Night Test- Questions Part 4

Subtext of "You cannot go out at night (curfew)"

"We don't trust you", "we have control"

Subtext of "You must house our army"

"we own your property" "we own you"

Subtext of "You can't have any valuables"

"you aren't valuable"

What dehumanizing actions does the Gestapo (or, at first, the Hungarian police) take toward the Jewish population?

1. You must leave your home 2. You cannot go out at night (curfew) 3. You must house our army 4. You can't have any valuables

After the first hanging of the man who stole during the air raid, Elie says that that the soup that night "tasted better than ever." Why does he make this seemingly callous comment? What is he trying to communicate to the reader? In other words, what is the subtext of this line? (p. 63)

After the first hanging of the man who stole during the air raid, Elie says that that the soup that night "tasted better than ever." because he is just grateful that it's not him or his father being killed and he is used to the many executions. But the second night when the perfect innocent tiny child is hung, he realizes that this child also has a family and is younger than him with a life far ahead. Also, the child probably didn't even fully understand what was happening. When this child doesn't die after his chair is tipped over and is suffering just waiting to die, Elie finally can't handle the sadness he is forced to watch. When he got home, all he could think about was death and that is why the soup tasted of corpses.

Elie describes the inmates running as "machines" and "automatons." What is an automaton? Why does Wiesel describe the prisoners in this way?

An automaton is "a self-operating machine or mechanism, especially a robot." Wiesel describes the prisoners in this way because they can't do anything without control of the Germans. They have been so dehumanized, they forgot how they used to be.

Elie's relationship to his father has changed immensely by the end of the book. How would you describe the change in their relationship? Please integrate and cite a quote that proves your assertion of the change in the relationship.

As the book endures, Elie and his father's roles switch. By the end, Elie becomes the caretaker and Schlomo is like the baby. Also, they connect with each other. In the beginning, Elie describes his dad as "more involved with the welfare of other than with that of his own kin" (4), but later Elie and his father seem to become so attached they don't need words to describe their thoughts. Elie writes "I went up to him, took his hand and kissed it. I felt a tear on my hand... Never had we understood each other so clearly." (68).

Page 68 shows a moment between Elie and his father. How would you describe their relationship at this point in the book?

At this point, elie and his father stay strong for each other and only live for each other. There beyond words, all they need is touch to know they are there.

There is a sudden shift in tone (the narrator's emotional "voice') before Schlomo's death and after Schlomo's death. How would you describe Elie's tone before his father's death? (Use 2-3 adjectives.) How would you describe Elie's tone after his father's death? (Use 2-3 adjectives.)

Before Schlomo's death, Elie feels a reason to live. He has a positive and motivating tone. But after Schlomo's death, that feeling vanishes and he feels emotionally and mentally dead. He has a negative and depressed tone. Before- fast paced, intense, After- numb, cold, distant

There is an instance of irony in our reading . Elie + his father could have been saved from the concentration camps. How would this have happened? Why doesn't it happen? Would you have made the same choice that Elie does?

Elie and his father could have been saved from the concentration camps by pretending they were sick and staying in the infirmary. It does not happen because they decide to be evacuated with the others. If I were Elie, I would similarly stick with my dad no matter what but I would probably stay in the infirmary just because even if I died I would die without experiencing the upcoming pain I would have to go through at the next camp.

Now that you have read the entire book, why do you think there are so many other father/son stories mentioned during the march to Gleiwitz?

Elie and his father's relationship was a very important theme of this novel that continued to change as we read through. I think there were so many other father/son stories to show how to Holocaust tortured the Jews so much that they would risk losing their best support system in order to survive. I think that the other terrible father/son stories made Elie realize he couldn't let the Holocaust destroy his soul like many other son's had proven when they stopped caring about their fathers. For example, Meir's son had killed his father just for a piece of bread. These relationships Elie saw caused him to start thinking that maybe his father was a burden but he didn't admit it to himself or tell his dad. He just cared and love his father until he died

Why does Elie call the spoon and knife his father give him "his inheritance"?

Elie calls the spoon and knife his father gives him "his inheritance" because it was the most valuable thing he had left in case he died. The knife and spoon could be used to help Elie survive by trading it for food or sold for something else.

Why do you think Elie chose to title his book "Night"? Obviously, what he experienced was far more than a night- it was over a year long.

Elie chose to call the book because night symbolizes darkness and negativity, in most cases there is a happy ending. However in night lie wants to show the readers that there was nothing happy about his story. Also, at the time the world was dark period of time where no light showed. Depressing, traumatic. Represents Internal mental darkness and negativity felt during holocaust There is no happy ending - this was a dark time for Elie personally and for the world

After the second hanging of a young boy, Elie says that the soup that night "tastes of corpses." Why does he write this? How does the second hanging different from the first?

Elie could only think about death after the second hanging and the soup tasted like it too. The second hanging was different from the first because the little boy was very innocent and had to suffer waiting to die unlike the man who was executed.

What does Elie do as a symbolic gesture to show he is stepping away from his prior religiosity?

Elie does not fast on Yom Kippur as a symbolic gesture to show he is stepping away from his prior religiosity.

On page 46, Elie describes how they were being counted "on a sunny road" with "a few small white clouds in the sky. Some German girls begin to flirt with the SS guards in front of the prisoners. Why does Elie include this scene? What is he drawing the reader's attention to by mentioning the weather and the girls?

Elie includes this scene because overall it wasn't that bad of a day, no one was shouting and the guards weren't in a hurry. This day was memorable because after all the horrible things he'd seen, a day without shouting or blows was like a dream. Also, by mentioning the girls Elie is trying to tell the readers that at the time all these German girls worried about was boys, while the Jews had to worry about their lives.

On page 58, While Elie is being beaten, he notes that "my father was suffering more than I." What does he mean by this? Does this indicate a change in their relationship since they left Sighet?

Elie means that the guilt and emotional pain his father was going through seeing his son being whipped was worse than the actual physical pain. In the beginning, Elie describes his dad as unsentimental and rarely displaying his feelings, but as Elie and his dad have gotten closer, Elie's dad's love for his son has changed the person he used to be.

How would you describe Elie's relationship to religion at the very beginning?

Elie seems very intrigued about his religion and studies a lot about it.

Several men do not make it through the selektion. Akiba Drumer is one of them. Elie has a theory about why he does not. What is his theory?

Elie thinks Akiba did not make it through the selection because he lost faith and hope in God.

Why is Elie trying to hide his left arm during the selektion?

Elie tries to hide his arm during the selection so that the German officers won't be able to write down his number.

What does Elie want to study that his father won't allow him to?

Elie wants to study the Kabbalah which is the ancient mystical interpretation of the Bible, but his dad thinks he's too young and doesn't want him to study it because he believes he should study the basics first. Kabbalah- estoteric, mystical, beyond thought, imagination, spirituality, deep

How do Elie's parents react to the forced move? Why is this surprising to Elie?

Elie's dad starts crying. This is surprising to Elie because he has never seen his dad cry and he describes his dad as unsentimental and says his dad rarely displayed his feelings. Pg. 11.

On page 108, why is Elie's father insistent about telling him where he buried the gold and silver? Why now? Why is he so passionate?

Elie's father is insistent about telling him where he buried the gold and silver now because he thinks that he will die very soon and he wants Elie to know where it is before he dies so Elie has a better chance of surviving.

On page 86, Elie wants to stop running, but he does not. Why keeps him going and WHY?

Elie's fathers presence keeps him going because he knows his father needs his support to keep going and he can't let his father live without him.

Pages 66-68 contain some strong invectives against God. How has Elie's relationship to religion changed? Why does he blame God and not Nazi Germany? If a Supreme Being does exist, do you agree that that Being holds responsibility for suffering? In other words, how can evil exist in a world where God/gods also exist(s)?

Elie's relationship with God has been destroyed after all the horror he saw in the Holocaust. He blames God, who has the power to do anything, because after everything that's happened, the Jews still continue to pray and love God and God remains silent. Elie already knows that Nazi Germany are people and won't listen no matter how loud they speak. Ellie feels annoyed that all the Jews never give up on God because he thinks that God is fake. In my opinion, God is real and does exist but he cannot make our actions, he only gives us hope and passion to accomplish what we want to succeed. When the Jews prayed to God, they felt hope too and that spark of hope lead to progression.

There are several father/son stories on page 98-103. What is the first father/son story told? Why does elie tell this story? Why does he end the story by saying "I was sixteen" (102)?

First story was that a dad gets a piece of bread and his son attacks his father to get the bread. The two end up dying together. Elie tells this story to show dehumanization. Train- crust of bread, son attacks father for bread, shows results of dehumanization on family relations, used to show contrast between "normal" 16 yr old life of his.

How does Franek convince Elie to make him give up his gold crown?

Franek convinces Elie to give up his hold crown by beating Elie's dad for two whole weeks. Elie even tried to teach his dad how to march in step, but his dad did not make much progress.

On page 90, Elie wakes his father and Schlomo "looked all around him... as if he had suddenly decided to make an inventory of his universe, to determine where he was and how and why he was there. Then he smiled." Elie says he will always remember that smile. Why do you think Schlomo is smiling? Why does he first look around himself, observing his new surroundings? (Note: I don't know the answer to this - I am looking for your theories.)

He first looks around himself, observing his new surroundings to see if he is still alive or if he is in Heaven.

On page 30, a current inmate at the camps insists that Elie that he is 18 and his father is 40. Why is he so adamant about this?

He is adamant about this because he thinks maybe these ages will have a better chance of surviving. 15 sounds really young and 50 sounds pretty old. 18 and 40 sound more middle aged. The inmate knows that they will be selected to die in the gas chambers - otherwise they are considered too young or too old for work.

On p. 106, Elie cannot find his father. Briefly, he thinks, "If only I didn't find him! If only I were relieved of this responsibility, I could use all my strength to fight for my own survival, to take care only of myself." Do you blame him for these thoughts? Why or why not?

I do not blame him for these thoughts because I believe that at this point of his journey, he has been through so much dehumanization and agony that he doesn't completely understand or even realize what he is thinking. His experiences have turned him into another person who can't help his thoughts.

On page 36, the men are soaked in disinfectant and all their body hair is shaved. What is the subtext of these two dehumanizing actions?

I think the Germans don't believe the Jews are clean as in physically but also mentally. The Germans don't trust all of the Jews and thinks some of them are hiding things or are making plans to rebel.

Describe how Elie's faith/belief in God has changed since the book began. Please describe what it was like at the beginning of the book (use an INTEGRATED, cited quote to support your belief) and then describe any changes you have noticed (use an integrated, cited quote to support your assertion.) Then, explain the possible reason or reasons for this change. (At least 3 sentences.)

In the beginning of the book, he strongly believed in God and is very religious. On page 3 he says, "By day I studied Talmud and by night I would run to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the Temple". Later, Moishe the Beadle tells him that you can only find the answers to the questions you ask God in your soul. Now, Elie is looking for God and wondering why God isn't doing anything to stop the Holocaust. On page 33 he says, "Why should I sanctify His name? The Almighty, the eternal and terrible Master of the Universe, chose to be silent. What was there to thank Him for? I think he does not feel the same way about God anymore because he doesn't understand why God isn't helping or responding to the Jews' pleas for help. Beginning- quite religious, belief in god strong - wants to go deep into religion Arrival at camp -anger at god for gods silence/inaction despite terrible dehumanizing (p. 33) Arrival at camp - confusion and

How has Elie and Schlomo's relationship changed since the beginning of the book and why? Find a quote from p. 104-115 that indicates a change in their relationship. Note: Do not write. Their relationship is better and then put a quote in. Upper School teachers will expect you to have full, complete answers (2-3 sentences) and they will expect an integrated, cited quote.

In the beginning, Elie and his father had a very distant relationship and Elie felt he could not make any actions without his father's permission but as the book proceeds Elie and his father become inseparable and the father-son roles they used to have switches by the end when Elie is taking care of his father. But by the end of the book, Elie starts to think of his father as a burden. When Schlomo dies, Elie says, "I did not weep, and it pained me that I could not weep." (112). This quote shows that Elie wishes he cared more about his father's death, but at this point he has gone through so much that he can't let his father's death be the cause of his own death from so much loss of hope.

On p. 114, Elie tells us that the Buchenwald camp would be liquidated. What does this word mean in this context?

Liquidated means killed in this context. Everyone at the Buchenwald camp would be killed.

What is the second father/son story told? Why does elie tell this story?

Meir Katz. Saves Elies life from unidentified assailant.

The scene on page 103 seems very similar to an earlier scene. What earlier scene does this scene resemble? What has changed between the two scenes? Why are the cries described as contagious?

Mrs Schacter scene- contagious cries or hope that spreads amongst. Schacter screamed for something that was going to happen which foreshadows. Now the cries are what have happened and the sorrow.

What is the name of the woman who is screaming? Why is she screaming? What is she screaming?

Mrs. Schächter is screaming. I think she is screaming because she just lost her family and she can't handle the pain anymore. Also to warn the other Jew's that the Germans are up to no good and that the Jews have a lot ahead of them. She repeatedly screams about a fire in front of her. On page 25 she says, "Look! Look at this fire! This terrible fire! Have mercy on me!".

The reading from p. 9 to 103 contains two lines using the NIGHT imagery. First, Elie describes on page 98 how "the night was growing longer, neverending." On page 100, he says that "the days resemblend the night and the night left in our souls the dregs of darkeness." (Dregs are leftovers- for example, what is left in a cup after you drink almost all the liquid in it.) On p. 103. Why do you think that the days resembled the night? Days look very different than night do.

No emotional break from the darkness and sadness. Even though a new day dawns- there is no hope with each new day. All days look the same as well- no change. In the camps daily routines were repeated day after day. Not only were nights dark, but days weren't event bright. In other words days were filled with darkness and negativity. No emotional break from the darkness and sadness.

Pages 87-89 showcase Elie and Schlomo's relationship. Choose a quote or action best showcases the current state of their relationship and write it below. (Remember the page number.) Why did you chose this action or quote?

On page 89, Elie says, "I'll watch over you and you'll watch over me". I think this quote represents their relationship because it shows that they treat each other as if they share equal parts and responsibility instead of the father-son relationship they used to have. Elie takes care of his father and Schlomo respects Elie's ideas.

Subtext of "You must leave your home"

Pg. 11) "you are not welcome here", "we don't want to be near you"

What has occurred between Rabbi Eliahu and his son? What is Elie's response to this? Why do you think the Rabbi's son made choice he did? Do you think he should be held responsible for this choice?

Rabbi Eliahu got separated from his son during the commotion and Rabbi is trying to find him. Elie remembers Rabbi's son continuing to run after he saw his dad losing ground but he doesn't tell Rabbi because he thinks Rabbi will have a better chance of surviving if he has hope and faith in finding his son. I think Rabbi's on made the choice he did because he knew his father was going to die soon and he thought he would have a better chance of surviving if he got rid of his father. I think Rabbi's son should be held responsible for this choice. I think Rabbi's son will regret it because I think if I were in his place I would need someone to support me and be there for me.

Who dies during the air raid? Why does this man die? What does he try to do and what happens to him?

Reichsfuhrer Himmler died during the air raid. He is hanged for stealing during the air raid. Right before he dies he says, "Long live liberty! My curse on Germany! My curse!" and before he could say anything else the executioner slays him.

Where is Eliezer Wiesel and his family from?

Sighet, Transylvania.

How is the Aryan girl described? Who else has been described in this way? Why is she described using the same words as the earlier character? What does she have that he once had?

The Aryan girl is described as a beautiful woman with dark hair and dreamy eyes. Elie described Moishe the Beadle having dreamy eyes as well. Both of these characters shared the same values and had a sense of hope. The Aryan girl has hope and believes the same dream that Moishe once had of the day the Jews will have their rights.

It turns out that the woman is right. What do all the Jewish people see when they arrive at Birkenau. How do you explain the woman's prophetic words? Can she see the truth? Is it a coincidence? (This is an opinion-based question.)

The Jewish people see the flames of the crematorium when they arrive at Birkenau. I think it's a coincidence. I think after she was isolated from her family, all she could think of was the bad things that were probably happening to her family. She probably assumed they were dead and that the German's threw them in fire.

On page 92, why do the SS guards encourage the prisoners as they are running? What's the explanation for this odd behavior?

The SS guards encourage the prisoners as they are running because it has been such a long time and they want them to arrive at the next camp already.

Why does the dentist want Elie's gold crown?

The dentist wanted Elie's gold crown because "he had been dealing in the prisoners' gold teeth for his own benefit". Being a Jew, the dentist had lost all of his value and wanted to take the only value Elie had left and Elie refused to give it up.

Why does the girl who passes for Aryan risk her cover to comfort Elie? How do the words make him feel? Why do you think he recognizes her later, in France, while she doesn't (initially) recognize him? Why does Elie include the "flashforward" to seeing her in France? (This is the first time he has broken the narrative flow to do this.)

The girl who passes for Aryan risks her cover to comfort Elie because she is Jewish and she knows this is what she would have to go through if it weren't for her luck. Her words inspire him and give him hope. He recognizes her later in France because she gave him some of the best advice coming from an Aryan girl and I think she symbolized hope for him. Also, I think he was always curious to know more about her. It must have been strange to hear an Aryan girl giving him advice in German and then just disappearing. Elie includes the flash forward because it answered some of his questions in the back of his mind about her and it was the best place in the book to put it in since he only mentions this girl once.

Why are the inmates being forced to leave Buna? What army is close to Buna, and what will they do when they arrive?

The inmates are forced to leave Buna because the Red Army was coming towards Buna. The Red Army was going to liberate Buna. Why germans move prisoners- as workers, numbering defense

The men begin reciting Kaddish for themselves. Why do they do this? What does this show about their reaction to the camps? (at least 2 sentences)

The men recite the Kaddish for themselves because they already see themselves as dead. They think that the camps are that bad and have taken away their souls. Kaddish- Mourner's prayer - Jewish prayer for the dead... The inmates know that they will die soon and they want to say the prayer for themselves - because they don't know if anyone will be left to pray for them.

On page 26, Elie describes how in the cattle car "the heat, the thirst, the stench, the lack of air, were suffocating us. Yet all that was nothing compared to her screams, which tore us apart" (26). Why are her screams more horrifying to them than the terrible conditions they are in?

The screams are very horrifying to them because they already have terrible conditions but now they are also starting to lose hope and lose their minds mentally. No one likes to see another in pain. Screams reminded them they couldn't do anything about it.

While the concentration camps were being run, several prominent American newspapers reported on the horror. However, many Americans believed the reports were exaggerated or untrue. Elie tells his father, "I [can] not believe that human beings were being burned in our times; the world would never tolerate such crimes." Why did the world turn a blind eye to what Hitler was doing in Europe?

The world turned a blind eye to what Hitler was doing in Europe because they were worried of their own safety of its people. If other nations tried putting a stop to Hitler, then Hitler might have gone to those nations too.

How many family members are in the Wiesel family? What are their (approximate) ages and genders?

There are six members in the Wiesel family. From oldest to youngest the siblings are Hilda, Bea, Elie, and Tzipora. Elie is the only boy out of his siblings. Tzipora is seven and Elie is almost 13. The rest of the sisters' exact ages are not written yet.

What is the darkness that is left in the souls of those that survived the Holocaust?

They are witnesses of all the cruelty and death, terrible time, dehumanization left in souls, can't forget or leave behind. Also their tattoos probably remind themselves of it.

There is clear evidence of the dehumanization of the Jewish people on these pages. What imagery, verbs, and nouns does Elie use to clue the reader into this.

Use animal twice "animal hate", "beat of pray unleashes" "stampede" "The officers threw bread like they were wild animals" "trample, tear, maul" "cry of a wounded animal"

Why does Wiesel begin his narrative by introducing the character of Moishe the Beadle? What is his relationship to Elie? What happens to Moishe? What is Moishe's response to what happens to him?

Wiesel begins his narrative by introducing the character of Moishe the Beadle because Moishe teaches Elie to believe in faith and his values are represented further in the book. Moishe is also the first Jewish person to see trust about Nazi. Elie looks up to Moishe as a mentor in terms of spirituality and religion. Moishe ends up as Elie's master of the Kabbalah too. Moishe somehow escapes death by the Nazis. After this terrifying experience, Moishe's good heart returns to Sighet just to warn the Jews about the Germans, but the Jews don't listen or believe him.