KATIE

//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? Today I dont think that anything like this could happen to me. This is because I feel that I live in a safer more secure area and country. Plus I am not Jewish.

2. What would be your first reaction to this horrifying experience? If this did happen to me I would be horrified and scared. I wouldnt be able to function anymore because this would be so difficult.

3. What means might you use to deal with what is happening (example: would you lie, cheat, steal)? If I had to do something to save myself, I would probably lie, cheat, steal, and hurt some people. I would do whatever I had to do to live no matter what it is/was.

4. Do you think it would be better to give up and die or try to survive? I would try to survive the best I could because I would want to live to tell my story and that would probably prevent another tragedy like this happening again. If I was sick though I would rather die.

5. Inhumanity means being inhumanly cruel and brutal. Do you think the world could ever allow this kind of inhumanity to happen again? I believe the world woudnt let anything like this happen again. The world is too protected and has too many other wars and problems for this to happen again.

6. What kind of punishment do you feel would be suitable for this kind of inhumanity? I dont think punishment is the answer. I dont know what I would do but what if we had done the same thing to the Germans then what?\

7. Do you think this kind of inhumanity could exist in our day and age? I think in some places it does but not to this extreme. I think that people still get tortured and whipped and beaten but not 6 million people.

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 doesnt know why he prays. I think he prays because he knows God is there and listening to what he has to say he just might not know it.

2. Why don’t people believe Moche’s stores? Moche is a wanderer, a peasant, so people dont beleive what they here from him because for all they know he might be crazy!

3. Site examples of how the Jews gradually lose their freedom. The Jews lose there freedom gradually by, 1st laws go up forbidding them to do certain things. Then the camps start and people get tricked into that. Soon everyone is heading off to the camps whether they want to or not! Eventually everyone who is Jewish or doesn' t fit Hilter's "code" is in the camps.

__Chapter 2, pages 23-28__ 4. What does Madam Shachter’s nightmares about a fire foreshadow? The nightmares about a fire forshadow going to the camps. I think she is seeing the flame and smoke from the chimney and pitts where they throw and burn they dead.

5. Where does the train finally stop? The train finally stops in Buchenwald to drop them off at a camp. Soon they will go to Auschwitz though.

__Chapter 3, pages 29-46__ 6. When questioned by the SS officer, why does Elie lie about his occupation and age? Eliezer lied to stay alive. If he didnt lie he could have ended up dead or death would be in his close future.

7. Why does Elie disbelieve what his own eyes show him? Eliezer doesn't believe what he sees because the sight is horrible. No one want to be where they are and kids and adults are being burned all over wherever they go. No one wants to beleive what they see at these camps.

8. Why is Elie now reluctant to pray? Eliezer is relucant to pray because he doesnt believe thatGod is there for him/them. He doesnt understand that how if God was up there then why did he let all this happen.

__Chapter 4, pages 47-65__ 9. Why is Elie summoned to the dentist? Elie is summoned to the dentist because he has a golden crown and the dentist wants it to steal/use for himself. The dentist tries to take out his golden crown but Elie fakes sick. Lucky Elie.

10. How does Elie react to his father’s beating? Elie feels like running but he can't or he will take some blows as well. Idek is beating up Elie's father for almost no reason and Elie is close to beating up Idek as well.

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 one of the most profoundly moving event in this novel because it is a child being hung and it is not right. Also he was still alive afterward and it was hard to look at.

__Chapter 5, pages 66-84__ 12. What is selection? Selection is where they select the people who are weak and slow and "feed them to the ovens". It isnt very nice. They write down their number and then they o for a second selection where they really determine if you are going to "the ovens" or not.

__Chapter 6, pages 85-97__ 13. Why couldn’t Elie allow himself to die? Elie coulnt allow himself to die because his father was still there and he had to keep pushing. Try for his dad, because if he died and then his dad would give up and die too.

14. Why does Juliek play the violin? Juliek plays the violin to relieve his sorrow. He plays to let out his feeling and emotions.

15. Compare how the other boys treat their fathers with Eliezer’s treatment of his own father. The other boys dont treat their father's very nicely. They kill, hurt, beat, and leave behind their father's. Eliezer is very grateful toward his father and cares so much about him he will anything for him.

__Chapter 7-9 pages 98-115__ 16. Why can’t Eliezer weep at his father’s death? Eliezer cant weep at his father's death because he doesnt have any tears left to cry and because it pained him to know what happened and to cry.

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 cant forget the look in the eyes of the corpse that gaze back at him because he looked so dead that when all the Jews and others were found they were called the "walking dead".

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 "night" is the time thate he has all to himself. Where he feels like he doesnt have to worry, where they can just be still.

2. What fires does he speak of that consumed his faith forever? Why do these fires consume his faith? The fires he speakes of are The Angels of Deaths. They consumed his his faith and took it all away so there is no more belief in him anymore its all lost.

3. Do you find it difficult to believe that a boy so devout in his faith could lose his faith? Why? I think that in the beginning it would have been hard to beleive, but because he lost hope and faith in God. He hasnt practiced his faith at all so I dont think that it is surprising that he lost faith.

4. Why does he lose his desire to live? He loses he disire to live because anything could be better than the camps. Also death would be like FREEDOM to the workers and slaves at the camps.

5. Elie spoke these words as an adolescent. Do you think that as an adult his feelings have changed? Why? I think that somewhere inside him his feelings are still there and now he understands more because he is older and wiser. I think that he still feels the same way just understands it ina different way now.

6. Why do you suppose Elie wrote this novel? I think that Eliezer wrote this novel to tell his horrible story to everyone who want and is eager to learn about it. If more and more people read this they will understand and hopefully the world will help prevent thos from happening again from reading his stroy.

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: Eliezer and his dad lie to Stein about his wife and boys, to protect him. They knew that if they told him the truth he would kill himself.

What I think: I think that Eliezer and his father shouldnt have lied to Stein. They should have told the truth and then helped him get through it. I think that they were just scared of the consequences of telling the truth.

I would’ve done: I would have told the truth because no matter how hard it is the truth is always better (not that I always tell the truth!). I would have been there though for Stein to "lean on" once he knew the truth. 2. Page 49-50

Relationship shown: The relationship shown is when Eliezer asks to be put with his father. The foreman is nice enough to allow them to go together. They are very lucky to still be together and be able to work together now too.

What I think I think that it is very considerate of Eliezer to do this. he cares a lot a bout gis father and will do whatever it takes for them to stay together. It is also very nice of the foreman to allow them to work near each other.

I would’ve done:I would have done the same thing as Eleizer did. I would have asked to be near my father or brother, because I care deeply about them and it would be important to me that we stay together just like its imprtant to Eleizer that him and his father stay together.

3. Page 55-56

Relationship shown:Eliezer goes to his father for advice on what to do. Also Eliezer treaches his father how to march properly so he wont get beaten. Even though it was very hard for both of them tgey still kept their promises and tried to help each other. When Eleizer needed help with Franek his father was there, when Father needed help with marching correctly Eliezer was there.

What I think: I think that it is very important to help each other the way that eliezer and his father did. It shows how much theycare about each other and how much they would sacrufice for each other. Also even though many people made fun of them for marching and fighting against Franek they tried harder but lost anyway. But they still had each other, that was all that mattered.

I would’ve done: I would have done the same thing as Eliezer did. I would have shown my loyalty and love for my father the same way. I would have helped him march in step and avoid beatings and my dad hopefully would help me in return.

4. Page 90-91

Relationship shown: The Relationship shown was between Rabbi Eliahu and his son. Rabbi Eliahu's son didnt love his father the way Eliezer did. He ran away from his father on prupose and didnt evern care how his father felt in return. Rabbi Eliahu doesnt even know that and Eliezer cant admit it.

What I think:I think what Rabbi Eliahu's son did was dreadful, horrible, and stupid. He put his father under the pressure of having to look and worry about him and to make him feel bad about "losing" his son. He was only thinking about himself and no one else. Family was very important to have during these times but no one understiid at the moment.

I would’ve done:I would have done the complete opposite of Rabbi Eliahu's son. If my father fell behind or slowed downt then so would I. We would die together, hand in hand, behing trampled down together heart to heart. No matter how much I would want to survive I would always be at my father's dide.

5. Page 101

Relationship shown:The relationship shown is when someworkers from outside were throwing bread inside the wagons and everyone was struggling to get some. One man got a peice in his shirt and his son came over and started beating him for it and didnt even care. Soon the son beat him to death and took the bread and ran off.

What I think: I think that this is truly awful. If you think about it this guy probably got gased or shot or something and died with that peice of bread in him that could have been for his father who could have lived but no he killed his dad instead.

I would’ve done:I would never have done anything like that. I counnd live with myslef knowing that I killed myslef for a pointless peice of bread. I would probably end up dead in a gas chamber anyway so who knows.

6. Page 112

Relationship shown: The relationship shown here is when Eliezer's father dies. cant even weep for him because it hurts him too much. The last words his father said was "Eliezer!!" and he will never forget that.

What I think: Personaly I think Eliezer reacted pretty well. He didnt cry, moan, go searching, or go crazy, he kept calm and went where he was told.

I would’ve done:I have absolutly no idea on plantet earth how I would have reacted.

__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 work isnt liberty, it means death no matter what. It goes to prove how cunning and tricky the Nazis thought they were. 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 really they do die of the star. Being Jewish isnt bad but Hitler made it seem like it and made some people a shamed of their religion. The star kills them!

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 bacause everywhere they go there is 'Danger of Death'. Everytime they move, talk, and do something "normal" there is a danger of being killed.

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 the Jews arent supposed to like Hitler of believe him but the statement above is true. Other countries may say/promise they are coming to help but they may not. Hitler says he is going to kill, he does. Hitler says he is going to take over, he does. Hitler sticks to what he says and doesnt back down until the job is done. 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 statement means that anything can happen, anything is allowed, literally. Nazis can kill when they want for no reason, Nazis can do what they want whether it is right or not. So many take advantage of that and many Jews (and others) had to suffer because of it.

2. “Work makes you free.” (page 40) Work doesn't make you free. It can sometimes/manytimes kill you. In the novel the work is hard on a lot of people and killed/injured them. The work is the opposite of free, the more they worked the more beat up they got, which gave them a bigger chance of dieing.

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 didnt matter if they died or not anymore, because they are going to die anyway in these conditions and at the camp (not Eliezer though!!).

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 one wanted to cry at the camps. It showed weakness which got you killed. No one wanted to weep while/before they were getting hanged because it showed how weak and afraid of the Nazis you were.