Problem: Maus I and II transitions back and forth between "the present" and "the past." The books tell the story of Artie's "present-day" experiences as he tries to uncover his father's personal history in Eastern Europe, while conveying the history of anti-Jewish persecution and tragedy before and during WWII. Where do these two histories converge? How does one inform the other? And what can students of history learn from the two accounts told in the books?