ELI+L.

//NIGHT// PREREADING ACTIVITY

Imagine yourself in the following situation: You and your family have been driven from your home. Now separated from them, you are suddenly alone. Shoved into a train like cattle, you are surrounded by screaming women, weeping children, silent old men, and ruthless soldiers. There is no food, no water, horror, and madness everywhere. Having arrived at your destination, you smell the stench of burning flesh: babies, children like yourself. Men and boys are hanged daily. There is only soup and perhaps a few morsels of stale bread to eat. You work until exhausted and are beaten for not marching in step. The gold in your teeth is extracted without anesthesia. Frozen and broken bodies surround you. Weekly you must run like a madman to escape being selected to die in the gas chambers or to burn in the crematory. You can’t even wonder if it will end, and you know that God has deserted you. You try to survive each day and lie through each night!

1. Do you believe something like this could ever happen to you? Why or why not?

2. What would be your first reaction to this horrifying experience?

3. What means might you use to deal with what is happening (example: would you lie, cheat, steal)?

4. Do you think it would be better to give up and die or try to survive?

5. Inhumanity means being inhumanly cruel and brutal. Do you think the world could ever allow this kind of inhumanity to happen again?

6. What kind of punishment do you feel would be suitable for this kind of inhumanity?

7. Do you think this kind of inhumanity could exist in our day and age?

Reading Guide

The following questions are thought questions that relate to various themes and ideas in the reading. Use these questions to guide your reading and better understanding of the novel. Be prepared to share your responses in class discussion or in a writing assignment. Please answer all questions in COMPLETE SENTENCES.

__Chapter 1, pages 1-22__ 1. Why does Eliezer pray and why does he cry when he prays? The reason that Eliezer prays and cries when he prays is because he is very scared and can't really grasp what is going on. Also that there is something inside him. 2. Why don’t people believe Moche’s stores? There are alot of reasons why people don't believe Moche's stories. The Jews are in denial. Another reason that they dont believe his stories because he is crazy. 3. Site examples of how the Jews gradually lose their freedom There are a lot of ways the jews gradually lose their freedom. There is one main point. That main point is that they are taken over. The Jews lost there rights to restaurants, synagogue and cant be on the streets till past 6. .__Chapter 2, pages 23-28__ 4. What does Madam Shachter’s nightmares about a fire foreshadow? There is one main way that Madam Shacter's nightmares about the fire foreshadow. Those are that there are concentration camps. The fires are the pits and chimneys. 5. Where does the train finally stop? The place that the train stops is Birkenau. That is where the main concentration camp is located. __Chapter 3, pages 29-46__ 6. When questioned by the SS officer, why does Elie lie about his occupation and age? There is one main reason for Elie to lie about his age when he was questioned by the SS officer. That reason is that he was 15 so he had to lie about his age because 15 is to young so he said that he was 18. He lied about his occupation so that he would be useful. 7. Why does Elie disbelieve what his own eyes show him? The way that Elie is disbelieve is that he thinks that it is a nightmare and that he wont wake up. 8. Why is Elie now reluctant to pray? The way that Elie is reluctant to pray. Is because he thinks that god left him and did not help him at the concentration camps. __Chapter 4, pages 47-65__ 9. Why is Elie summoned to the dentist? The reason that Elie was summoned to the dentist is because they wanted to take his gold filling out. They wanted to take his gold filling out so they could get money for the filling. 10. How does Elie react to his father’s beating? The way that Elie reacts to her fathers beating is first he was silent. Then he felt like he should just run away so he did not have to see what was going to happen to his father. 11. Why is the hanging of the “sad eyed angel” said to be one of the most profoundly moving events in the novel? The way that the hanging of the sad eyed angel was one of the most profoundly events in the novel is because it is a kid. It is a young kid who is getting hung that is very sad. __Chapter 5, pages 66-84__ 12. What is selection? Selection is that they do kind of like tests that you run with things on you and to see if you are capable of staying at the concentration camps. That if you are not capable off staying at the concentration camps because you did bad on the test then you get selected. If you are selected they right your number down then nothing good happens from there if you are one of those people that does get selected. Thats what selection is.

__Chapter 6, pages 85-97__ 13. Why couldn’t Elie allow himself to die? The reason that Elie would not allow himself to die is that Elie and his father made a promise to stay with each and other and to live. 14. Why does Juliek play the violin? The reason that Juliek plays the violin is because he was going to die and he wanted to have one last official concert. 15. Compare how the other boys treat their fathers with Eliezer’s treatment of his own father. The other kids don't care as much about there fathers or if the die. Elie cares greatly for his father and fears being separated from him. __Chapter 7-9 pages 98-115__ 16. Why can’t Elizer weep at his father’s death? The reason that Elizer cant weep about his fathers death is because he has been through so much and see so much he cant cry anymore. 17. When he is finally free, Elie wishes to see himself in the mirror. Why can’t he ever forget the look in the eyes of the corpse that gazes back at him? He is in shock because when he looks at himself in the mirror he does not look good at all he looks unhealthy from all tho slashes and no food. He also cant forget how he looks because it reminds him of the camp.

Literary Analysis Characterization/Author’s Purpose After page: 34

Elie is a Jewish child who is extremely strong in his faith. He often spent nights in the synagogue weeping and praying. He was preparing himself to be initiating into “eternity.” Then came night. Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky. Never shall I forget those flames, which consumed my faith forever. Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments, which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.

Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. What does “night’ symbolize to Elie? Why do you think he selected it as the title of his memoir? The way that night symbolizes to Ellie is because it is the frist night in camp.I think he selected this because this is a main point in the book and it comes up alot. 2. What fires does he speak of that consumed his faith forever? Why do these fires consume his faith? Because of the childrens bodies that he saw that were getting burned. This was also happening in the gas chambers and in the pits. 3. Do you find it difficult to believe that a boy so devout in his faith could lose his faith? Why? No. The reason is because what is going on is horrible. So he schould be staying posative but it is hard. 4. Why does he lose his desire to live? The reason that he has lost his desire to live is because what is going on around him. Also that he said he would rather die quickly not slow. 5. Elie spoke these words as an adolescent. Do you think that as an adult his feelings have changed? Why? YES that his feelings have changed because he is geting a better grip on what is going on and he is getting more mature. 6. Why do you suppose Elie wrote this novel? There are alot of reasons why Elie wrote this story. Because he wonts to share his story. He also wonts everyone to know that it was hard what he went through. And that what happend was horrible.

Literary Analysis: Characterization

Elie explicitly recounts events that describe his relationship with his father during imprisonment in the camps. He also describes events in the relationships of other fathers and sons in the camps.

In your book there are many examples of father-son relationships. Give examples, including the page number of a father son relationship and tell what you think about that relationship, tell why you might or might not have acted in a similar way. This does not have to be done on Elie and his father. There are many other examples of father-son relationships as well. An example has been done for you.

Example: Page 39:

Relationship shown: Elie’s father is struck, but Elie does not move to help him. His father whispers that the blow does not hurt. Although Elie does not move, he feels remorse and hatred toward the gypsy. He is angry and unforgiving.

What I think: Elie is a child and probably fears that if he helps his father, he too will be beaten. His father does not blame him and does not want to see him beaten or do something he might regret; thus, he tells Elie that the blow des not hurt.

I would’ve done: This seems to be a relationship where the father is protective of the son who is young and frightened. I would have acted in the same way if I were the father, thinking that I need to protect my child.

1. Page 43-44

Relationship shown: Is that when there cousin came to talk to them the father did not even remember. Elie was on his dad side helping him and when they sad that the rest of the family was fine Elie was there again to cheer up his dad.

What I think: I think that this was great of Elie because when his father was happy that the family was safe Elie was there to make his father extra happy.

I would’ve done: I would have done the same thing when my father was happy after being extra nervous. I would do the same to make my father extra happy after he was extra nervous.

2. Page 49-50

Relationship shown: That the dad and the son were great Elie was doing something great by trying to keep his gold crown in his mouth. The reason that this was smart by doing this is because he was trying to give his dad extra bread.

What I think: I think this was great because Elie was not worrying about himself to get money. He was worrying about his father and trying to get his father extra bread so he wold get more food.

I would’ve done: What I would have done is try to do the same thing as Elie and help my father and cut back on my food because I am younger and let my father have more food.

3. Page 55-56

Relationship shown: Elie was being a great son by helping his dad march in step because he knew that his dad could not march in step. Then he tried to do everything to teach him and he did teach his dad and he leaned to march in step.

What I think: I think this was great because that shows how determined Elie was to keep his dad alive.

I would’ve done: What I would have tried to do is find someone at the concentration camp to teach him becaude I don't know how to march in step.

4. Page 90-91

Relationship shown: The relationship here was that Elie and his dad were in a shed when it was snowing and there was snow in the shed and it was snowing and they had to keep each and other awake so that they don't fall a sleep in the snow and die because they froze.

What I think: I think again that this was great teamwork so that when someone was tired they can rest but not fall asleep and put the other one in danger.

I would’ve done: This is what I would of done teamwork so that the other person does not get in danger and freeze.

5. Page 101

Relationship shown: This was between a dad and a son. A dad a ald dad was rying to get bread and he had it in his shirt then his son killed his dad for the bread when his dad was going to give his son some of the bread.

What I think: I think that this is horrible because this is a old dad who is trying his hardest to survive and still is going to share some with his son but his son kills him then eats the bread.

I would’ve done: What I would have done if I was the son I would have whispered to my dad if I could have a piece but to make sure that he has enough bread but beg for some bread. In that point I would have been hungry

6. Page 112

Relationship shown: Is that Elie goes to bed with his dad very sick and he wakes up with his dad gone and dead.

What I think: I think that this is horrible that his dad went through this whole concentration camp with these horrible things happening to him and one day before he is free he dies that is horrible.

I would’ve done: What I would have done is that just talk to my dad but if you are in a concentration camp there is nothing that you can do.

__Night__ Irony

Read each passage below. Explain what is //ironic// about the meaning of the passage.

1. “but we had been marching for only a few moments when we saw the barbed wire of another camp. An iron door with this inscription on it: ‘Work is liberty!’ “ (page 40) The reason that this is ironic is liberty means freedom and the sign says that work is freedom the people at the concentration camps are working and working but there still is no freedom.

2. “Some of the prominent members of the community came…to ask him what he thought of the situation. My father did not consider it so grim…’The yellow star? Oh well, what of it? You don’t die of it…’ ” (page 11) The reason that this is ironic is because you do die of it. If you have a yellow star on your chest that means that you are a jew and that you have been caught. So then once you have that yellow star on your chest you have to go to concentration camps were you are in bad conditions and then you just have to take it from there and try to survive. But from there with the yellow star you will die from the yellow star.

3. “On we went between the electric wires. At each step, a white placard with a death’s head on it stared us in the face. A caption: ‘Warning, Danger of Death.’ ” (page 40)The reason that this is so ironic is because that after you already in a concentration camp it is danger of death. Also that they can tell that it is danger of death when they see heads on a step.

4. I’ve got more faith in Hitler than anyone else. He’s the only one who’s kept his promises, all his promises, to the Jewish people.” (page 51) The reason that this is so ironic is because hitler is the one who is torturing the jews even though he has kept his promise by making the jews have to go through a lot.

Inhumanity

//Night// is filled with thoughts and comments that reflect inhumanity of World War II. Explain what each of the following excerpts from the novel mean.

1. “The world? The world is not concerned with us. Today anything is allowed. Anything is possible, even these crematories.” (page 33) What this means is that the Natzis are taking over. The jews are getting tortured getting forced to do a lot of things. The amazing thing is that the Natzis have all the power so the rest of the world cant do anything about it. 2. “Work makes you free.” (page 40) The reason that this is so inhuman is that it says that work makes you free when the jews are working so hard everyday getting forced to do all of these different thins but still they are not free. It does not matter how hard they work. 3. “we were not afraid. And yet, if a bomb had fallen on the blocks, it alone would have claimed hundreds of victims on the spot. But we were not longer afraid of death; at any rate, not of that death. Every bomb that exploded filled us with joy and gave us new confidence in life.” (page 60) The reason that this is so inhuman is people at the concentration camps are already in these horrible conditions so know they don't even care if they live or die anymore. 4. “I witnessed other hangings. I never saw a single one of the victims weep. For a long time those dried up bodies had forgotten the bitter taste of tears.” (page 63) The reason that this is so inhuman is because they have just been tortured for such long period of times they cant do anything about it its just horrible.