IVY

//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 prays because he wants to feel closer to God and have a good relationship with Him. Eliezer feels that every time he prays he must cry. It is just his instinct. 2. Why don’t people believe Moche’s stores? People don’t believe Moche’s stories because they all think that he is mad and going crazy. They all think that the war will be over soon and that the end will come so the Nazi’s won’t be able to do anything to them in that small amount of time. 3. Site examples of how the Jews gradually lose their freedom. A few ways Jews start to lose their freedom are: 1. Jews are moved into ghettos. 2. Their valuables are stolen or taken away. 3. Jews have to wear yellow stars. 4. Germans arrest Jewish leaders of the town.

__Chapter 2, pages 23-28__ 4. What does Madam Shachter’s nightmares about a fire foreshadow? Madam Shachter’s nightmares about a fire foreshadow the places that the prisoners of the camps are burned and murdered. She visualized the flames that come out of the crematory’s chimney. 5. Where does the train finally stop? The train finally stops in Birkenau.

__Chapter 3, pages 29-46__ 6. When questioned by the SS officer, why does Elie lie about his occupation and age? The reason that Elie lies about his age to the SS officer, is so either, he doesn't have to work for the camp and so maybe he could be with his mother, or he could have lied to make sure that he could work so that he would not die or be thrown away. 7. Why does Elie disbelieve what his own eyes show him? Elie disbelieves what he sees in his own eyes because he does not want to believe what is happening to him, his father, and others around them. He cannot believe it and he doesn't want to believe it either. 8. Why is Elie now reluctant to pray? Elie is reluctant to pray because he feels that God has cheated on him and left him to die. He feels that God is not coming to the rescue and why should he pray to someone who won't help him. __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 on his tooth and it needs to be removed because the Germans want it. 10. How does Elie react to his father’s beating? Elie feels terrible about what has happened and he really wants to help his father, but he can't. He won't move. He also does not want to receive any blows but he does feel terrible about what has happened and why he didn't help 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 hanging of the "sad eyed angel" is said to be one of the most profoundly moving events in the novel because the little thirteen-year-old boy had done nothing and he was being hanged. He was actually alive for a half an hour after the chair had been pulled and no one was able to help him. So he remained between life and death for a long time. Finally death came to him. After this people in the camps really started to realize what was happening and they were terribly sad about all the hangings and killings. After, people were wondering how God could have let this happen. They questioned when he would come to help everyone. But Elie answered that God was there with them. __Chapter 5, pages 66-84__ 12. What is selection? Selection is when the whole "block" or house, goes to visit the doctor, Dr. Mendele,(I don't remember how to spell it-sorry) and they all have to run for him and he checks them to make sure that they are not weak. Those that are weak, their names are written down, and then they are put into the crematorium later that week. The process of selection is very sad because if you are not strong enough, there is no need or use of you so you must simply die, which is very sad. The only reason that the people are weak is because the camp does not take good care of them, they are fed very little rations of bread and soup, they work and work all day, they march, they barely sleep, and they are crammed into small homes. Half the time people are just to sad to do anything. But over all selection is a terrible thing and is very disturbing because people are very upset because in the end, Dr. Mendele chooses whether you live or die. It's very sad. __Chapter 6, pages 85-97__ 13. Why couldn’t Elie allow himself to die? Elie wouldn't allow himself to die because he knew that he was the only reason that his father was still alive. He wanted his father to live. He wanted to die so badly but he knew that once he did his father would not be able to go on. It would most likely make the father die too. 14. Why does Juliek play the violin? Juliek plays the violin because he thinks that it will calm the people in the house down. They are all squished and they cannot breath, so he thinks that the violin will make them calm enough to help one another. Also it will probably be the last time he ever plays the violin because once the head of the camp finds out they will most likely take it away and kill him for having it. 15. Compare how the other boys treat their fathers with Eliezer’s treatment of his own father. Some of the other boys treat their fathers terribly and some of them kill their own fathers or leave them behind. But Elie makes sure that he is not separated from his father, Elie cares for his father, and Elie loves his father more than any other sons. Some other sons killed their fathers for a little piece of bread and others let their fathers die and suffer while they ran ahead of the and left their fathers behind to die. Elie treats his father like a father-Elie goes to him for advice and Elie always wants to be close to him and make sure that he does not die. __Chapter 7-9 pages 98-115__ 16. Why can’t Elizer weep at his father’s death? Elie couldn't cry at his father's death because he was out of tears. He had a tiny feeling of "Free at last" but he knew that it was wrong for him to be saying that. 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'm sure Elie can't forget the other image that looked back at him in the mirror. Once you see what the Holocaust did to one human being, you would be scarred for life with a every unpleasant image. I think that once Elie saw what had happened to him, he thought that he didn't look like a human. His eyes had probably changed to droopy, saggy, sad, fearful, scared, and they probably had the look of death in it and he probably saw his terrible life flash before him once he got a chance to look at himself for the very first time.

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 think that, now, night symbolizes happiness and peace because nothing goes on during night except for praying and some scary talk, maybe. But night could also represent horror because the night is the safest place so the prisoners have to worry about what is to come tomorrow. 2. What fires does he speak of that consumed his faith forever? Why do these fires consume his faith? The fires he speaks of are the ones that rise from the chimney of the crematory that they first saw rolling into Birkenau(not sure if I spelled that right). The fire consumes his faith because he feels that it is terrible that God has just let this terrible thing happen and just let the Germans take over Jews and other people. He feels hopeless because God has let him down by not saving him. 3. Do you find it difficult to believe that a boy so devout in his faith could lose his faith? Why? I do believe that it is possible for a boy like Elie to lose his faith because I would have felt the same way. If I was in a situation like his, i would feel the same way: I would feel cheated that I prayed to God and got death in return. But I would find it partly difficult to believe that Elie, a boy who devoted his life to Judaism, would lose faith in the one he prayed to because I would think that Elie would think that God would save him. 4. Why does he lose his desire to live? I think that the reason Elie lost his desire to live because he would rather die a painless death, than be tortured and stressed for many amounts of time. You always want the painless part of life, but sometimes its for the better that you don't get your way. 5. Elie spoke these words as an adolescent. Do you think that as an adult his feelings have changed? Why? I don't think that his feelings would change if he was an adult because all humans think alike and no one wants to be hurt ever. If he was an adult and experiencing the Holocaust the only thing that might change would be that he might want his son, daughter, or wife to live longer than he will. But otherwise he would still want the same things including being with his father or son. 6. Why do you suppose Elie wrote this novel? I think that Elie wanted the world to realize what really happened to him and to others. He wants people to be aware and realize that never again can we let this happen. Never. I also think that Elie wanted to tell the world that if he could go through that, than anyone can go through anything else. But mostly he wanted the world to know his story of what really happened in the Holocaust. 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: Elie's father's relative, Stein, visited them and asked them if they had heard from his wife and children. Elie lied and said that he had heard and that they were fine. He was trying to protect his relative the way his father protected him before. Elie really wanted him to be happy and alive because Stein said that if he knew that his wife and children were dead, that he would not be able to live his life.

What I think: Elie was trying to protect his relative from death and sadness because that is what his father did for him. Elie is probably thinking that if he tells the man the truth then Stein's faith will be lost. Imagine not knowing if your family is alive. You would probably want someone to tell you a lie.

I would’ve done: I probably would have done the same because I would want to protect my relative from killing himself and I would not want him to be hurt or angry inside. This relationship is between Elie and his father because Elie is acting in a way that his father would have.

2. Page 49-50

Relationship shown: Elie sticks up for himself & his father. He wants to be with his father so he speaks up so he can work with his father.

What I think: I think that this was a great move from Elie because if he hadn't spoken up then he might not be working with his father and he might feel sad about that.

I would’ve done: I don't know if I would have had enough courage to do what Elie did because usually I'm shy and in his situation I would have been very scared and worried. But hopefully I would have done what Elie did so I could be with my father or mother.

3. Page 55-56

Relationship shown: Elie helps his father by teaching him how to march because Elie's father is getting hit because he can't march. The reason for this is because a man named Franek wants Elie's gold crown, and Elie won't give it to him so he beats Elie's father. In the end Elie gives in and lets the man have his gold crown so that his father is not hurt anymore. This shows that Elie cares for his father and he doesn't want his father to get hurt or beaten.

What I think: I think that it was really kind of Elie to help his father by teaching him and giving in to the man. Elie had probably endured so much pain from just watching I'm sure. I think that Elie really cares and he loves his father very much. he does not want to see his father suffer.

I would’ve done: I'm sure that I would have done the same because I am a coward and I would do anything to help anyone from being hurt. I hate seeing people get hurt by others so I probably would have done the same thing that Elie did.

4. Page 90-91

Relationship shown: Rabbi Eliahou's son left him behind when they were running from camp to camp. Rabbi Eliahou did not know that his son had wanted to be rid of him, only Elie knew. Rabbi Eliahou's son had wanted to get rid of his father so that he wouldn't have the responsibility to take care or care for his father. He was being selfish and then his father had lived and he did not even care enough to look for him!

What I think: I think that it was very cruel of Rabbi Eliahou's son to do that to his father because he is basically showing that he only cares for himself. I think that it was terrible of Rabbi Eliahou's son to do that because then his father does not even know where his son is and if he survived so his father will most likely want to die in the end.

I would’ve done: I would NEVER EVER EVER do anything like what this child did even if I felt like he did because I love my family and I would never want to be away from a family member. iI love my family and love is stronger than selfishness or hatred. Never would I do anything like that. If I did, then I would have to kill myself.

5. Page 101

Relationship shown: The son of an old man killed his father for a piece of bread. A crust or bread. A loved one was murdered by his son, who he had raised and loved for years. This relationship between father and son is a terrible relationship because the son had no feeling except for hunger and if he had to kill his father, he would. A few seconds later, the son was killed too because everyone fought for bread. So the son killed his father for nothing and they both died in the end. Selfishness and hunger took hold of these people's lives.

What I think: I think that it was terrible for a son to kill his own father just to devour a single crust of bread and not care. I'm disgusted by this, it makes me sick just thinking about this. I feel terrible for both of these people and for all the other people that were killed fighting or not fighting for bread.

I would’ve done: I would have tried to stop the people from dying and maybe tried to convince them that life is worth more than bread. hopefully I would succeed in doing that.

6. Page 112

Relationship shown: At first, Elie stays with his father but won't get him water because he says it is a poison to him. The Next day Elie's father is removed from the block and sent to the crematorium to die. Elie felt terrible but he could not cry because he had no tears left. Elie is now on his own.

What I think: I think that it is so sad that the two of them survived that long and then a few months after, thy were set free. Just think, there could have been one more Holocaust survivor, one family member to help Elie. It would have changed both of their lives.

I would’ve done: I would have cried even if they killed me for it. I would want to die, but also I would want to live so i could tell the world, what really happened. Which is exactly what Elie Wiesel did.

__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 thing that is ironic about this passage is that the work that the Germans made the Jews do, work made the Jews die instead of be free. 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 passage is ironic because in the end the fact of being Jewish killed millions of people. I find this passage ironic because being Elie's father was completely wrong and being Jewish killed six million Jews. 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 passage is ironic because the Jews were basically facing death every day in camp and yet the Germans put up signs saying: "Waring, Danger of Death." This is so terrible because these people are facing the danger of death every morning, day, and night. 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 passage is ironic because these people had no faith so they believed that Hitler would carry out on all his plans to fully exterminate Jews. Hitler did keep his promises of killing, hurting, and working Jews to death. This is ironic because people are trying to believe in God but they can't so they are forced to believe that Hitler will keep his terrible promises.

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 passage shows inhumanity because Elie is saying that the world no longer cares, or wants to know about what happens to the people in camp because the world no longer cares and is scared and unaware. This shows inhumanity because they are being treated like little bugs; no one cares about them. That is inhumanity. 2. “Work makes you free.” (page 40) This passage shows inhumanity because it says that work makes you free when working actually kills you eventually. This encourages the people to work forever and eventually work themselves to death. This shows inhumanity because the people are believing the lies they are being told so in the end they kill themselves. This is so inhumane because these people are being told if you want to live, work and do nothing else. That is inhumanity. 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 passage shows inhumanity because these people are so happy that the bombs are dropping on the crematorium, that they cared less about all the dead lives of the inmates that the bombs would claim. The SS made them so scared, that they were filled with joy whenever a bomb dropped. I'm very glad that the bombs did drop because then there would be no place to kill the Jews, but sad for the people that died. This shows inhumanity because people are happy when they are in a situation where they could die, but they could be saved from dying in the future. Destroying a crematorium or building, gave them confidence, so they were happy when others were dying for them. That is inhumanity. 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 passage shows the most inhumanity because not only does the camp hang victims of a small crime, they make the rest of the camp show respect( the camps don't respect the people so why should the people pay respect anyway) and look at the person after they died or if they were still hanging there. That is above inhumanity because no human being should be treated like this. This means that people were being hanged for small reasons which is so inhumane that the world got rid of hanging decades ago. I cannot believe that this happened and how could the world allow this. I don't understand how these people did not fight for this kind of inhumanity. This is terrible.