Write an essay in which you compare Art Spiegelman’s Maus to a more traditionally formatted story assigned for this class or a comic book you are familiar with. How are elements including theme, plot, and conflict different or alike in the two works? How successful do you think Spiegelman is in conveying his message through the more unfamiliar format of the graphic novel?

 – OR –

Topic 2: View one of the films below. Choose one character from the film and compare him/her to another character from another reading we’ve studied in class. How are they similar? Why did you choose these characters? Do they have characteristics that you can relate to? You may include elements of psychoanalytic criticism (see Week 2 Terms).The table below identifies the films you may choose from. 

Film

The Great Gatsby, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel. 

Of Mice and Men, based on John Steinbeck’s 1937 novel.