SUZIE

//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 cried when he prayed because something inside of him felt the need to cry. He basically was sad and when he prayed his feelings got really high (sad). Eliezer prays because he has trust in God for many things. 2. Why don’t people believe Moche’s stores? They don’t believe Moche’s stories because they are so inhuman that they think something so cruel like that would happen to them. But Moche’s knew he wasn’t lying or making things up because he except from the Germans. 3. Site examples of how the Jews gradually lose their freedom. // Jews lost there freedom by not being able to walk outside without getting shot. Or living in there homes and not being kicked out. Also children were not allowed to go to school.

__Chapter 2, pages 23-28__ 4. What does Madam Shachter’s nightmares about a fire foreshadow? She nightmares because she is going crazy. She keeps that there's a fire outside and then she screams it to everywhere.

5. Where does the train finally stop?// The train finally stopped in Birkenau.

__Chapter 3, pages 29-46__ 6. When questioned by the SS officer, why does Elie lie about his occupation and age?

// Eliezer lied about his occupationa nd gaebecause he thought the older he was so that he wouldn’t be separated from his parents. He basically thought they were going to divide them by age and each group and certain ages. Ex.(18-32 or 15-17)

7. Why does Elie disbelieve what his own eyes show him? Elie dosen't believe what his own eyes show him because how they treat the Jews is so cruel. Same thing with Moche's stoires he told Elie but he didn't believe him because he didn't think it could ever happened. Although Eliezer was wrong and he is see it and living it.

8. Why is Elie now reluctant to pray?// He lost faith in God not only God but basically in living. He lost faith because they told him he was going to the crematoria. Eliezer thought it was basically kind of weird or silly to pray when they were going to get burn to death.

__Chapter 4, pages 47-65__ 9. Why is Elie summoned to the dentist? Eliezer was summoned to the dentist because, the dentist was going to take out his golden crown. Although Elizer lied about feeling ill and got away with it twice. The next time he was going to go the dentist office closed. The truth was that the dentist wanted to gold for his own benfits. 10. How does Elie react to his father’s beating? Eliezer reacts to his father's beating by not blinking, he watched and kept silent. Was in shock couldn't believe what was happening, couldn't realize what he was seeing. 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" is the most profoundly moving events in the novel because they hang the boy. Not just because the germans hang the boy its important but because he wasn't jewish and he made his father do his bed over and over and treated his father like trash. __Chapter 5, pages 66-84__ 12. What is selection? Selection is when the German pick Jews to send to the cremature. They kill them, they are burn until death. If they are selected they dye. Everyone try's to look strong and healthy. If they don't seem strong or healthy they are killed.

__Chapter 6, pages 85-97__ 13. Why couldn’t Elie allow himself to die? Elie couldn't allow himself to die because War was close to an end. Also because he didn't want to leave his father. 14. Why does Juliek play the violin? Juliek plays his violin becasue he feels he is going to die. So because he knows his going to die he plays his violin as a memory of his last moment being alive. 15. Compare how the other boys treat their fathers with Eliezer’s treatment of his own father. Other boys left there fathers behind, ate there food, prefered if there dad died. In the other hand Elizer loves his father to death and won't leave him behind no matter what. He always tried to stays with him and take care of him. __Chapter 7-9 pages 98-115__ 16. Why can’t Elizer weep at his father’s death? Elizer couldn't becasue he went threw so much that he couldn't cry any more. 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 couldn't forget because he looked so bad. Elizer was just so skinny, dirty, scratched, and he hadn't seen himself for such a long time he was schocked.

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 the 1st night in camp to Elie. His first night was very dramatic and tarrying. I think he selected it because like I said his 1st night was probably a very important, or unforgotten “Night”. However this isn’t his only “night” reference or reason that I believe he picked the name “night” for his book. 2. What fires does he speak of that consumed his faith forever? Why do these fires consume his faith? Elizer talks about the fires in the camp. The crematorium the smoke of people dying. He knew that he either worked and then got killed or was automatically killed (burned). They specially consume his faith because before he planned to try to escape by the wire fence get electrocuted instead of getting burn or suffer working.

3. Do you find it difficult to believe that a boy so devout in his faith could lose his faith? Why? No I do not think it is difficult to believe that a boy so devout in his faith could lose it because it’s what is in your mind and heart that count. If I were Elizer I would lose all of my faith the moment I arrived at the camp. Why? Because he doesn’t have much chances of surviving. Elizer know itso he realized there really wasn’t any reason for him to have hope or faith. 4. Why does he lose his desire to live? Elizer loses his desire to live because the SS tells him he is going to get burn. So he thinks of death instead of escaping or the low chances of survival.

5. Elie spoke these words as an adolescent. Do you think that as an adult his feelings have changed? Why? I don’t think adults taught would change because it is the same situation and meaning. Nothing has or will change in the happening.

6. Why do you suppose Elie wrote this novel? I suppose Elie wrote this novel because he wanted to give his experience. Also for those who don’t believe the Holocaust happened, or that people could keep it, as history and it can never be regretted.

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: This is a father son relationship but not on Elizer and his father. It's on Stein a man from Antwerp. He knew Elizer and his family. Stein asked Elizer if he had heard from his sons. Stein told Elizer that his boys where the only thing that gave him the strength to survive. That with out his sons he would quite. Elizer told him they were fine and so was Reizel. Even though he didn't know anything.

What I think: I think Elizer did the right thing because he thow he didn't know anything for all he could know they could be in hidden and thats why he didn't hear about them. He had said he hadn't of heard anything from the boy Stein could of I would’ve done: I would of told him that my mom had talked to them but the boys told her they couldn't send anymore because they were going into hidden. That would give him a lot of happiness i would think because his sons weren't suffering as much as they would if they would of been taking from the soldiers.

2. Page 49-50

Relationship shown: The relationship is when Elizer asks the foreman if he could be near his father. The foreman told him he could work next to his father. . What I think: It just shows how much Elizer loves his father. How he kind of risked of getting in trouble by asking if could be by his father. His father was probably glad he was next to him because that ment Elizer could take care of him.

I would’ve done: I would've done the samething. I would of risked it also not only becasue i would want to be around my father but because he would be the only one that i had near me in the camp. To be honest i would of rather die instead of being far from my father. .. 3. Page 55-56

Relationship shown: Franek told Elizer that if he gave him his golden crown then he would not beat his father anymore. Elizer didn't want him to keep up his golden crown. Why? because he thinks he will be worth for something in the future example bread or water.

What I think: I think this is a very hard situation because Elizer wants Franek to stop beating up his father and his father rather suffer then have his son give up a tooth.

I would’ve done: I would of giving my tooth because i'd rather give it away then seeing my father getting beating up. Also because i would probably never need it since i would have a low chance of surviaval. . 4. Page 90-91 . Relationship shown: Rabbi Eliahu was looking for his son. He told Elizer that he and fallen behind and Elizer knew that his son did know and that he left him behind on purpose. The Rabbi was looking for his son and his son probably wasn't looking for him.

What I think: I think the Rabbi son is a mean, selfish, cruel person. He knew that his father and fallen behind during the running and didn't go back to help him or even call out his name.

I would’ve done: I would've of gone back for my father. Especially if the SS are shooting men who fall behind i would want to be with him in life or death. Nor would i ignore if he was not next to me.

5. Page 101

Relationship shown: A man had a piece of bread that he had under his clothing so that nobody would see. He takes it out and his son kills his father for the little piece of bread. It's a cruel relationship. . What I think:. I think it's sad that hunger got to that kind of point. Where you would kill you father for a radian of bread.

I would’ve done: I would just ask my father secretly if he could share with me. I want him to eat to because i want him to survive. . 6. Page 112 . Relationship shown: Elizer had just woken up and looked down to see if his father was doing well. His father was gone. Elizer realized his father and been taken to the crematorium. Elizer turned back and felt freedom.

What I think: I think Elizer went with the flow because he had seen so much death that he couldn't cry anymore. He was sad but he knew his father was going to die because he was so sick and everyone told him. . I would’ve done: I would of screamed and yelled and made a big deal. I would of wanted to die insisted of being alive and suffering.

__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) Work dosen't make you free. The Holocaust was never freedom Jewish people couldn't be free that's what the whole Holocaust was about. 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) It's ironic because the yellow star tells people you are jewish and being a jew is bad in those times. Why? it was bad because you would get killed eventually unless you survived for six years. Hitler wanted all the Jews to be gone (dead). 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) It's so ironic because the sign says " Warning, Danger of Death" if you touch the wire. Although they are in camp and being in camp is deadly. Being in camp means sadness, depression, and suffering.

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 81) Hitler kept his promise the whole time. His promise was killing Jews. Hitler promised to Jews, but they were death promises. It's ironic because it's not a good thing that he kept his promise to kill people.

Inhumanity 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 irony because the crematories exist and nobody would dare to try to stop them or say anything. They just went along with it knowing it was killing people they are people. Humans!! 2. “Work makes you free.” (page 40) It's ironic because work dosen't make you free. The Holocaust isn't freedom, nobody had freedom let alone Jewish they suffered the most. 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) It's ironic because bombing gave them joy. Although the bombing meant that the allies were closer. It's sad that terror gave them joy. 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 ironic because they have seen so much death that it became a normal thing. They no longer had sadness for the people getting killed.