Now that you have read most of the assigned texts for this course, take all that you have learned about literary art, and apply it to Art Spiegelman’s Maus: A Survivor’s Tale to answer the question: Is it Literature?
Write a paper that clearly states your response. To support your argument, be sure to do the following:
Define the standards by which you judge literary works.
Explain why these standards are important.
Give examples of what your personal literary canon would include.
Show how Maus meets, or fails to meet, these standards. You should use specific examples from the book to illustrate your points.
Explain your general opinion of the graphic narrative as a legitimate literary artform. Do you think Maus represents how you feel about comics, or is it an exception?
The purpose of this assignment is to consider the variable definition of literature as a reflection of contemporary cultural and aesthetic standards.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Each essay runs 1000 – 1250 words.
PARTS OF AN ESSAY
A brief introductory paragraph that states the central idea of the essay and previews the discussion to come;
Three or more body paragraphs that develop your central idea with specific support drawn from the reading selection;
A brief concluding paragraph with your final thoughts.
NO RESEARCH NECESSARY
These are not research papers; therefore, they do not — and should not — contain any outside sources.
