TEDDY

//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 is very faithful to his religion and spends time in his day learning Judaism and Talmud. He cries when he prays because he believes he feels the need to.

2. Why don’t people believe Moche’s stores? The people in Sighet didn’t believe his stories because they were too unlikely, unreal, and they thought they were too evil. 3. Site examples of how the Jews gradually lose their freedom. The Jews lose their freedom slowly because they are forbid from many things that take away their freedom. These things are their Jewish heritage, their housing, valuable possessions, and other laws that take away their rights of freedom. __Chapter 2, pages 23-28__ 4. What does Madam Shachter’s nightmares about a fire foreshadow? The fire foreshadows the crematoriums in the camps that kill the Jews by burning them in flames. 5. Where does the train finally stop? The train finally stops in Birkenau where it ends its long, unwinding, and horrible journey on the cattle cars. __Chapter 3, pages 29-46__ 6. When questioned by the SS officer, why does Elie lie about his occupation and age? Elie lies because it is a matter of life or death and when he lies he saves himself from death because his information represents that he is a capable, young, hardworking man.

7. Why does Elie disbelieve what his own eyes show him? Elie disbelieves what his own eyes show him is because the event that his eyes are witnessing is something too evil that can appear on the earth. He is shocked because the horrors of the camps and it's brutality has shook his mind with terror.

8. Why is Elie now reluctant to pray? Elie is reluctant to pray because he is under circumstances where there is no hope in God and he dosen't beleive that praying would help save him. He now thinks that all hope in keeping faith in your religon is lost and that help from God is all but deserted. __Chapter 4, pages 47-65__ 9. Why is Elie summoned to the dentist? Elie is summoned to the dentist because he needs to get his crown taken out of his mouth.

10. How does Elie react to his father’s beating? Elie reacts with the feelings of pain, loss, and he feels untenable, which shows he cannot do anything about it. He also feels discouraged about the terrible event and looking at the beating on his father saddens Elie and abducts his thoughts of helping 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 is one of the most profoundly moving events in the novel because it shows the inhumanity and the brutatlity about the holocaust. The real meaning is that the child was hanging onto the rope not dead, balancing between life and death. This was the very presence of God keeping the child alive on the thread of life which is the rope. With the "sad eyed angel" balancing between life and death, this gives hope and living a new chance in defying the horrors of death.

__Chapter 5, pages 66-84__ 12. What is selection? Selection is a very horrid event that happens in the camps that the SS and Dr. Mengele carried out. The SS checks how strong your condition is and if your health deserves to let you stay in camp and gain a chance of survival. During the selections, if you are weak then that means you are going to face death in the crematoriums, but if you are strong then you will pass on and escape the horrors of death. Basically it is the survival of the fittest. The horrors of selection cause stress, loss of faith, and the fear of staring death in the face. If you cannot pass selection then all faith is loss and everything is wasted into the terrors of death. Luckily Elie and his father passed the first part of selection, which means they have a greater chance of surviving. Still they must still face the inhumanity of the camps and persist through the next selections that challenge their life's survival.

__Chapter 6, pages 85-97__ 13. Why couldn’t Elie allow himself to die? Elie has come so far in surviving the horrors of the concentration camps. He can't give up now after he has been through many terrible events and slightly escaping from the grasp of death. Giving up is not an option during these times, which Elie closely succumbs to. 14. Why does Juliek play the violin? Juliek plays his violin because he will be the last time that he cherishes it and plays it. He believes that he is going to die, and that playing his violin will be a cherishing memory his last concert with his beautiful instrument.

15. Compare how the other boys treat their fathers with Eliezer’s treatment of his own father. Elie treats his father with respect and he believes that keeping him close to him is vital in surviving. Unlike the other boys who percieve that keeping their life in the race of survival is most important and that all others are unimportant, Elie thinks of keeping his father alive. The other boys would even kill their fathers to survive which shows that the holocaust can trick their minds into being very desperate for their own needs.

__Chapter 7-9 pages 98-115__ 16. Why can’t Elizer weep at his father’s death? Elie has already witnissed too many terrifying events that go on inside the camp. His eyes caught so many inhumane events, that there is no more weeping inside of him for his father's death. This is how inhumane life could actually be.

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 looks too dead and that the camps took a heavy toll on him and made his appearance look like a dead corpse.

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 time of day when all of the horrors of the holocaust haunt Elie's mind till he perishes under the terrifying events that occur under the dark, starlit sky. When Night falls, it's like when Pandora's box opens and lets out all the terror to the camps, and the only thing left is hope. He selected it because it shows a good representation of the story and plots the time of day when the concentration camps transform into "Hell on Earth." 2. What fires does he speak of that consumed his faith forever? Why do these fires consume his faith? The fire that Elie speaks of is the crematoriums that act as theives and take away the innocent lives away from the Jews and consume their faith until there is no more. The fires consume Elie's faith because he loses all of his hope with God and slowly loses his purpose to live. 3. Do you find it difficult to believe that a boy so devout in his faith could lose his faith? Why? I find it difficult to beleive because what Elie does all day is pray and study Talmud which means he is very faithful in his religon. With this kind of devotion to his heritage it is difficult to perceive that he can lose his strong faith in his religon. Elie loses it because he witnesses the worst kind of evil in the world and is introduced to the terrors of the world which slowly deprives his faith. 4. Why does he lose his desire to live? Elie loses his desire to live because he is shown the major extermination of innocent people and the horrors of death itself. He beleives that all hope is gone and loses his faith in his life. 5. Elie spoke these words as an adolescent. Do you think that as an adult his feelings have changed? Why? I do think Elie's adult feelings are very similar but now that he is grown up, he can understand the deeper meaning of the memories of the holocaust. Even thougth he can perceive this differently, the memories of the holocaust still linger in his head and disturbs him.

6. Why do you suppose Elie wrote this novel? Elie wrote this novel because he wanted to inform people about the suffering of the Jews during the horrifying events 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: When Elie and his father went to go fetch the rations. The instant Elie got it, he ate it on the spot without hesitation. This happened because Elie's hunger was so overpowering and he was very famished. After Elie scarfed it down, his father gave him advice not to eat so quickly and to save it for the next day and eat it wisely. This shows that Elie's father is hospitable towards him and wants him to survive by giving Elie these words of advice.

What I think: I think that Elie's father is doing the right thing to caution Elie on his unproductive eating habits. He wants to take care of Elie by all means neccessary, and this shows a great representation of it.

I would’ve done: Elie's father is obviously protective over Elie and wants to ensure him good health by taking this approach and giving him advice. I would've done the same thing as Elie's father by being protective, preservative, and by having love for my family members. 2. Page 49-50

Relationship shown: When Elie, his father, and many other Jews were assigned to their Kommandos, they had to split up into different work areas in the Kommando. Franek told Elie to sit in the corner and work, but Elie insisted that his father must work right next to him. This shows that the bond with Elie and his father is very strong and they cannot be split apart during life or death situations.

What I think: Elie and his fahter's bond is unbreakable and they will always stick together when they are in the camps. When Elie insisted that he needed to be next to his father shows that they need each other to survive the many horrors of the holocaust. I beleive that sticking together with your loved ones, is essential to surviving and prevailing over the terrifying events that go on in the concentration camps.

I would’ve done: This clearly solitifies that Elie and his father's bond is very strong and can't be broken. They beleive this is essential to survive and Elie took the right path of insisting that he needed to be near his father in the Kommando. I would've done the same thing as Elie by having the traits of being together, and thrving off of your loved one's presence.

3. Page 55-56

Relationship shown: Due to Elie's father's lack in marching, he is beaten on from the SS soldiers and the Kapos. When Elie notices this bad situation, he wants to secure his father safety by helping him march. This means that Elie cares very deeply about his father because he wants to ensure him safety by helping him march.

What I think: I think that Elie is making the right decision by caring for his father and by helping him practice his marching. Elie cares deeply about his father, and he must help him so that he is not a target for being rained on by blows.

I would’ve done: Elie is using the traits of careness, kindness, and is very concerned about his father's problem about marching. I would have done the same thing as Elie by seeing what needed to be done and making the difference of ensuring my loved one's safety. Elie shows good human qualities when he helps his father with his marching.

4. Page 90-91

Relationship shown: When the Jews were running to the next camp, Rabbi Eliahu and his son would always stick with each other. But Rabbi Eliahu started to slow down on running and became weaker. His son thought that this would leave his chances of survival very dim. Then his son left his father so that nothing can stand in his way of survival.

What i think: This means that Rabbi Eliahu's relationship wasn't that strong when times seem to get very bad. Unlike Elie and his father, Rabbi Eliahu's son left him because he couldn't be slowed down on his chances of survival.

I would've done: I would'nt have done the same thing. I believe that sitcking with my loved ones is most important.

pg 101 relationship shown: Bread was being handed out and many people were jumping on top of it like wild animals striving for food. One man got some and then his son killed him for it because his own hunger took over his mind and turned him into a man of desperity of food.

I think: I think that this is a horrible act of the son killing his own father for a ration of bread. No one's hunger should overcome them and lead them to kill for food.

I would’ve done: I wouldn't have done the same thing because killing for food is not morally correct. Also, if it was your father whom you would be killing, that is just plainly inhumane.

6. Page 112

Relationship shown: Elie's father had just passed and Elie is very dreaded by it and cherished his last memory with him.

What I think: I think that Elie should be distraught from the event because he was very close to his father. Cherishing the last events with him that Elie did was very important in keeping his memory of his father alive.

I would’ve done: I would've done the same thing as Elie by loving his father and cherishing his life that has greatly afftected his.

__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 quote "Work is Liberty" on the Auschwitz gate is very ironic because Aushwitz is concentration camp, which basically defines "Hell on Earth". Showing this sign represents that with hard work and perserverance, you can escape the horrors of death and become free of the concentration camps. The double meaning of this is, that you work so hard till your death.

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)

In this excerpt, Elie's father perceives that the yellow star is unimportant, doesn't mean anything, and doesn't cause death. What the yellow star does is indicate that you are Jewish, which comprehends you as the enemy. Being the enemy can lead you to the horrors of the concentration camps and the state of death. This is why the excerpt is ironic because Elie's father says that the yellow star is unimportant and dosen't kill you, but in the end it can haunt you and lead you to perishing under 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)

In this excerpt from the book, Elie and other Jews are transported to another Auschwitz concentration camp. These camps are full of horrors, terrors, and many defying events of death. With this sign on it, it's ironic because concentration camps are all about death and the sign says "Warning, Danger of Death". There is death everywhere lurking around the camps looking for innocent lives to strike, and with this sign saying "Warning, Danger of Death", it's ironic because death is everywhere in the camps like a shadow stalking and terrifying people's lives.

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) From this excerpt, a person is saying that he has more faith in Hitler than anyone else because he is keeping most of his promises to the Jewish people. This means that he respects the ways of Hitler and he lost hope in everything that can save him from the thieves of death in the camps. This is ironic because that Hitler is doing something very evil and horrible and this person respects that he is completing his goals. Hitler is keeping his promises to the Jewish people as no one else is doing to save them.

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 comment reflects inhumanity because something so evil can actually occur in this unshook world. Whats also very evil is that many countries were informed on the inhumane events, but many people didn't let it occupy their mind or strike them with importance.

2. “Work makes you free.” (page 40) This excerpt is inhumane because the Nazis are lying about work giving you liberty. They are providing false hope for the Jews that trick their minds and lead them into 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) In this excerpt, the Jews are so used to death and it's horrors, they don't care about dying. This is inhumane because no one should be used to death and familiair with it. Instead they should be afraid of death.

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 excerpt is inhumane because killing is very common and there were many dead bodies.