that? How family is so important to him. At one point in the story though he says that family is not important just money and food. But, it obviously was, because still the family worked together to protect each other.
Also, another big part of the book is also related to family but it is his ancestry. The son learns a lot about his family history and his ancestors, which made him a lot more family orientated. Throughout the book the father would tell him stories about how his ancestors would stand up for each other and help each other out. That also made him want to become more family orientated. Do any of you guys feel like you should become more family orientated? Lastly, the son starts going over to his fathers house and spending more time with him.
