Night by Elie Wiesel Study Guide Notes

Night Study Guide Notes  The original title Elie Wiesel gave the novel was And the World Has Remained Silent.  He wrote this book after 10 years of silence.  By the end of the Holocaust, over 6 million Jews had been killed.

THEMES IN NIGHT  SILENCE is never the solution. Others’ silence ALLOWS Nazis to take over Europe Others’ silence ALLOWS Nazis to take over Europe Silence from God Silence from God Wiesel advises not to be silent witnesses to hate Wiesel advises not to be silent witnesses to hate

THEMES: EVIL EXISTS IN THIS WORLD.  ELIE QUESTIONS HIS FAITH  CONTINUES TO PRAY TO HIS GOD, THOUGH so THAT HE WILL NOT BETRAY HIS FATHER  RECOGNIZES THAT THOSE PRISONERS WHO LOST FAITH SOON DIED

THEME:MAN CAN BE INHUMANE TO OTHERS.  ELIE SHOCKED THAT MANKIND IS SO CRUEL When foreign Jews are deported, When foreign Jews are deported, When Moishe the Beadles returns and reports German atrocities, When Moishe the Beadles returns and reports German atrocities, When Fascists take over the town, When Fascists take over the town, The town insists all is well…… When Eliezer suggests they move to Palestine, When Eliezer suggests they move to Palestine,

THEME:INHUMANITY TO MAN  When Eliezer wants to go to Palestine, his father refuses…  When Maria offers them refuge in her home in another village, they do not leave…  Those in Sighet cannot believe that human beings can be so cruel to others

THEME: THE ANIMALIZATION OF HUMANS OCCURS WHEN EVIL IS ALLOWED TO FLOURISH  PRISONERS BECOME LIKE ANIMALS IN THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS  EVEN THE KAPOS TREAT PRISONERS LIKE THE SS DOES.

ANIMALIZATION: SONS TURN AGAINST THEIR FATHERS ELIE WITNESSES A SON BEATING HIS FATHER (Pipel) ELIE WITNESSES A SON BEATING HIS FATHER (Pipel) RABBI ELIAHOU’S SON ABANDONS HIM DURING MARCH FROM BUNA RABBI ELIAHOU’S SON ABANDONS HIM DURING MARCH FROM BUNA A SON BEATS HIS FATHER OVER CRUST OF BREAD A SON BEATS HIS FATHER OVER CRUST OF BREAD

THEME:  IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE HOLOCAUST

SYMBOLS  NIGHT STANDS FOR DEATH STANDS FOR DEATH INNOCENCEINNOCENCE LIVESLIVES CHILDHOODCHILDHOOD FAITHFAITH

SYMBOLS  FIRE STANDS FOR HELL STANDS FOR HELL MADAM SCHACTER MADAM SCHACTER BURNING BABIES BURNING BABIES SPECTER OF FURNACE SPECTER OF FURNACE IRONY IS THAT FIRE IS USED TO PUNISH THE INNOCENT. IRONY IS THAT FIRE IS USED TO PUNISH THE INNOCENT.

Night Study Guide Notes  There are five motifs to look for while reading Night: Night – pay attention to what happens at night and what that might symbolize. Remember what we learned when we talked about archetypes and what night might symbolize. Night – pay attention to what happens at night and what that might symbolize. Remember what we learned when we talked about archetypes and what night might symbolize. Bearing Witness – Pay attention to which characters are witnesses and to what they bear witness. Bearing Witness – Pay attention to which characters are witnesses and to what they bear witness.

Night Study Guide Notes  Motifs (continued): Father-son Relationships – Pay attention to how Elie and his father’s relationship develops; in addition, notice other father-son relationships in the book. Father-son Relationships – Pay attention to how Elie and his father’s relationship develops; in addition, notice other father-son relationships in the book. Loss of faith – Notice how Elie’s faith in God changes as the book progresses. Write on your study guides where these changes occur. Loss of faith – Notice how Elie’s faith in God changes as the book progresses. Write on your study guides where these changes occur.

Night Study Guide Notes  Motifs (continued): Voice vs. Silence – Who has a voice and who chooses to remain silent? Why might Elie Wiesel title his novel what he did originally, and why did he no longer remain silent? Voice vs. Silence – Who has a voice and who chooses to remain silent? Why might Elie Wiesel title his novel what he did originally, and why did he no longer remain silent?  We will learn that Poland had the largest population of Jews in Europe.

Night Study Guide Notes  In Poland, 90% of the approximately 3,000,000 Jews were murdered in the Holocaust.  As you read, look for times that Wiesel mentions the people in surrounding towns.  There are several groups who contributed to the Holocaust, persecutors and by- standers included.  Why are by-standers just as important as the persecutors?