SCOTT

//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? Eliezer does not know why he cries when he prays and always has. I think it is completely reasonable to cry when praying because there are a lot of people who are very close to God. 2. Why don’t people believe Moche’s stores? People don't believe Moshie's stories because they think that the Germans are losing the war and the only reason they are taking the people away is because the war front is moving closer to the town. 3. Site examples of how the Jews gradually lose their freedom. A few examples of how the Jews lose their freedom are that they are moved to ghettos, their valuables are stolen and eighty by eighty they are being taken to Aushwitz. __Chapter 2, pages 23-28__ 4. What does Madam Shachter’s nightmares about a fire foreshadow? Madam Shacters nightmares about the fire foreshadow the chimney and crematorium. She invisions the smoke billowing out the top.

5. Where does the train finally stop? The cattle car or train finally comes to a stop at the death camp Berkenau located in Aushwitz. __Chapter 3, pages 29-46__ 6. When questioned by the SS officer, why does Ellie lies about his occupation and age? When questioned by the SS officer Ellie lies about his occupation and age because if he is a child then he will be sent with the women straight to the crematorium and to death. 7. Why does Elie disbelieve what his own eyes show him? Elie disbelieves what his eyes display to him because he is seeing horrible things, he sees babies in a truck heading for the crematorium, the smoke from the ashes of his fellow Jews spewing from the chimney and so much suffering. 8. Why is Elie now reluctant to pray? Elie is reluctant to pray because even though he still believes in his Gods existence, he does not believe in his justice. __Chapter 4, pages 47-65__ 9. Why is Elie summoned to the dentist? Elie is summoned to the dentist because he has a gold crown in his teeth and it needs to be extracted. 10. How does Elie react to his father’s beating? Elie just stands there, then he is mad at his father for getting in Idek's way. 11. Why is the hanging of the “sad eyed angel” said to be one of the most profoundly moving events in the novel? This is one of the most moving events in the story I believe for multiple reasons. Mostly i think it was because of the fact that he was still alive when the prisoners walked by and they saw his face and kept walking and let something so horrible go unnoticed. __Chapter 5, pages 66-84__ 12. What is selection? Selection is a process in which multiple people are chosen for the crematoriums. These specific people are chosen because they cannot work to the extent that the Nazis need in order to power the entire camp.

__Chapter 6, pages 85-97__ 13. Why couldn’t Elie allow himself to die? Elie couldn't allow himself to die because he had already endured so much, and to let himself die so close to the end was unthinkable. 14. Why does Juliek play the violin? Juliek plays the violin because he knows he is dying and it is what he loves most. 15. Compare how the other boys treat their fathers with Eliezer’s treatment of his own father. All of the other boys are happy when they are separated from their fathers because they cannot bear to carry their burden any longer. But Eliezer truly loves his father and does everything he can to help him. __Chapter 7-9 pages 98-115__ 16. Why can’t Elizer weep at his father’s death? Eliezer cannot weep at his fathers death because he has run out of tears. 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? I think Eliezer cannot forget the look in his eyes because he is in such bad condition and so emotionally scarred and traumatized that he didn't even think it was himself.

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? I believe that Elie selected Night, as his title because Night symbolizes the entire Holocaust because WWII was a very scary event in which horrible things happened. 2. What fires does he speak of that consumed his faith forever? Why do these fires consume his faith? Elie is speaking of the fire that billows from the chimneys spouting from the crematorium. They consume his faith because he cannot believe that God would let these things happen if he was real. 3. Do you find it difficult to believe that a boy so devout in his faith could lose his faith? Why? I believe that no matter how devoted to you faith you are, the things that happened in the Holocaust could make anyone lose faith in God because they would feel that if there was a God, he would never let these things happen. 4. Why does he lose his desire to live? If I were in the same situation as Elie I would also find it hard to want to live. Even though he made it through the war, I think being in such horrible conditions can wither anyones will to live. 5. Elie spoke these words as an adolescent. Do you think that as an adult his feelings have changed? Why? I think his feelings have definately changed because now that he understands what was going on during this time to the full extent, he probably is now filled with hate and rage rather than self-pity. 6. Why do you suppose Elie wrote this novel? I think Elie wrote this novel so that people will know firsthand of the horrible trauma that over eleven million people when through during the years of WWII.

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: When relative Stein asks his father if he recognizes him his father doesn't know because he was no knowledgeable in family matters

What I think: I think that there is a bad relationship between Elie and his father because he does not know about their family

I would’ve done: I would have scolded my father for not remembering one of his own relatives

2. Page 49-50

Relationship shown: Eliezer wants to be next to his father in the warehouse.

What I think: I think this shows a good relationship between him and his father because Eliezer would like to be near him.

I would’ve done: I would have done the same thing, I believe in times of hardship family is the only thing you truly have.

3. Page 55-56

Relationship shown: I think there are two relationships shown here. I believe when Eliezer said that his father was his weak spot is a relationship and also when he taught his father how to march.

What I think: I think both of these things indicate that Eliezer cares for his father.

I would’ve done: I would've done the same thing.

4. Page 90-91

Relationship shown: " Oh God, master of the universe, give me the strength never to do what rabbi Eliahu's son has done."

What I think: i think this shows that he truly cares for his father and hopes he can always stand by his side.

I would’ve done: I would've tried to be as loyal and Eliezer but i am not sure if i would be able to.

5. Page 101

Relationship shown: This is a relationship between the old man and his son Meir. The old man had retrieved a crust of bread for his son but was too weak and died. The son didn't even care that he had lost his father and only that he got the bread.

What I think: I think this is horrible and i think that the Nazis were so brutal that people didn't have compassion for others any longer.

I would’ve done: i would have wept for the passing of my father.

6. Page 112

Relationship shown:" His last words had been my name, he called out to me and i had not answered."

What I think:I think that this shows that during these harsh times, no matter how much you tried, you would not prevail.

I would’ve done: I would have wept, no matter what.

__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) This is ironic because in these camps work is not liberty work will quite possibly be responsible for your death. 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) This is ironic because even though the yellow star did not kill them, what it represented did. 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)This is ironic because even if you don't touch the barb wire there is a danger of death.

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) This is ironic because this man has lost his faith and has faith in Hitler to keep his promises to the Jewish people, but his promises are to exterminate them.

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) This comment is inhumane because these people think that the crematories are okay, which they are absolutely not. 2. “Work makes you free.” (page 40) This is inhumane because work doesn't make you free, they just tell you that. 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) This is inhumane because the Nazis have caused these people to not even care about their lives. 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) This is inhumane because these people are being faced with death but dont care.