Literary Response Model Night

Possible Hook “From the depths of the mirror, a corpse gazed back at me. The look in his eyes, as they stared into mine, has never left me (109).”

Sample Thesis Statement: In the book, Night, Ellie Wiesel faced several conflicts which caused him to struggle with his personal beliefs and responsibilities in life.

FIRST MAIN IDEA (Topic Sentence) Elie struggled with his faith in God.

Concrete Details (facts from story) 1.Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever (32).” 2. “Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams into dust (32).”

Concrete Detail (fact from story) 2. “Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams into dust (32).”

Commentary Here Elie is questioning the existence of God. He has been brought up to believe that everything on earth is touched by God’s munificence and the holiness God brings to the earth. If such is the case, then how is it that God is allowing the atrocities that Elie has witnessed to occur? Elie cannot believe that the cruelty he has witnessed could be sanctioned by the benevolent God upon whom Elie has based his faith. Here Elie is questioning the existence of God. He has been brought up to believe that everything on earth is touched by God’s munificence and the holiness God brings to the earth. If such is the case, then how is it that God is allowing the atrocities that Elie has witnessed to occur? Elie cannot believe that the cruelty he has witnessed could be sanctioned by the benevolent God upon whom Elie has based his faith.

Second Main Idea (Topic Sentence) Elie struggled with the inhumanity shown by his captors.

Concrete Detail (fact from story) 1. From the moment he heard the Hungarian Police yell, “Faster! Faster! Get on with you, you lazy swine!”, Ellie began to hate them. This hate is the only connection that he has with them even to the present time (17).

Concrete Detail (fact from story) 1. From the moment he heard the Hungarian Police yell, “Faster! Faster! Get on with you, you lazy swine!”, Ellie began to hate them. This hate is the only connection that he has with them even to the present time (17).

Commentary Elie is subjected to untold cruelties which cause him to judge those who are inflicting those cruelties in the harshest manner imaginable. Elie is filled with a hatred towards his captors that continues long after he acquires his freedom Elie is subjected to untold cruelties which cause him to judge those who are inflicting those cruelties in the harshest manner imaginable. Elie is filled with a hatred towards his captors that continues long after he acquires his freedom

THIRD MAIN IDEA (Topic Sentence) Elie struggled with loyalty to his father versus his own survival.

Concrete Detail (fact from story). “... he dealt my father such a clout that he fell to the ground... I did not move. What had happened to me? My father had just been struck, before my very eyes, and I had not flickered an eyelid (37).”

Concrete Detail (fact from story) At a point near the end of the book, Ellie realized that he had abandoned his father who was on the brink of death. The thought came to him, “Don’t let me find him! If only I could get rid of this dead weight, so that I could use all my strength to struggle for my own survival, and only worry about myself.” At a point near the end of the book, Ellie realized that he had abandoned his father who was on the brink of death. The thought came to him, “Don’t let me find him! If only I could get rid of this dead weight, so that I could use all my strength to struggle for my own survival, and only worry about myself.”

Commentary To decide between saving one’s own life and that of a loved one must be one of the most difficult choices humankind ever has to make. Self- preservation is a behavior that is inherent in all living organisms for it is this instinct for self- preservation that insures the survival of the species. However, the need to save and care for loved ones is driven by one’s sense of morality which, in Elie’s case, stemmed from his deeply religious background. Elie was caught between his instinct for survival and his struggle to live up to his faith. This struggle stayed with him even after he discovered that his father had died and been taken away.

Possible Conclusion The struggle between what he had been morally brought up to believe was right and what he knew was necessary for his survival was a conflict that followed Elie Wiesel throughout his entire experience in the Holocaust. What is the answer when it comes to saving oneself or saving a loved one? The dilemma that haunted Elie is one that most people, fortunately, do not have to have to face. It is, however, worth thinking about. What is more important to save one’s own life or to sacrifice one’s life to save that of another?