ELLIE

//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? No, I do not believe something like this could happen to me. People are now well educated about the Holocaust. People make sure that this will not be repeated. 2. What would be your first reaction to this horrifying experience? I would feel panic straight away in this horrifying situation. I would know that there is no way to escape. I would not try to deny the facts and know the reality: I would die soon. 3. What means might you use to deal with what is happening (example: would you lie, cheat, steal)? I guess I would fight fire with fire in this situation. It is evvery man for themselves. I would truly do anything to survive. I most most definitely would lie, cheat, and steal. 4. Do you think it would be better to give up and die or try to survive? Personally, I would die and give up rather than try to survive. I would want to die quickly instead of suffering everyday through the concentration camps. 5. Inhumanity means being inhumanly cruel and brutal. Do you think the world could ever allow this kind of inhumanity to happen again? Yes, our world could bring in inhumanity. In fact, we already have inhumanity. It is not brought up to peoples' attentions anymore. If we are not careful, things could get out of hands. Anything is possible. 6. What kind of punishment do you feel would be suitable for this kind of inhumanity? I cannot exactly answer what anyone's punishment would be nowadays, but not any kind of punishment like what happened in the Holocaust. That was way too extreme. 7. Do you think this kind of inhumanity could exist in our day and age? Yes, inhumanity can and actually already does exist. Genocide, racism, hatred. Each and everyone of those still exists.

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 exactly know why he prays. When he does pray, he cries because he feels like he needs to, that something inside of him needs to. 2. Why don’t people believe Moche’s stores? Everyone wasn't listening to Moishe's stories because they were in denial. They thought the war was going to be over and that the Germans could not act like how Moishe described. Everyone thought he was going crazy. 3. Site examples of how the Jews gradually lose their freedom. The Jews start losing their freedom by wearing the Star of David on their clothes. They also have to move to ghettos.

__Chapter 2, pages 23-28__ 4. What does Madam Shachter’s nightmares about a fire foreshadow? Madam Shachter's nightmares were foreshadowing the Jews future and the horrible place they were being taken to. 5. Where does the train finally stop? The train finally stops at Birkaneau, the murder camp of Auschwitz. __Chapter 3, pages 29-46__ 6. When questioned by the SS officer, why does Elie lie about his occupation and age? Elie lies about his occupation and age because an inmate warned him to. He wasn't sure why, but he trusted the inmate. 7. Why does Elie disbelieve what his own eyes show him? Elie just can't believe what's going on in front of him. Everything is just so cruel and inhumane, he's having a tough time processing reality. 8. Why is Elie now reluctant to pray? Elie is reluctant to pray because he thinks God has abandoned him. He thinks there is no point anymore if God isn't listening to him. __Chapter 4, pages 47-65__ 9. Why is Elie summoned to the dentist? Elie is summoned to the dentist because he had a gold crown. Whoever has a gold crown has to have it pulled. 10. How does Elie react to his father’s beating? When Elie's dad is beaten, he gets mad. His dad is an oold man and doesn't deserve beatings. 11. Why is the hanging of the “sad eyed angel” said to be one of the most profoundly moving events in the novel? The hanging of the "sad eyed angel" was one of the most profoundly moving events in the novel because the child had a slow death and everyone was forced to watch. __Chapter 5, pages 66-84__ 12. What is selection? Selection is when Jews have to line up and get chosen whether to keep working in Buna or the unlucky Jews were chosen for gas chambers. No one was safe.

__Chapter 6, pages 85-97__ 13. Why couldn’t Elie allow himself to die? Elie couldn't die because his father was alive and he needed to help him. This motivated Elie and he survived. 14. Why does Juliek play the violin? Juliek plays the violin because he is honoring the dead. He also plays the violin because he knows he will die soon and might as well die playing the instrument he loves. 15. Compare how the other boys treat their fathers with Eliezer’s treatment of his own father.

__Chapter 7-9 pages 98-115__ 16. Why can’t Elizer weep at his father’s death? Eliezer can't cry when his father dies because him and his dad are free. The dad will not have to suffer in the concentration camps any longer while Eliezer doesn't have to watch over his father. 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? Eliezer will never forget what his reflection looked like. He was so skinny and looked like a dead walking man, he couldn't believe that is what he transformed into after two years.

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? Night symbolizes all the dark events of the Nazis. Night is mysterious and unexpectable, just like the novel. 2. What fires does he speak of that consumed his faith forever? Why do these fires consume his faith? The fires are the ones that burnt the innocent babies. Elie's faith is consumed by the fire because the event was so terrible. 3. Do you find it difficult to believe that a boy so devout in his faith could lose his faith? Why? I do not find it difficult to believe. Elie was so stunned by the Holocaust, it was a huge event to process. It was hard to have hope. 4. Why does he lose his desire to live? Elie loses his desire to live because he doesn't want to have such a slow death, just like the babies, that is why he loses his desire to live. He knows he will not make it. 5. Elie spoke these words as an adolescent. Do you think that as an adult his feelings have changed? Why? I do not think that Elie's feelings have changed. This was a huge event, it would be hard to drop this and forgive. 6. Why do you suppose Elie wrote this novel? Elie wrote this novel, in my opinion, to inform people that the Holocaust did happen.

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: Stein was lifted with joy when he found out that his children were fine. He really cared about his two boys, and wanted them to survive. This was a positive father+son realtionship.

What I think: I think that Stein was a good man and did the right thing. He went to find out about his kids and if they were fine. Stein represents what a good father should be like.

I would’ve done: If I were Stein, I would also try to get information about my children. I think that Stein has good intenions and he was probably a fine father before the war started and he was deported.

2. Page 49-50

Relationship shown: On page 50, Eliezer asks to be put with his father. He doesn't want to be separated. This shows that Elie really wants to be with his dad and took action and asked for them to be together.

What I think: I think that Eliezer and his father have a very strong bond. Elie is demanding when it comes to being with his father and always finds a way.

I would’ve done: In those times, I would probably be too afraid to ask to be with my dad. This makes Eliezer courageoous.

3. Page 55-56

Relationship shown: This is an unbelievably strong father+son relationship. Elie knew his dad needed help marching in step. Elie coached his father, even when everyone was laughing at them.

What I think: This is truly amazing how strong they are. They are in a concentration camp and still try to make an effort to marching in step.

I would’ve done: I would probably be way too tired to teach my dad. I would probably be too stressed and do the opposite: yell. I would yell at my dad that he could not march in step.

4. Page 90-91

Relationship shown:

What I think: Rabbi Eliahu's son was very selfish. He knew he had a better chance of surviving without his dad and escaped. This just represents how strong their bond was and how easy anyone could have let it slip away.

I would’ve done: I would never abandon my father, even if it was hard to take care of him. He is my father, and we both need to lean on each other and help each other out.

5. Page 101

Relationship shown: This was an awful father+son relationship. The dad died with bread in his hands and his son took the bread away, not even caring that his father had just died.

What I think: This particular set of father and son could have been more healthy and could have lived longer if they worked together. I'm sure this wasn't the only time when they showed father+son realtionship negatively.

I would’ve done: I would probably weep for my father, not think of myself and stuff my face with bread. This situation was not handled in the right way.

6. Page 112

Relationship shown: Eliezer came to check on his father, but he was gone. He was probably taken to the crematorium. Eliezer did not cry because he was happy for his father. He was finally free at last.

What I think: This was s touching moment. I think that Eliezer handled the situation correctly and ended his life with his father in the right attitude.

I would’ve done: I would cry my eyes out. He almost made it! I would later on realize that it was for his own good and he was now free.

__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) Liberty is defined as similar to freedom. Infact, when Jews went to work, they became the opposite of free and became trapped. 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 later on, they were in risk of dying because of the yellow star. They were classified as Jews, the "wrong race" according to Hitler. Indeed, millions of Jews did die of first starting off wearing the Star of David. 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 entire camp was death. Irony plays a role in here because now Hitler is warning the Jewish people that danger lies ahead of them. 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) Hitler was certaintly not a man who kept his promises. He broke treaties, fooled Allies. He told Jewish people that work makes you free when all it does is make you surrender in a place that is full of nightmares.

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 is discussing how no one in the world is taking action. It's everyone for themselves. All the rules have been thrown into the trash, Elie and his inmates could be sent to the crematories. 2. “Work makes you free.” (page 40) This line in rather ironic. The German Nazis forced Jews into labor, saying that they would support Jews with jobs. Reality, work did not make Jews free, it was the complete opposite. 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 really sad that bombs were considered confidence for the Jews. They were not afraid of death due to the fact that anyday, they could get killed. 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) Elie and the other Jews in Buna were forced to watch hangings. The fact that the victims didn't weep is because that everyday, they were up for the risk of dying. They knew they would not be able to survive.