Night comprehension Questions
NIGHT
Answer the following questions based on the text “Night” by Elie Wiesel noting page numbers and citing textual evidence to support your answers.
Comprehension Questions are due Thursday, April 17th - NO LATE WORK FOR "NIGHT" WILL BE ACCEPTED OVER OR AFTER SPRING BREAK!
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PREFACE to the NEW TRANSLATION:
1.) Read the preface by Elie Wiesel. Why do you suppose Wiesel imposed a ten-tear vow of silence?
1. He's still trying to process the horrible things he's been through. He also did it in honor for those who died and suffered.
2.) Why did he have trouble finding a publisher?
2. It was too morbid and too grotesque. It also wasn't a popular topic.
3.) What is the “devastation that will never end”?
3. The memories of the Holocaust. The experience that he's been through.
4.) What is Wiesel saying about how we can make sure that something this horrible is never repeated?
4. To inform everyone about the tragedy and to never forget about what they've been through.
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FOREWARD:
5.) Read the Foreword by Francois Mauriac. Why is Mauriac so moved by Wiesel’s book – of all the Holocaust literature he had seen?
5. Mauriac is so moved by Wiesel's book out of all the other Holocaust literature he has seen because something about Ellie's memoir is very unique and comes from the perspective of a child. He believes that it's a little more genuine and affective because of the graphic material Wiesel uses.
6.) How do you explain the “inconceivable passivity” with which the Jews of Sighet yield themselves to the Nazis?
6. The Jews are passive and non-agressive with the Nazis because it's part of their culture and they fear that something worse would happen to them. The Jews didn't know who the Nazis were and they just followed along with the steps that things would get better and they were very hopeful.
7.) What aspects of Wiesel’s experience does Mauriac find most disturbing?
7. When Wiesel's sister and mother are burned to death, Mauriac finds it most disturbing. Children are being hung and killed. Wiesel's father was tortured and beat until his death. Wiesel, throughout the entire book, questions his faith and why God would let all these things happen.
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NIGHT:
8.) When and where does Elie Wiesel grow up? (city, country and time period) How old is he?
8. Ellie Wiesel was 12 years old and grew up in Transylvania.
9.) Try to picture Elie’s childhood. How is his childhood like yours and how is it different?
9. Ellie seemed devoted to his religion and grew up Jewish. He stutters and had
10.) Who is “Moshe the Beadle” and why does Wiesel begin the story with him?
10. Moshe the Beadle is a poor man and a friend of Elie's. Elie starts with Moishe the Beadle because he wants to tell how important faith and religion is in Elie's life.
11.) What do Eliezer’s parents and the other in the community think of Moshe?
11. The community thinks of Moshe as the "town clown" because he was poor.
12.) Why does Elie spend so much time with Moshe?
12. Moshe is a religious mentor for Elie, he teaches him things no one else will.
13.) What is Elie’s father’s profession?
13. Elie's father was a store owner.
14.) Is Elie’s father highly respected in the Jewish community?
14. Elie's father is highly respected in the Jewish community.
15.) What has happened to Moshe that caused a great change in him?
15. Moshe saw people get shot and buried into holes they dug themselves.
16.) How does this experience change Moshe?
16. Moshe lost faith and has lost the joy in his eyes.
17.) How does the rest of the community react when he tells them what has happened to him?
17. The rest of the community does not believes Moshe.
18.) What is the news and why are they so optimistic?
18. The Jews of Sighet are optimistic because of the news they hear on the radio in late 1942 and 1943.
19.) With an ironic tone, Wiesel says, “Besides, people were interested in everything – in strategy, in diplomacy, in politics, in Zionism – but not their own fate.” What does he mean?
19. They think that they are totally exempt. They are worried about the war and about Hitler, yet they believe that they have nothing to do with it.
20.) Berkovitz brings news from Budapest that anti-Semitism (hostility or discrimination against Jews) war is rampant. Why then, is “optimism soon revived”?
20. The Jews of Sighet believes the Germans will stay in Budapest and they won't make the travel all the way to Transylvania.
21.) Why do “the optimists rejoiced” even three days after the German soldiers appear in Sighet?
21. The optimists don't believe they will do anything since they are being so nice.
22.) Why is celebrating Passover like playing a “comedy”?
22. Their hearts are not in it. They are only doing it because it is a religious holiday.
23.) What does the following mean? “On the seventh day of Passover the curtain rose.”
23. The curtain is the optimism and happiness. The Germans arrested the Jewish leaders in the community.
24.) Name the decrees (laws) the Germans put into place.
24. One, the Jews were prohibited to leave their home for three days. Two, the Jews had to hand in any valuables. Three, the Jews had to wear a gold star. Four, they could no longer go to restaurants, cafés, or travel by the rail. Five, they could no longer attend the synagogue. Six, they were not allowed to be out after six-o-clock.
25.) Describe the ghettos.
25. The ghettos live amongst Jews and are by themselves. They feel excluded from the people around them and they enjoy it.
26.) How do the Jews of Sighet generally feel about the ghettos?
26. They feel that the ghettos are a good thing at first since they feel that the ghettos live by themselves and that's all the Jews wanted since they're being demanded to follow rules and not have a voice.
27.) Why do the Jews of Sighet think they are being deported and why is their destination kept secret from them?
27. They think they're being protected and transported to work into a brick factory. They think people are trying to protect them from the war since they're too close.
28.) How could the Jews of Sighet have possibly escaped from the Germans?
28. The Jews might have escaped from the Germans by just running away and believe Moshe the first time.
29.) How do they prepare for deportation?
29. They bring backpacks with a few belongings in them.
30.) Why is there “joy” when the signal finally comes for them to leave?
30. There is joy when the signal comes for them to leave because anything's better than sitting there miserably in the hot weather and screaming children and depression around. They're happy that something is happening.
31.) How does Elie feel as he watches the procession or deportees?
31. Elie feels sad that everyone's leaving and it's their homeland. It's where they grew up and created memories with each other. It's unbelievable that all these things were happening and it's like only yesterday all these things were happening.
32.) Who offers Elie and his family safe refuge?
32. Maria, their maid, offers for Elie and his family to come with her and settle with her in a safe place to live.
33.) Why doesn’t Elie’s father accept the offer?
33. Elie's father doesn't accept this offer because he's an elder and a well-respected figure of the community and doesn't want to be selfish and save himself and his children.
34.) On what day of the week is the family expelled and why is this ironic?
34. They are expelled on Saturday, the day of rest, and it's ironic because they are being forced, on the day that they are supposed to be resting and praying, to get ready for their expulsion.
35.) They spend 24 hours in a synagogue. What are the conditions like? Give examples.
35. The synagogue was destroyed by German soldiers. The people are separated by gender, woman upstairs and the men downstairs. On their Saturday, when they're supposed to be worshipping they are forced to spend their day miserably. Since they were unable to go outside, people had to use the bathroom in a corner.
36.) How are the Jews moved out of Sighet?
36. The Jews moved out of Sighet by transporting in cattle cars.
37.) Why do you suppose no one tries to escape?
37. No one tries to escape because you'd get shot.
38.) Why does the Hungarian lieutenant move among the prisoners with a basket?
38. He moves among the prisoners with a basket so he could take their valuables such as, gold, silver, anything they had left.
39.) What actions do “those who no longer wished to taste the bitterness of terror” take?
39. The woman who had been screaming was frightening everyone. They try to calm her down and help her out.
40.) Who is Madame Schachter and why is she so upset?
40. Madame Schachter was freaking out because she was seperated from her husband and two children.
41.) How do the others treat her and why?
41. By the time everyone has had enough of it, they tie up Madame Schachter. They bound her and gag her so that she can't talk anymore. She was scaring everyone on the cattle car and they didn't know what else to do.
42.) What is the first thing the prisoners see when they got to Birkenau?
42. They see a chimney and flames coming out of it.
43.) What do they smell?
43. They smell burning flesh.
44.) Who are the SS men?
44. The SS men were soldiers of the German army. They're Hitler's soldiers, they did not chose to be soldiers and do not believe in what they're doing. They were not Nazis.
45.) How do Elie and his father get separated from Mother and Tzipora?
45. Elie and his father get separated from their mom and Tzipora because the SS men demanded everyone to split up men on the left and woman on the right.
46.) What is Elie’s last memory of them?
46. Elie's last memory of her mother and Tzipora was when his mom was stroking Tzipora's hair and trying to soothe her and calm her down.
47.) Why do some of the younger men want to attempt an escape?
47. Some of the other men don't want to be sent to the crematorium to be burnt and don't enjoy being treated this way.
48.) Why don’t they go through with it?
48. They don't go through with escaping because the elders tell them to keep faith and be optimistic.
49.) What lies do Elie and his father tell to Dr. Mengale and why?
49. Their age and occupation. Elie lies that he's 18 and a farmer.
50.) Why does Elie’s father wish Elie has gone with his mother and why is this ironic?
50. Elie's father wishes that he had gone with his mom because he wanted him to be safe with mom and doesn't want to watch his only son die. This is ironic because dad didn't take that chance to save themselves when the housewife offered to take them in, but now since he's seeing death in front of their eyes he decides otherwise.
51.) What do you suppose Elie would say to those who claim that innocent children were not murdered during the Holocaust?
51. Elie would say that children were and he watched his own family get separated and assumes that they died.
52.) What is the Kaddish and why doesn’t’ Elie join his father in reciting it?
52. The Kaddish is a prayer for the dead in honor and respect for those who've died. Elie's father doesn't recite the Kaddish with them because he holds onto the belief of not dying with his son.
53.) How do the prisoners who are already in the barracks treat the newcomers?
53. The prisoners in the barracks treat the newcomers cruelly. They're mean and they hit the newcomers.
54.) What are Elie and the others ordered to do?
54. Elie and the others are ordered to take off their clothes and hold on to only their belts and shoes. Then, they are taken to the barber and had all their hair cut off.
55.) How does Elie change by the end of the first night? (physically, emotionally, and spirirtually)
55. He sees themselves as tormented soul and gives up hope and God. He's beginning to lose his faith in God, questioning why someone so great could let these things happen to them.
56.) How does Elie keep his his shoes from the “Kapos” at first?
56. Elie keeps his shoes because the mud disguises the fact that they're new so they look older.
57.) According to the SS officer, what is the only way to avoid the furnaces?
57. The only way to avoid the furnaces is to work. It's work or death.
58.) Why does the gypsy strike Elie’s father and how does Elie react?
58. The gypsy hits Elie's father when he asks where the restroom is. Elie just stands there silent. He assumes that his atmosphere has changed him and he's desensitized.
59.) To what new camp are the prisoners taken?
59. They've come from Birkenau to Auschwitz.
60.) Who is in charge of the block and what is his advice?
60. A young Polish guy, and his advice is to keep faith and not give up hope. He wants them to help each other with team work, and that it's the only way to survive.
61.) How does Elie become “A-7713”?
61. Elie becomes more like a prisoner and he's emotionless.
62.) Describe “roll call”.
62. During the roll call, the marches play. A band comes out and plays music. Tens of thousands of prisoners line up in rows and people check off their numbers to make sure no-one was missing.
63.) Who is Stein and why does Elie lie to him?
63. Stein is a relative of Elie. Elie lies to him because he wants Stein to be okay and give him hope.
64.) Why does Stein stop coming to see Elie?
64. Stein stops coming to see Elie because he found out that Elie was lying to Stein and has lost hope and given up.
65.) Akiba Drumer believes that God is testing the Jews and that this punishment they are enduring is actually a sign of love. What does Elie think of this theory?
65. Akiba Drumer believes that they are being tested by God and see if they still believe in him and if they die mercilessly it is because God wants them to join Him in heaven. Elie doesn't believe it and questions God's absolute justice. He thinks that if God loves us so much than why would he hurt us in such an awful way.
66.) How could Elie have bribed the assistant to arrange for him to go with his father to a “good unit”?
66. Elie could've given him the shoes for he and his father to get into a good unit.
67.) Why doesn’t he try the bribe?
67. He doesn't try the bribe because he questions whether the guy can fall through and keep him with his father.
68.) Where is music played in the camp?
68. The music is played at the entrance of the camp and they call the entrance the first block.
69.) Why can’t the musicians play Beethoven?
69. Jews were not allowed to play anything by German composers or musicians.
70.) Why is Elie sent to the dentist?
70. Elie is sent to remove his gold teeth.
71.) Why is he so desperate to keep his tooth and why doesn’t he succeed in keeping it?
71. Elie is desperate to keep his tooth because it's one of his last possessions. He wants to use it in his time of need.
72.) Who beats Elie in front of the French girl and why?
72. He beats up Elie in front of a French girl because he's Jewish.
73.) Why is she afraid to speak to him?
73. The French girl is scared and doesn't want Elie to get beat some more. She's scared and shocked about what happened.
74.) What advice does she give to Elie and what does this show about her?
74. The French girl tells Elie to wait and hold in his anger. This shows that she's wise and patient.
75.) Why does Idek beat Elie’s father?
75. He beats Elie's dad because he didn't think that Elie's dad was working hard enough and he can't keep up with the Kammando.
76.) Why is Elie angry at his father for getting beaten?
76. Elie is mad at his father because Elie think he's not trying hard to make the situation any better and he brought this upon himself.
77.) Why does Elie give his father “marching lessons”?
77. Elie gives his father marching lessons to prevent himself from being attack. Elie's father can't march in place and he keeps getting beat for it since Elie won't give him the gold crown.
78.) Why does Elie laugh at Idek and what is the result?
78. Idek was taking advantage of a young girl, and Elie thinks it's ridiculous that he had to sent everyone away to do so.
79.) What do the air raid sirens signify?
79. The sirens went off because there was a bombing, people were bombing the base and the camps.
80.) Why is this a particularly dangerous time for prisoners?
80. It was a dangerous time for the prisoners because if it landed on a block it would've killed them. The SS officers got to hide underground but if they bomb a block then most of the prisoners will die.
81.) How is “terror stronger than hunger”?
81. The soup was left there while they were being bombed. The fear was greater than the hunger because if they get caught they'll be killed.
82.) How does the death of that one man affect Elie and how does he react when the air raid is over?
82. The death of that one man affected Elie because the man was shot right in front of everyone. It shows what would've happened if he tried to take the soup. It's just like another day, and Elie just goes on with his life like nothing happened.
83.) Who are some of the people who die on the gallows?
83. One of the people who were hung on the gallows were a young boy, because he stole. The next person that was hung was a pipel, he stole weapons.
84.) What phrase so many repeat before their deaths?
84. "Long live liberty!"
85.) Why are people hanged rather than being shot or killed some other way?
85. They are handed instead of being shot because you can watch the life being taken out of them and it's sad and depressing for the people who have to watch.
86.) Whose death affects Elie the most and why?
86. The death that affects Elie the most was the young pipel. Elie starts to doubt God, questioning him about why he could do this.
87.) Why does Elie find the soup “excellent” after one execution, but tasting of “corpses” after another?
87. The second execution impacted Elie more because it was a little boy being hanged and he saw himself. He's realizing that these people don't have any boundaries when it comes to killing people.
88.) What is Rosh Hashanah?
88. It's the Jewish New Year.
89.) Why do you suppose even “Kapos, functionaries of death” come to the Rosh Hashanah service?
89. They come to participate in Rosh Hashanah to watch the Jews and supervise them. They also wanted to reflect and participate, and be faithful in their own way.
90.) What is going through Elie’s mind?
90. Elie is losing faith throughout the entire service and he feels alone and defeated. He says that he's nothing but ashes now and he feels
91.) Is Elie in the minority when he “rebelled” inwardly and why does he call the place where the Kews meet to pray a “mirage”?
91. Elie feels like he has been defeated and that God is not there to protect them.
92.) What does Elie mean when he says of his father, “We had never understood each other so clearly”?
92. That they love each other and they don't need to say it and that they are also afraid.
93.) What is Yom Kippur?
93. It is when the Jews fast.
94.) Why doesn’t Elie fast?
94. Elie has already starved and that it is a rebellion against God.
95.) What is the “fine New Year’s gift” the SS gives the prisoners?
95. The SS gives the prisoners a selection.
96.) What advice does Elie get from the head of the block about avoiding selection?
96. That Elie should run.
97.) What does Wiesel mean when he says, as the prisoners stand naked, “This must show how one stands at the last judgment”?
97. It is the difference between going to Heaven and Hell.
98.) What is Dr. Mengele’s attitude during the “selection”?
98. Dr. Mengele acts as if it were a game.
99.) What are Elie’s thoughts as he goes through the “race”?
99. Elie keeps repeating this to himself to make it through.
100.) What sorts of “presents” and “inheritance” gifts does Wiesel’s father give Elie and why?
100. Elie's father gives Elie a piece of bread to eat and the rubber is to fix his shoes. And Elie's father gives Elie a knife and spoon.
101.) Why does Elie return them to his father?
101. Elie knows that his dad is not dead and will not acknowledge his father is weak.
102.) What does this show about how life changes when mere survival is a struggle?
102. Elie's father needs a spoon and a knife to survive.
103.) What happens to many of the prisoners when they lose faith?
103. They give in to defeat and are typically given over to selection.
104.) Why does Wiesel tell the story of Akiba Dumer – and how everyone forgets to say the Kaddish for him?
104. He is telling a perfect example of what happens when you lose your faith.
105.) How does Wiesel end up in the hospital?
105. Wiesel got an infection or something in his foot.
106.) What decision is Wiesel faced with while he is in the hospital?
106. Elie has to decide wether to stay or leave before selection.
107.) What is Elie’s choice and why does he choose this option?
107. Elie decides to stay because he believes that his neighbor is shady.
108.) Why is the camp being evacuated?
108. War was quickly approaching the camp.
109.) Why do the prisoners want the Russians to arrive first?
109. The Russians would liberate the Jews.
110.) What is meant by the question the prisoners ask: “were they (SS) going to let the Jews hear the twelfth stroke sound?”
110. To see if they're were going to stay alive. To see if they were going to be killed or not.
111.) How does the “face of the camp” change on the morning of the evacuation?
111. They change clothing (get more clothing), they get food (all that they can take), and it looks like a "free-fall" for survival.
112.) Why does the head of the block order the prisoners to clean the floor, and how do you think the prisoners feel about this task?
112. They are told to clean the floor to show the Russian army that men were living there and not pigs. Even though they were treated like animals. They want to show that they were still men.
113.) Reread the description of the evacuation at the end of the chapter. Why does the author choose to use a series of short sentences in this passage? What is the effect?
113. The author chose to use a series of short sentences because it's all happening fast in his head and he wants to feel as if they were in the situation together.
114.) What does Wiesel mean by the observations of the SS men “Their fingers on the triggers, they did not deprive themselves of this pleasure”?
114. Whoever stopped running or slows down, would get shot. To keep "their fingers on the triggers," are a sign that they have power.
115.) What is sadism and where do you see evidence of it in the novel?
115. To be sadistic. It's to make someone do something embarrassing for pleasure. This happened when they went to the doctor and they didn't help.
116.) What happens to Zalman?
116. He has stomach pains, takes his pants down to relieve himself. He goes to the bathroom because of his stomach ache. Then he gets trampled over by the other runner and suffers.
117.) In what way are Wiesel and the other Jews who keep rushing onward “masters of nature” -then in the morning “without strength, without illusions”?
117. They have been gone threw so much of use and have learned how to master anything bad that comes their way. They are strong. Then in the morning, they became exhausted and lost all of their strength and illusion.
118.) How do Wiesel and his father help each other stay alive?
118. They look out for each other and they are trying to keep each other awake. They are also making time to let each other sleep.
119.) Why does Wiesel tell the story of Rabbi Eliahou?
119. It would show what /would/ happen if his dad and him split up and went their separate ways.
120.) Why is he glad that the rabbi “should continue to look for his beloved son”?
120. It would tell us that if he ditches his dad, he would look for him still. No matter who ditches who, they would still love each other and they would look for each other.
121.) Why do you think that “sons abandoned their fathers’ remains without a tear”?
121. They think that their fathers are just holding them back. There's nothing they can do. If people die then that's it, they can't do anything about it.
122.) How does Wiesel avoid suffocation?
122. He separates the bodies that are on top of him and makes himself a small air hole.
123.) Why does Wiesel think he is hallucinating?
123. He hears the violin and the music. He knows that the violin shouldn't be there and shouldn't be playing music. He thinks it's all in his head.
124.) Why is Juliek playing his violin in this terrible situation?
124. He does it for his fellow comrades and he does it for himself because he thinks the violin is going to be taken away from him or he would die. He does it to die happy.
125.) What happens to Juliek
125. He dies in the dead pile. Doesn't really specify his death. Wiesel woke up and saw him dead with his violin next to him.
126.) How does Wiesel’s father avoid being “selected” at Gleiwitz and why does Wiesel run after him to the left?
126. He takes his dad to the right instead of the left. He runs after him when he walks over to the left because it's the weak side and doesn't want anything bad to happen to him. He also doesn't want to get separated. He sort of takes him hostage.
127.) How does Wiesel convey a sense of hopelessness in this final section of the book?
127. They're all waiting to die. They all spend nights in torture and are waiting to die.
128.) Why do the two men try to throw Wiesel’s father from the carriage?
128. He looked dead. He wasn't waking up and when he did, he was barely breathing.
129.) Why do the living “rejoice” when the order comes to throw out the corpses?
129. They have more room for themselves. They get more space.
130.) What is the author trying to say about the prisoners at this point?
130. They are not waiting to see their families or for the liberation, they are waiting to die.
131.) How do the prisoners in the wagon act like animals?
131. They fight over a few crumbs of bread. They go crazy over the few bread crumbs.
132.) Why do the German workmen take a “lively interest in this spectacle” when they have merely stopped and stared at marching prisoners before?
132. He mocks them and treats them like garbage. It's his way of making fun of them. He finds them pathetic.
133.) Why doesn’t Wiesel join in this scramble for food?
133. He knows that he's not strong enough to get into a battle for a piece of bread.
134.) How are Meir and his son similar to other fathers and sons Wiesel describes?
134. The father is providing the love and loyalty to the child while the child is becoming very greedy. They son takes all the bread for himself getting both him and the father killed.
135.) What is the author saying about how the concentration camp affects the bonds between loved ones?
135. They get closer to each other. They need each other because they are weak and need to take care of each other.
136.) How does Meir Katz save Elie Wiesel’s life?
136. He stops someone from strangling him. Pushes the stranger,
137.) What advice does Wiesel’s father give Katz in an attempt to save him?
137. His father told him to not give up and don't give in. To not lose faith in himself.
139.) Why is it that Wiesel “could have wept with rage” when his father begs for rest upon arrival at Buchenwald?
139. His father wants to die and he thought that his father is giving in to death. Like he's lost all hope.
140.) Why does Elie feel that he is arguing “with death itself”?
140. His father has already chose death.
141.) Why does Wiesel leave his father when the sirens wail, and how does he feel about this later?
141. He doesn't want to freeze in the cold even though his father is there. He felt guilty.
142.) Is his father angry at Elie for deserting him?
142. It doesn't seem like it. The dad has accepted death and wants his son to survive.
143.) What emotions does Wiesel experience that last week as he watches his father die?
143. He feels guilty when he did things that he wasn't supposed to do. He feels sad and ashamed that he has to go through the fact that his father is dying.
144.) Why does Wiesel decide to be an “invalid”?
144. He doesn't want to leave his dad.
145.) Why doesn’t he see his father die and why doesn’t he cry?
145. His father has been taken to the crematorium. He was out of tears.
146.) What are Wiesel’s thoughts during the months after his father’s death?
146. Elie feels guilty because he can't do anything anymore. He feels ashamed because he can't do anything to protect his father. He feels angry because he can't do more for his father and he has to accept this.
147.) What would have happened if the children had gone to the assembly place, as ordered?
147. They would've been killed and shot by the Germans.
148.) Why do the SS men flee the camp?
148. The first American tank shows up and the resistant comes
149.) What is Wiesel finally freed?
149. When the tank shows up.
150.) Why is Wiesel sent to a hospital after his liberation?
150. He got very sick. He had some form of poisoning.
151.) The book ends with a haunting sense of hollowness. Why do you think the author ends with this tone?
151. He will never forget what he went through during the Holocaust.
Answer the following questions based on the text “Night” by Elie Wiesel noting page numbers and citing textual evidence to support your answers.
Comprehension Questions are due Thursday, April 17th - NO LATE WORK FOR "NIGHT" WILL BE ACCEPTED OVER OR AFTER SPRING BREAK!
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PREFACE to the NEW TRANSLATION:
1.) Read the preface by Elie Wiesel. Why do you suppose Wiesel imposed a ten-tear vow of silence?
1. He's still trying to process the horrible things he's been through. He also did it in honor for those who died and suffered.
2.) Why did he have trouble finding a publisher?
2. It was too morbid and too grotesque. It also wasn't a popular topic.
3.) What is the “devastation that will never end”?
3. The memories of the Holocaust. The experience that he's been through.
4.) What is Wiesel saying about how we can make sure that something this horrible is never repeated?
4. To inform everyone about the tragedy and to never forget about what they've been through.
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FOREWARD:
5.) Read the Foreword by Francois Mauriac. Why is Mauriac so moved by Wiesel’s book – of all the Holocaust literature he had seen?
5. Mauriac is so moved by Wiesel's book out of all the other Holocaust literature he has seen because something about Ellie's memoir is very unique and comes from the perspective of a child. He believes that it's a little more genuine and affective because of the graphic material Wiesel uses.
6.) How do you explain the “inconceivable passivity” with which the Jews of Sighet yield themselves to the Nazis?
6. The Jews are passive and non-agressive with the Nazis because it's part of their culture and they fear that something worse would happen to them. The Jews didn't know who the Nazis were and they just followed along with the steps that things would get better and they were very hopeful.
7.) What aspects of Wiesel’s experience does Mauriac find most disturbing?
7. When Wiesel's sister and mother are burned to death, Mauriac finds it most disturbing. Children are being hung and killed. Wiesel's father was tortured and beat until his death. Wiesel, throughout the entire book, questions his faith and why God would let all these things happen.
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NIGHT:
8.) When and where does Elie Wiesel grow up? (city, country and time period) How old is he?
8. Ellie Wiesel was 12 years old and grew up in Transylvania.
9.) Try to picture Elie’s childhood. How is his childhood like yours and how is it different?
9. Ellie seemed devoted to his religion and grew up Jewish. He stutters and had
10.) Who is “Moshe the Beadle” and why does Wiesel begin the story with him?
10. Moshe the Beadle is a poor man and a friend of Elie's. Elie starts with Moishe the Beadle because he wants to tell how important faith and religion is in Elie's life.
11.) What do Eliezer’s parents and the other in the community think of Moshe?
11. The community thinks of Moshe as the "town clown" because he was poor.
12.) Why does Elie spend so much time with Moshe?
12. Moshe is a religious mentor for Elie, he teaches him things no one else will.
13.) What is Elie’s father’s profession?
13. Elie's father was a store owner.
14.) Is Elie’s father highly respected in the Jewish community?
14. Elie's father is highly respected in the Jewish community.
15.) What has happened to Moshe that caused a great change in him?
15. Moshe saw people get shot and buried into holes they dug themselves.
16.) How does this experience change Moshe?
16. Moshe lost faith and has lost the joy in his eyes.
17.) How does the rest of the community react when he tells them what has happened to him?
17. The rest of the community does not believes Moshe.
18.) What is the news and why are they so optimistic?
18. The Jews of Sighet are optimistic because of the news they hear on the radio in late 1942 and 1943.
19.) With an ironic tone, Wiesel says, “Besides, people were interested in everything – in strategy, in diplomacy, in politics, in Zionism – but not their own fate.” What does he mean?
19. They think that they are totally exempt. They are worried about the war and about Hitler, yet they believe that they have nothing to do with it.
20.) Berkovitz brings news from Budapest that anti-Semitism (hostility or discrimination against Jews) war is rampant. Why then, is “optimism soon revived”?
20. The Jews of Sighet believes the Germans will stay in Budapest and they won't make the travel all the way to Transylvania.
21.) Why do “the optimists rejoiced” even three days after the German soldiers appear in Sighet?
21. The optimists don't believe they will do anything since they are being so nice.
22.) Why is celebrating Passover like playing a “comedy”?
22. Their hearts are not in it. They are only doing it because it is a religious holiday.
23.) What does the following mean? “On the seventh day of Passover the curtain rose.”
23. The curtain is the optimism and happiness. The Germans arrested the Jewish leaders in the community.
24.) Name the decrees (laws) the Germans put into place.
24. One, the Jews were prohibited to leave their home for three days. Two, the Jews had to hand in any valuables. Three, the Jews had to wear a gold star. Four, they could no longer go to restaurants, cafés, or travel by the rail. Five, they could no longer attend the synagogue. Six, they were not allowed to be out after six-o-clock.
25.) Describe the ghettos.
25. The ghettos live amongst Jews and are by themselves. They feel excluded from the people around them and they enjoy it.
26.) How do the Jews of Sighet generally feel about the ghettos?
26. They feel that the ghettos are a good thing at first since they feel that the ghettos live by themselves and that's all the Jews wanted since they're being demanded to follow rules and not have a voice.
27.) Why do the Jews of Sighet think they are being deported and why is their destination kept secret from them?
27. They think they're being protected and transported to work into a brick factory. They think people are trying to protect them from the war since they're too close.
28.) How could the Jews of Sighet have possibly escaped from the Germans?
28. The Jews might have escaped from the Germans by just running away and believe Moshe the first time.
29.) How do they prepare for deportation?
29. They bring backpacks with a few belongings in them.
30.) Why is there “joy” when the signal finally comes for them to leave?
30. There is joy when the signal comes for them to leave because anything's better than sitting there miserably in the hot weather and screaming children and depression around. They're happy that something is happening.
31.) How does Elie feel as he watches the procession or deportees?
31. Elie feels sad that everyone's leaving and it's their homeland. It's where they grew up and created memories with each other. It's unbelievable that all these things were happening and it's like only yesterday all these things were happening.
32.) Who offers Elie and his family safe refuge?
32. Maria, their maid, offers for Elie and his family to come with her and settle with her in a safe place to live.
33.) Why doesn’t Elie’s father accept the offer?
33. Elie's father doesn't accept this offer because he's an elder and a well-respected figure of the community and doesn't want to be selfish and save himself and his children.
34.) On what day of the week is the family expelled and why is this ironic?
34. They are expelled on Saturday, the day of rest, and it's ironic because they are being forced, on the day that they are supposed to be resting and praying, to get ready for their expulsion.
35.) They spend 24 hours in a synagogue. What are the conditions like? Give examples.
35. The synagogue was destroyed by German soldiers. The people are separated by gender, woman upstairs and the men downstairs. On their Saturday, when they're supposed to be worshipping they are forced to spend their day miserably. Since they were unable to go outside, people had to use the bathroom in a corner.
36.) How are the Jews moved out of Sighet?
36. The Jews moved out of Sighet by transporting in cattle cars.
37.) Why do you suppose no one tries to escape?
37. No one tries to escape because you'd get shot.
38.) Why does the Hungarian lieutenant move among the prisoners with a basket?
38. He moves among the prisoners with a basket so he could take their valuables such as, gold, silver, anything they had left.
39.) What actions do “those who no longer wished to taste the bitterness of terror” take?
39. The woman who had been screaming was frightening everyone. They try to calm her down and help her out.
40.) Who is Madame Schachter and why is she so upset?
40. Madame Schachter was freaking out because she was seperated from her husband and two children.
41.) How do the others treat her and why?
41. By the time everyone has had enough of it, they tie up Madame Schachter. They bound her and gag her so that she can't talk anymore. She was scaring everyone on the cattle car and they didn't know what else to do.
42.) What is the first thing the prisoners see when they got to Birkenau?
42. They see a chimney and flames coming out of it.
43.) What do they smell?
43. They smell burning flesh.
44.) Who are the SS men?
44. The SS men were soldiers of the German army. They're Hitler's soldiers, they did not chose to be soldiers and do not believe in what they're doing. They were not Nazis.
45.) How do Elie and his father get separated from Mother and Tzipora?
45. Elie and his father get separated from their mom and Tzipora because the SS men demanded everyone to split up men on the left and woman on the right.
46.) What is Elie’s last memory of them?
46. Elie's last memory of her mother and Tzipora was when his mom was stroking Tzipora's hair and trying to soothe her and calm her down.
47.) Why do some of the younger men want to attempt an escape?
47. Some of the other men don't want to be sent to the crematorium to be burnt and don't enjoy being treated this way.
48.) Why don’t they go through with it?
48. They don't go through with escaping because the elders tell them to keep faith and be optimistic.
49.) What lies do Elie and his father tell to Dr. Mengale and why?
49. Their age and occupation. Elie lies that he's 18 and a farmer.
50.) Why does Elie’s father wish Elie has gone with his mother and why is this ironic?
50. Elie's father wishes that he had gone with his mom because he wanted him to be safe with mom and doesn't want to watch his only son die. This is ironic because dad didn't take that chance to save themselves when the housewife offered to take them in, but now since he's seeing death in front of their eyes he decides otherwise.
51.) What do you suppose Elie would say to those who claim that innocent children were not murdered during the Holocaust?
51. Elie would say that children were and he watched his own family get separated and assumes that they died.
52.) What is the Kaddish and why doesn’t’ Elie join his father in reciting it?
52. The Kaddish is a prayer for the dead in honor and respect for those who've died. Elie's father doesn't recite the Kaddish with them because he holds onto the belief of not dying with his son.
53.) How do the prisoners who are already in the barracks treat the newcomers?
53. The prisoners in the barracks treat the newcomers cruelly. They're mean and they hit the newcomers.
54.) What are Elie and the others ordered to do?
54. Elie and the others are ordered to take off their clothes and hold on to only their belts and shoes. Then, they are taken to the barber and had all their hair cut off.
55.) How does Elie change by the end of the first night? (physically, emotionally, and spirirtually)
55. He sees themselves as tormented soul and gives up hope and God. He's beginning to lose his faith in God, questioning why someone so great could let these things happen to them.
56.) How does Elie keep his his shoes from the “Kapos” at first?
56. Elie keeps his shoes because the mud disguises the fact that they're new so they look older.
57.) According to the SS officer, what is the only way to avoid the furnaces?
57. The only way to avoid the furnaces is to work. It's work or death.
58.) Why does the gypsy strike Elie’s father and how does Elie react?
58. The gypsy hits Elie's father when he asks where the restroom is. Elie just stands there silent. He assumes that his atmosphere has changed him and he's desensitized.
59.) To what new camp are the prisoners taken?
59. They've come from Birkenau to Auschwitz.
60.) Who is in charge of the block and what is his advice?
60. A young Polish guy, and his advice is to keep faith and not give up hope. He wants them to help each other with team work, and that it's the only way to survive.
61.) How does Elie become “A-7713”?
61. Elie becomes more like a prisoner and he's emotionless.
62.) Describe “roll call”.
62. During the roll call, the marches play. A band comes out and plays music. Tens of thousands of prisoners line up in rows and people check off their numbers to make sure no-one was missing.
63.) Who is Stein and why does Elie lie to him?
63. Stein is a relative of Elie. Elie lies to him because he wants Stein to be okay and give him hope.
64.) Why does Stein stop coming to see Elie?
64. Stein stops coming to see Elie because he found out that Elie was lying to Stein and has lost hope and given up.
65.) Akiba Drumer believes that God is testing the Jews and that this punishment they are enduring is actually a sign of love. What does Elie think of this theory?
65. Akiba Drumer believes that they are being tested by God and see if they still believe in him and if they die mercilessly it is because God wants them to join Him in heaven. Elie doesn't believe it and questions God's absolute justice. He thinks that if God loves us so much than why would he hurt us in such an awful way.
66.) How could Elie have bribed the assistant to arrange for him to go with his father to a “good unit”?
66. Elie could've given him the shoes for he and his father to get into a good unit.
67.) Why doesn’t he try the bribe?
67. He doesn't try the bribe because he questions whether the guy can fall through and keep him with his father.
68.) Where is music played in the camp?
68. The music is played at the entrance of the camp and they call the entrance the first block.
69.) Why can’t the musicians play Beethoven?
69. Jews were not allowed to play anything by German composers or musicians.
70.) Why is Elie sent to the dentist?
70. Elie is sent to remove his gold teeth.
71.) Why is he so desperate to keep his tooth and why doesn’t he succeed in keeping it?
71. Elie is desperate to keep his tooth because it's one of his last possessions. He wants to use it in his time of need.
72.) Who beats Elie in front of the French girl and why?
72. He beats up Elie in front of a French girl because he's Jewish.
73.) Why is she afraid to speak to him?
73. The French girl is scared and doesn't want Elie to get beat some more. She's scared and shocked about what happened.
74.) What advice does she give to Elie and what does this show about her?
74. The French girl tells Elie to wait and hold in his anger. This shows that she's wise and patient.
75.) Why does Idek beat Elie’s father?
75. He beats Elie's dad because he didn't think that Elie's dad was working hard enough and he can't keep up with the Kammando.
76.) Why is Elie angry at his father for getting beaten?
76. Elie is mad at his father because Elie think he's not trying hard to make the situation any better and he brought this upon himself.
77.) Why does Elie give his father “marching lessons”?
77. Elie gives his father marching lessons to prevent himself from being attack. Elie's father can't march in place and he keeps getting beat for it since Elie won't give him the gold crown.
78.) Why does Elie laugh at Idek and what is the result?
78. Idek was taking advantage of a young girl, and Elie thinks it's ridiculous that he had to sent everyone away to do so.
79.) What do the air raid sirens signify?
79. The sirens went off because there was a bombing, people were bombing the base and the camps.
80.) Why is this a particularly dangerous time for prisoners?
80. It was a dangerous time for the prisoners because if it landed on a block it would've killed them. The SS officers got to hide underground but if they bomb a block then most of the prisoners will die.
81.) How is “terror stronger than hunger”?
81. The soup was left there while they were being bombed. The fear was greater than the hunger because if they get caught they'll be killed.
82.) How does the death of that one man affect Elie and how does he react when the air raid is over?
82. The death of that one man affected Elie because the man was shot right in front of everyone. It shows what would've happened if he tried to take the soup. It's just like another day, and Elie just goes on with his life like nothing happened.
83.) Who are some of the people who die on the gallows?
83. One of the people who were hung on the gallows were a young boy, because he stole. The next person that was hung was a pipel, he stole weapons.
84.) What phrase so many repeat before their deaths?
84. "Long live liberty!"
85.) Why are people hanged rather than being shot or killed some other way?
85. They are handed instead of being shot because you can watch the life being taken out of them and it's sad and depressing for the people who have to watch.
86.) Whose death affects Elie the most and why?
86. The death that affects Elie the most was the young pipel. Elie starts to doubt God, questioning him about why he could do this.
87.) Why does Elie find the soup “excellent” after one execution, but tasting of “corpses” after another?
87. The second execution impacted Elie more because it was a little boy being hanged and he saw himself. He's realizing that these people don't have any boundaries when it comes to killing people.
88.) What is Rosh Hashanah?
88. It's the Jewish New Year.
89.) Why do you suppose even “Kapos, functionaries of death” come to the Rosh Hashanah service?
89. They come to participate in Rosh Hashanah to watch the Jews and supervise them. They also wanted to reflect and participate, and be faithful in their own way.
90.) What is going through Elie’s mind?
90. Elie is losing faith throughout the entire service and he feels alone and defeated. He says that he's nothing but ashes now and he feels
91.) Is Elie in the minority when he “rebelled” inwardly and why does he call the place where the Kews meet to pray a “mirage”?
91. Elie feels like he has been defeated and that God is not there to protect them.
92.) What does Elie mean when he says of his father, “We had never understood each other so clearly”?
92. That they love each other and they don't need to say it and that they are also afraid.
93.) What is Yom Kippur?
93. It is when the Jews fast.
94.) Why doesn’t Elie fast?
94. Elie has already starved and that it is a rebellion against God.
95.) What is the “fine New Year’s gift” the SS gives the prisoners?
95. The SS gives the prisoners a selection.
96.) What advice does Elie get from the head of the block about avoiding selection?
96. That Elie should run.
97.) What does Wiesel mean when he says, as the prisoners stand naked, “This must show how one stands at the last judgment”?
97. It is the difference between going to Heaven and Hell.
98.) What is Dr. Mengele’s attitude during the “selection”?
98. Dr. Mengele acts as if it were a game.
99.) What are Elie’s thoughts as he goes through the “race”?
99. Elie keeps repeating this to himself to make it through.
100.) What sorts of “presents” and “inheritance” gifts does Wiesel’s father give Elie and why?
100. Elie's father gives Elie a piece of bread to eat and the rubber is to fix his shoes. And Elie's father gives Elie a knife and spoon.
101.) Why does Elie return them to his father?
101. Elie knows that his dad is not dead and will not acknowledge his father is weak.
102.) What does this show about how life changes when mere survival is a struggle?
102. Elie's father needs a spoon and a knife to survive.
103.) What happens to many of the prisoners when they lose faith?
103. They give in to defeat and are typically given over to selection.
104.) Why does Wiesel tell the story of Akiba Dumer – and how everyone forgets to say the Kaddish for him?
104. He is telling a perfect example of what happens when you lose your faith.
105.) How does Wiesel end up in the hospital?
105. Wiesel got an infection or something in his foot.
106.) What decision is Wiesel faced with while he is in the hospital?
106. Elie has to decide wether to stay or leave before selection.
107.) What is Elie’s choice and why does he choose this option?
107. Elie decides to stay because he believes that his neighbor is shady.
108.) Why is the camp being evacuated?
108. War was quickly approaching the camp.
109.) Why do the prisoners want the Russians to arrive first?
109. The Russians would liberate the Jews.
110.) What is meant by the question the prisoners ask: “were they (SS) going to let the Jews hear the twelfth stroke sound?”
110. To see if they're were going to stay alive. To see if they were going to be killed or not.
111.) How does the “face of the camp” change on the morning of the evacuation?
111. They change clothing (get more clothing), they get food (all that they can take), and it looks like a "free-fall" for survival.
112.) Why does the head of the block order the prisoners to clean the floor, and how do you think the prisoners feel about this task?
112. They are told to clean the floor to show the Russian army that men were living there and not pigs. Even though they were treated like animals. They want to show that they were still men.
113.) Reread the description of the evacuation at the end of the chapter. Why does the author choose to use a series of short sentences in this passage? What is the effect?
113. The author chose to use a series of short sentences because it's all happening fast in his head and he wants to feel as if they were in the situation together.
114.) What does Wiesel mean by the observations of the SS men “Their fingers on the triggers, they did not deprive themselves of this pleasure”?
114. Whoever stopped running or slows down, would get shot. To keep "their fingers on the triggers," are a sign that they have power.
115.) What is sadism and where do you see evidence of it in the novel?
115. To be sadistic. It's to make someone do something embarrassing for pleasure. This happened when they went to the doctor and they didn't help.
116.) What happens to Zalman?
116. He has stomach pains, takes his pants down to relieve himself. He goes to the bathroom because of his stomach ache. Then he gets trampled over by the other runner and suffers.
117.) In what way are Wiesel and the other Jews who keep rushing onward “masters of nature” -then in the morning “without strength, without illusions”?
117. They have been gone threw so much of use and have learned how to master anything bad that comes their way. They are strong. Then in the morning, they became exhausted and lost all of their strength and illusion.
118.) How do Wiesel and his father help each other stay alive?
118. They look out for each other and they are trying to keep each other awake. They are also making time to let each other sleep.
119.) Why does Wiesel tell the story of Rabbi Eliahou?
119. It would show what /would/ happen if his dad and him split up and went their separate ways.
120.) Why is he glad that the rabbi “should continue to look for his beloved son”?
120. It would tell us that if he ditches his dad, he would look for him still. No matter who ditches who, they would still love each other and they would look for each other.
121.) Why do you think that “sons abandoned their fathers’ remains without a tear”?
121. They think that their fathers are just holding them back. There's nothing they can do. If people die then that's it, they can't do anything about it.
122.) How does Wiesel avoid suffocation?
122. He separates the bodies that are on top of him and makes himself a small air hole.
123.) Why does Wiesel think he is hallucinating?
123. He hears the violin and the music. He knows that the violin shouldn't be there and shouldn't be playing music. He thinks it's all in his head.
124.) Why is Juliek playing his violin in this terrible situation?
124. He does it for his fellow comrades and he does it for himself because he thinks the violin is going to be taken away from him or he would die. He does it to die happy.
125.) What happens to Juliek
125. He dies in the dead pile. Doesn't really specify his death. Wiesel woke up and saw him dead with his violin next to him.
126.) How does Wiesel’s father avoid being “selected” at Gleiwitz and why does Wiesel run after him to the left?
126. He takes his dad to the right instead of the left. He runs after him when he walks over to the left because it's the weak side and doesn't want anything bad to happen to him. He also doesn't want to get separated. He sort of takes him hostage.
127.) How does Wiesel convey a sense of hopelessness in this final section of the book?
127. They're all waiting to die. They all spend nights in torture and are waiting to die.
128.) Why do the two men try to throw Wiesel’s father from the carriage?
128. He looked dead. He wasn't waking up and when he did, he was barely breathing.
129.) Why do the living “rejoice” when the order comes to throw out the corpses?
129. They have more room for themselves. They get more space.
130.) What is the author trying to say about the prisoners at this point?
130. They are not waiting to see their families or for the liberation, they are waiting to die.
131.) How do the prisoners in the wagon act like animals?
131. They fight over a few crumbs of bread. They go crazy over the few bread crumbs.
132.) Why do the German workmen take a “lively interest in this spectacle” when they have merely stopped and stared at marching prisoners before?
132. He mocks them and treats them like garbage. It's his way of making fun of them. He finds them pathetic.
133.) Why doesn’t Wiesel join in this scramble for food?
133. He knows that he's not strong enough to get into a battle for a piece of bread.
134.) How are Meir and his son similar to other fathers and sons Wiesel describes?
134. The father is providing the love and loyalty to the child while the child is becoming very greedy. They son takes all the bread for himself getting both him and the father killed.
135.) What is the author saying about how the concentration camp affects the bonds between loved ones?
135. They get closer to each other. They need each other because they are weak and need to take care of each other.
136.) How does Meir Katz save Elie Wiesel’s life?
136. He stops someone from strangling him. Pushes the stranger,
137.) What advice does Wiesel’s father give Katz in an attempt to save him?
137. His father told him to not give up and don't give in. To not lose faith in himself.
139.) Why is it that Wiesel “could have wept with rage” when his father begs for rest upon arrival at Buchenwald?
139. His father wants to die and he thought that his father is giving in to death. Like he's lost all hope.
140.) Why does Elie feel that he is arguing “with death itself”?
140. His father has already chose death.
141.) Why does Wiesel leave his father when the sirens wail, and how does he feel about this later?
141. He doesn't want to freeze in the cold even though his father is there. He felt guilty.
142.) Is his father angry at Elie for deserting him?
142. It doesn't seem like it. The dad has accepted death and wants his son to survive.
143.) What emotions does Wiesel experience that last week as he watches his father die?
143. He feels guilty when he did things that he wasn't supposed to do. He feels sad and ashamed that he has to go through the fact that his father is dying.
144.) Why does Wiesel decide to be an “invalid”?
144. He doesn't want to leave his dad.
145.) Why doesn’t he see his father die and why doesn’t he cry?
145. His father has been taken to the crematorium. He was out of tears.
146.) What are Wiesel’s thoughts during the months after his father’s death?
146. Elie feels guilty because he can't do anything anymore. He feels ashamed because he can't do anything to protect his father. He feels angry because he can't do more for his father and he has to accept this.
147.) What would have happened if the children had gone to the assembly place, as ordered?
147. They would've been killed and shot by the Germans.
148.) Why do the SS men flee the camp?
148. The first American tank shows up and the resistant comes
149.) What is Wiesel finally freed?
149. When the tank shows up.
150.) Why is Wiesel sent to a hospital after his liberation?
150. He got very sick. He had some form of poisoning.
151.) The book ends with a haunting sense of hollowness. Why do you think the author ends with this tone?
151. He will never forget what he went through during the Holocaust.