JEAN

//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? Elie prays because he is a faithful Jew. He doesn't know why he cries when he prays,other than he feels something inside him that tells him to. 2. Why don’t people believe Moche’s stores? People don't believe Moishe's stories because they believe Moishe is trying to garner pity. Also, people don't listen because they believe that the events Moishe recounts could not occur in that time, in a modern, civilized world and they don't want to believe that they could. 3. Site examples of how the Jews gradually lose their freedom. The Jews gradually lose their freedom. first the Jews experienced anti-semitism directed towards them, then laws against them were made, such as the limits of shopping time and loss of jobs and property. Then, finally, the Jews were forced into ghettos and the concentration camps.

__Chapter 2, pages 23-28__ 4. What does Madam Shachter’s nightmares about a fire foreshadow? Madam Shachter's nightmares about shadow foreshadow the incinerators and deaths at Birkenau. 5. Where does the train finally stop? The train finally stops at Birkenau. __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 when questioned by the SS officer because he was told to do so by someone who seemed to be aware of what was going on. Elie did not know what to do and followed the person's instructions. as they seemed to be as good as any. 7. Why does Elie disbelieve what his own eyes show him? Elie does notbelieve what his eyes show him because he cannot believe that people could be so cruel as to murder thousands of babies and burn their dead bodies. 8. Why is Elie now reluctant to pray? Elie is reluctant to pray because G-d is supposed to be almighty and should stop the Holocaust, but doesn't. In Elie's mind if G-d existed and was omnipotent he would stop the Holocaust, so, by this thinking, G-d as Elie previously believed does not exist and so Elie does not want to pray. __Chapter 4, pages 47-65__ 9. Why is Elie summoned to the dentist? Elie is summoned to the dentist to have his gold crown removed from his mouth. 10. How does Elie react to his father’s beating? Elie reacts to his father's beating by freezing up and not physically rwzcting. However, Elie feels upset and anghered by his father's beating. 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 said to be the most profoundly moving events of the novel because he was an innocent child, and the inhumanity of his death is described in great detail. __Chapter 5, pages 66-84__ 12. What is selection? Selection is what the Nazis use to determine who to kill and who to let continue working. There would be a physical examination and if you were deemed to sick or weak your number would be written down and you would later be killed.

__Chapter 6, pages 85-97__ 13. Why couldn’t Elie allow himself to die? Elie couldn't allow himself to die because he couldn't separate from his father. Also, every day Elie survived the camps was a rebellion against the Nazis.

14. Why does Juliek play the violin? Juliek plays the violin because it is his form of coping with his surroundings. 15. Compare how the other boys treat their fathers with Eliezer’s treatment of his own father. The other boys treat their father's as another person,and do not care for them or view them as a burden. Elie takes great care of his father and cannot bare to be separated from him. __Chapter 7-9 pages 98-115__ 16. Why can’t Elizer weep at his father’s death? Elie cannot weep at his father's death because he has been through so much and death has become normal for him. 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?

Elie cannot ever forget his reflection in the mirror after the camps because his appearance brings back memories of the camps, which he cannot forget the horrors that took place there. 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 horror and pain to Elie. I think he selected it as the title of his memoir because it is such a prominent theme and describes his experience very well. 2. What fires does he speak of that consumed his faith forever? Why do these fires consume his faith? The fires that Elie says consumes his faith are the fires of the incinerators. These fires consume those murdered in the concentration camps. Elie believes G-d should stop the Holocaust, but doesnot, so Elie's faith is severly affected. 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 that a boy so devout in his faith could lose his faith.If I shared his beliefs that G-d exists without a doubt and was in the Holocaust, I would lose my faith too. 4. Why does he lose his desire to live? Elie loses his desire to live because he is fearful and in pain and cannot find a reason to continue to live. 5. Elie spoke these words as an adolescent. Do you think that as an adult his feelings have changed? Why? I don't think Elie's feelings have changed much in adulthood. The fear and pain Elie experienced is still there, and would be impossible to forget. 6. Why do you suppose Elie wrote this novel? I think Elie wrote this novel to educate us about the horrors of the Holocaust so that another event such as it will never happen again.

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 continues living simply to be able to see his wife and sons again. Also, Stein begins to act almost as a second father to Elie.

What I think: Stein continues living to see his family because he loves them so much and wants to be strong for them. Stein begins to act as a second father for Elie because Stein misses his children and views Elie as a child who should have someone look out for them. Stein begins to treat Elie as his own child because he misses his actual sons so much.

I would’ve done: If I were in Stein's situation, I woukld actthe same way Stein did. Elie is frightened and Stein has a natural urge to act as a father, especially since he misses his children so much.

2. Page 49-50

Relationship shown: When assigned to an area to work in the labor camp, Elie requests to work near his father.

What I think: Elie loves his father so much that he would risk his health asking to be near his father. Elie knows the consequence he could face, such as beatings, but asks anyway because he is so close with his father.

I would’ve done: I would have done the exact same thing as Elie if I were in his position. I rely on my parents for everything and could not imagine a life without them, and would not want to be sepert=ated from them, especially in the cruel situation Elie and his father were in.

3. Page 55-56

Relationship shown: Elie's father has difficulty marching in step, so Elie tries to teach his father so that his father does not get beaten for not staying in step.

What I think: Elie could have not done anything to help his father, or could have quit trying to help his father. However, Elie continues to try to teach his father despite the criticism and difficulties he faces.

I would’ve done:I am not sure what I would have done in Elie's position. I would certainly try to teach my parents whatever I need to, but I am impatient and would probably end up quiting at one point or another, and then try again. It depends on the situation. If it was desperate I thinki would be patient.

4. Page 90-91

Relationship shown:Rabbi Eliahu became tired during the run between camps and began to slip to the back of the pack. His son saw this, and wishing to rid himself of a burden, sprinted forwards. Despite this, Eliahu searches for his son. What I think: The son was nasty in thinking he would run ahead to get rid of his father. He wanted to survive and decided to abandon his father, who might decrease the chances of survival. Rabbi Eliahu is very devoted to his son, and will do anything to find him, even searching through dead bodies to find him.

I would’ve done: I would not be able to sprint ahead because I love both of my parents and could not leave them without worrying about them. Also, I am a terrible runner and would probably be slipping behind, too.

5. Page 101

Relationship shown: In the cattle cars, Germans were throwing Jews pieces of bread. One man killed his father to steal a piece of bread his father had gotten.

What I think: I think the son, in his desperation for food, did not care whether or not the person he fought was his father. The every man for himself mentality might have added to the son's apathy.

I would’ve done: I could not kill my parents.I rely on them and love them and I cannot imagine life without them. I don't believe I have the capacity to kill someone either.

6. Page 112

Relationship shown: When Elie's father died, Elie could not shed a tear.

What I think: Elie has been through so much horror and sadness that it is difficult for him to react. Also, his father's death was expected for a while and there was no shock when he died.

I would’ve done: I don't know what I would do. I would likely break down sobbing. It is also equally likely I would react as Elie did. I have reacted both ways to bad news.

__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) In the labor camps, you are forced to work. It doesn't matter how hard you work, you are not set free. The closest to being set free is death, when you are no longer useful to the Nazis for work. 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 yellow star signifies that you are a Jew, and being a Jew kills you. The star would indirectly be the cause of your death. 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) No matter where you went in a concentration camp, there is always 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) Promises tend to be good things such as someone promising to pay back money that they owe or doing someone a favor. Instead, Hitler promised to destroy an entire population, and almost succeeded in doing so.

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) Many people stood back and watched as millions of people were slaughtered out of hatred. Some even wanted the Holocaust. The Holocaust was allowed to happen. 2. “Work makes you free.” (page 40) The Jews in the labor camps were forced to work. The work and terrible surroundings caused the deaths of many Jews. No matter how hard one worked, they had to work more. The only true freedom was death. 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) There was no more fear of death as death was everywhere. No one cared of the risk of death as they would die anyway. The bombs that would easily kill hundreds gave hundreds a chance of life. 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) No victim cared as they knew they were going to die anyway. Death became a normal aspect of life and even an escape from the horrors of the camp.