Night By Elie Wiesel

In a world of absurdity, we must create reason. We must create beauty and grace out of nothingness and, because there is violence, we must expose its ugliness. And because there is hate, we must unmask its grim purpose. Arid because there is despair, we must redeem it with hope. Because there is oblivion, we must remember. - Elie Wiesel Summary: SYNOPSIS OF NIGHT by Elie Wiesel When WWII broke out, Eliezer Wiesel was barely an adolescent. Absorbed in his studies of the Talmud and devoted to prayer, this innocent child was totally incredulous when Moche the beadle, his revered teacher, returned from Poland seemingly lifeless, uttering tales of atrocities perpetrated against the Jews. In fact, most of the Jews in the Transylvanian town of Sighet disbelieved these horrible stories.

Then it happened. German soldiers slowly invaded the little the little town. Soon Jews were driven out of their homes and herded into trains; their destination unknown. Finally, the Germans ordered their first stop: AUSCHWITZ. “Men to the left! Women to the right!” This was the last time Elie saw his mother and sister. Such was the beginning of a nightmare. Stripped, shaven, and beaten, Elie and his father managed to survive the first night. Inscribed on the iron door at the entrance to Auschwitz was the slogan, “Work is Liberty,” almost prophetic in nature. Soon the prisoners came to realize that perhaps being worked to death might garner them the only freedom they might ever know--that liberty which only comes in death. Conditions worsened; work increased; exhaustion was ever present. With soup and stale bread to eat, men became gaunt shadows of human beings. Whipped for marching out of step and hanged fro stealing soup, loving, moral men were transformed into grappling, vicious human animals grasping for survival. Sons betrayed and destroyed fathers for morsels of food or to ease their burden, purposely lost them during selection periods. Although Elie often wished his father would suddenly be lost, he did not succumb to human’s potential vicious behavior. Instead, he cared for his father, encouraged him, “fathered” him.

Chapter 1 1. Why did Eliezer pray, and why did he cry when he prayed? He said that he did not know why he cried. 2. Upon his return, what story did Moshe tell? The Jews were being killed viciously by the Germans. 3. Why didn’t the people believe him? They thought he was crazy. 4. Cite examples of how the Jewish citizens of Sighet began to lose their rights. They lost their homes, possessions, and rights. 5. What is a ghetto? The Jews were moved into a single location. They were isolated from the others in these buildings. 6. Why did the citizens resist the truth, even when it was in front of them? They did not think that this could happen today, they thought that the war was going to be over soon, they did not think that the Germans would be able to kill a whole race, they thought the Germans were actually nice. 7. Describe the conditions in the train (at the end of the chapter).

Chapter Two Chapter 2 - pp What was foreshadowed by Madame Schacter’s nightmare? The fires that the Jews were thrown into by the Germans, and the smoke of the crematory ovens. 2. What did some of the passengers do to quiet Madame Schacter? They beat her, gagged her, and tied her up. 3. Where did the train finally stop? Birkenau (reception center of Auschwitz)

Chapter Three 1. When questioned by the S.S. Officer, why did Elie lie about his age and occupation? A person who was too young or old would be killed. A person who was deemed “useless” would be killed. 2. What was the first horrifying sight that Elie at first disbelieved? Babies were being thrown into a pit of fire. 3. Explain what Elie meant when he said, “Never shall I forget these flames which consumed my faith forever.” When he saw these sights, he lost his faith and belief in God. 4. How had Elie changed in a short time? He no longer had any emotions or religion. 5. What sort of identification was used on the prisoners? Numbers- A7713 was Elie’s number. 8. Why was the prisoner in charge of Elie’s block removed from this position? He was too nice. 9. What were the prisoners’ rations at each meal? Bread and soup/ coffee 10. What was Bela Katz forced to do once he was chosen for his strength? He was forced to through his own father’s body in the crematory oven.

Chapter Four 1. What were the objectives of the medical examinations? They were looking foe prisoners with gold teeth. 2. Describe one of Idek’s bouts of madness. He would scream and throw punches randomly; he would suddenly stop as if nothing happened. 3. How did Elie initially avoid losing his gold crown? He told the dentist that he did not feel well. 4. What happened when Elie refused to give his crown to Franek? What was the end result? Franek beat his father daily. Elie eventually had to have his tooth pulled out with a rusty spoon. 5. Describe the scene with the soup cauldrons. During a raid, a prisoner tried to escape to get food. He was killed. 6. During one of the preliminary “ceremonies” for a hanging, what did Juliek whisper to Elie? What does this suggest? “Do you think the ceremony is almost over, I am hungry.” They have no emotion except desire to eat. 7. During one hanging, Elie and the other prisoners cried. What made this hanging different from others? It was a small boy who looked like an angel.

Chapter Five 1. Why didn’t Elie fast on Yom Kippur? His father asked him not to, and he felt like he was standing up to God. 2. What advice was Elie given to pass the selection process? Run, do not look back…run! 3. How did Elie’s father respond when he learned his name had been written down? He tried to give Elie a knife and spoon (inheritance). 4. What did Akiba Drumer ask the others to do for him? Did they do it? Say the Kaddish (prayer for the dead) for him. They forgot. 5. Why was Elie placed in the hospital? His foot was infected. 6. Why was the camp to be evacuated? What did Elie learn of the fate of those-who stayed behind in the hospital? The Red-Army was advancing; the prisoners who stayed were liberated.

Chapter Six 1. What happened to anyone who could not keep up with the march? They were shot or trampled. 2. What horrible realization did Elie come to concerning Rabbi Eliahou and his son? How did Elie respond to this? Rabbi’s son was trying to rid himself of the burden of his father. Elie prayed that he would never do this. 3. What was Juliek’s last act? He played a concert for dead and dying men.

Chapter Seven 1. How did Elie again help his father when they were on the train? He would not allow the other prisoners to throw him out. 2. Describe the scene Elie witnessed between the father and son. The father managed to get a scrap of bread. The son killed his father for the food. 3. How many got out of the wagon? Where had they arrived? A dozen arrived at Buchenwald

Chapter Eight 1. Explain how the father/son roles had been reversed in the case of Elie and his father? Elie now has to take care of his father as if his father was a child. 2. Why was Elie’s father being beaten? He was unable to go outside to use the restroom anymore. 3. What did Elie think of the advice given to him by the head of the block? He was told to eat his father’s ration. Elie thought that this was actually good advice, but he felt guilty.

Chapter Nine 1. What happened on April 5th? Roll call was late; prisoners were to be killed because the Allies were close. 2. What was the resistance movement? What did they do? People within the camps who revolted. They took over the camp until the Americans came. 3. What did the prisoners do when they were freed? The only thing that they thought about was food.