1. Chapter Questions
Night Study Guide

2. Chapter 1
1. Describe Moishe the Beadle. Explain his relationship with the Jews of Sighet, particularly Eliezer.
2. How does deportation change Moishe? How do others’ feelings towards him change?
3. Why are spirits among the Jews of Sighet relatively high at the beginning of Night?
4. Describe life in the Sighet ghettos.
5. Explain three opportunities for escape that the Wiesels miss before evacuation.

3. He is a foreign born Jew / was deported before the others.
1. Describe Moshe the Beadle. Explain his relationship with the Jews of Sighet, particularly Eliezer.
He is a foreign born Jew / was deported before the others.
He assists Elie in his religious studies.
Poor man / Considered a bit eccentric.

4. The joy had left him / no longer spoke of God.
2. How does deportation change Moshe? How do others’ feelings towards him change?
The joy had left him / no longer spoke of God.
They think he is crazy / do not want to listen.

5. The horrors spoken of seem unbelievable.
3. Why are spirits among the Jews of Sighet relatively high at the beginning of Night?
The horrors spoken of seem unbelievable.
Encouraging news on the radio / Red Army (Russian front) advancing
At first, it does not seem so bad (they are still together) / Germans are kind.

6. 4. Describe life in the Sighet ghettos.
Circled by barbed wire / cannot leave the ghetto.
Jews were not allowed to own jewelry or valuables. (Many hid their jewelry & valuables).
Jews must wear the yellow star to identify themselves.
Jews were no longer allowed to attend cafés or restaurants /travel by rail /attend synagogue /to be on the streets after 6 pm
They must share their rooms.

7. 5. Explain three opportunities for escape that the Wiesels miss before evacuation.
After Moishe’s warnings, Elie tries to convince his father to escape to Palestine when it was still possible to buy emigration certificates. (p.9)
An inspector of the Hungarian police (friend of Elie’s father) knocked on the sealed up window of the house in the ghetto to warn them of danger. They did not open the window in time to speak with him. (p. 14)
Maria, their former maid, begged them to follow her to her village where she had prepared a safe shelter. Elie’s father would not hear of it, and the rest of the family did not want to be separated. (p. 20)

8. Chapter 2 6. Describe the ghetto evacuation and journey to Auschwitz.
7. Give one example where people act inhumanely under tremendous stress.
8. What did Madame Schachter’s insane warnings foreshadow?

9. 6. Describe the ghetto evacuation and journey to Auschwitz.
80 people per cattle car / hot / little food or water / stench
Not enough room for everyone to sit
One Jew is in charge of each car and will be shot if anyone escapes.

10. The beating of Mme Schachter
7. Give one example where people act inhumanely under tremendous stress.
The beating of Mme Schachter

11. 8. What did Madame Schachter’s insane warnings foreshadow?
Crematorium (fire)
Her warnings were prophetic(saw the future)

12. Chapter 3
9. Define “selection”. Describe the first selection Eliezer is a part of.
10. What is Birkenau? Explain how Eliezer and his father survive the first selection.
11. What causes the dramatic change in Eliezer’s religious faith at Birkenau?
12. Describe Eliezer’s plan if he is selected for death at Birkenau.
13. List seven things that are done to the prisoners to indoctrinate them into concentration camp life.
14. For the most part, humanity was lost in the camps. Find four examples of kindness and signs of hope in the middle of all the cruelty.

13. 9. Define “selection”. Describe the first selection Eliezer is a part of.
Selection is when the camp prisoners are lined up and chosen for work or the gas chambers.
During this first selection, men are separated from the women. The prisoners are asked their age, occupation, and their health.
Dr. Mengele (S.S. Doctor) sends them right or left, depending on their health.

14. Birkenau is extermination part of the camp.
10. What is Birkenau? Explain how Eliezer and his father survive the first selection.
Birkenau is extermination part of the camp.
Another prisoner tells Elie and his father to lie about their age (18 & 40 instead of 15 & 50). Elie also lies about his profession. He says he is a farmer (manual labor).

15. He begins to question his faith
11. What causes the dramatic change in Eliezer’s religious faith at Birkenau?
How could God let this happen ?(men, women, especially children, bodies being thrown into pits and burned)
He begins to question his faith

16. 12. Describe Eliezer’s plan if he is selected for death at Birkenau.
He decides that he would run toward the barbed wire (and would most likely be shot before he gets there).

17. 13. List seven things that are done to the prisoners to indoctrinate them into concentration camp life.
Stripped
Barber : all hair is shaved
Disinfected
Showered
Prison clothing
Tattooed
Roll call
Assigned work

18. Prisoner saves their lives by telling them to lie about their age.
14. For the most part, humanity was lost in the camps. Find four examples of kindness and signs of hope in the middle of all the cruelty.
Prisoner saves their lives by telling them to lie about their age.
Pole(Polish prisoner) in charge of the block tells them to ‘’have faith’’.
Kind treatment from some of the veteran inmates.(share food)
Elie lies to Stein about Reizel (so that he believes she is still alive).

19. Chapter 4 15. What is Buna? What does Eliezer do there?
16. What does the hanging of the child who looks like a sad angel symbolize for Eliezer?
17. Describe the Kapos.
18. What is ironic about the prisoners’ feelings about air raids? Explain the prisoners’ attitude towards death.

20. 15. What is Buna? What does Eliezer do there?
Buna is a work camp. Eliezer counts electrical parts.
The work is considered to be easy, and Elie is allowed to work beside his father.

21. It symbolizes the death of his God.
16. What does the hanging of the child who looks like a sad angel symbolize for Eliezer?
It symbolizes the death of his God.

22. 17. Describe the Kapos.
Kapos were prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp who were assigned by the SS guards to supervise the work(foreman).
Many are harsh/unkind to the prisoners-punish them (whippings/beatings) if they do not follow orders, work slowly, etc.
Idek/Franek are Kapos

23. 18. What is ironic about the prisoners’ feelings about air raids
18. What is ironic about the prisoners’ feelings about air raids? Explain the prisoners’ attitude towards death.
They are happy that they are being bombed because it means that the allies are coming/are near. (Although they are in danger, they are hopeful about possible rescue).

24. Chapter 5
19. Describe Eliezer’s feelings as the prisoners observe the Jewish New Year.
20. How do the prisoners in Eliezer’s block survive the New Year’s selection?
21. Describe the exchange of possessions between father and son when it appears that the elder Wiesel has been selected for death.
22. Why is Eliezer admitted to the hospital? What two dangers face him there?
23. Discuss Eliezer’s decision to leave the hospital early. Was it a wise choice? Explain.

25. Eliezer feels a great void on Yom Kipur.
19. Describe Eliezer’s feelings as the prisoners observe the Jewish New Year.
Eliezer feels a great void on Yom Kipur.
He does not pray and does not fast.
‘‘How could God permit this?’’

26. 20. How do the prisoners in Eliezer’s block survive the New Year’s selection?
They run as fast as they can so that the guards cannot even write down their numbers.

27. 21. Describe the exchange of possessions between father and son when it appears that the elder Wiesel has been selected for death.
He gives him the knife and spoon (his inheritance) and tells him not to sell them.

28. His foot was swollen from the cold, became infected(puss).
22. Why is Eliezer admitted to the hospital? What two dangers face him there?
His foot was swollen from the cold, became infected(puss).
Danger : His health (foot)/Selections occur more often in the hospital.

29. 23. Discuss Eliezer’s decision to leave the hospital early
23. Discuss Eliezer’s decision to leave the hospital early. Was it a wise choice? Explain.
It turns out to be a bad decision because the prisoners in the hospital were simply set free once the camp was liberated.

30. Chapter 6 24. What keeps Eliezer going during the brutal march?
25. How does the realization that Rabbi Eliahou’s son purposely abandoned the Rabbi affect Eliezer?
26. How does Eliezer save his father from the selection at Gleiwitz? What does this reveal about Eliezer’s continued commitment to his father?

31. 24. What keeps Eliezer going during the brutal march?
His father needed him. (Many people died trampled by others.)

32. 25. How does the realization that Rabbi Eliahou’s son purposely abandoned the Rabbi affect Eliezer?
He prays to a God in whom he no longer believes to help him never do the same to his father.

33. Risking his own life, Elie runs after him and creates confusion.
26. How does Eliezer save his father from the selection at Gleiwitz? What does this reveal about Eliezer’s continued commitment to his father?
Risking his own life, Elie runs after him and creates confusion.
He will not abandon his father(unlike Rabbi Eliahou’s son).

34. Chapter 7
27. Describe the tragic incident between father and son on the train. What do we learn about people’s behaviour in such horrific conditions? (75 words min.)

35. 27. Describe the tragic incident between father and son on the train
27. Describe the tragic incident between father and son on the train. What do we learn about people’s behaviour in such horrific conditions?
The Germans along the railroad tracks to Buchenwald were throwing pieces of bread in the cattle cars to the Jews, who were starving. Consequently, the Jews began fighting each other for crumbs of bread.
A father was able to grab a crust of bread, and his son started hitting and beating him to get at the bread, going so far as to eventually killing his father. The son was immediately jumped and killed by the other passengers who wanted the bread he had stolen.
In situations of survival, people often react by instinct rather than rationally. Survival instinct kicks in, and people can become ruthless and savage when they feel that they are at death’s door. Survival is all that matters.

36. Chapter 8
28. Explain why Eliezer’s father is denied medical care at Buchenwald.
29. Discuss Eliezer’s feelings of guilt as his father dies. Are his feelings rational? Explain.

37. 28. Explain why Eliezer’s father is denied medical care at Buchenwald.
He is already dying and is considered ‘‘a waste’’ of resources.

38. 29. Discuss Eliezer’s feelings of guilt as his father dies
29. Discuss Eliezer’s feelings of guilt as his father dies. Are his feelings rational? Explain.
He feels guilty that he feels ‘‘free at last’’, like a burden has been removed from his shoulders.
Irrational: He needs to survive himself and must think of his own health/safety.

39. Chapter 9
30. List at least six events that lead up to the liberation of Buchenwald.
31. What do the liberated prisoners do first? Quote from the story to support your answer.
32. Explain the irony of Eliezer’s nearly fatal illness after liberation.
33. Quote Eliezer’s closing image of himself. Explain what he means by this image.
34. How does the book’s title function as imagery?

40. 30. List at least six events that lead up to the liberation of Buchenwald.
Underground resistance
The Front is approaching
SS late to count the prisoners
Meeting in Appelplatz (but prisoners stayed in blocks)
General roll call (beginning of liquidation)
No more food
Armed resistance takes action / SS fled / Resistance takes over the camp
Americans arrive

41. 31. What do the liberated prisoners do first
31. What do the liberated prisoners do first? Quote from the story to support your answer.
‘‘Our first act as free men was to throw ourselves onto the provisions. That’s all we thought about. No thought of revenge, or of our parents. Only of bread.’’

42. 32. Explain the irony of Eliezer’s nearly fatal illness after liberation.
He survives until the concentration camp is liberated, but he almost dies of food poisoning. The food, which should keep him alive, is what almost kills him.

43. ‘‘From the depths of the mirror, a corpse was contemplating me.’’
33. Quote Eliezer’s closing image of himself. Explain what he means by this image.
‘‘From the depths of the mirror, a corpse was contemplating me.’’
He had not seen his reflection since the ghetto, and now he looked almost unrecognizable (lost much weight).

44. 34. How does the book’s title function as imagery?
Elie’s experience in the camps can be compared to one long night (dark, hopeless, scary, depressing…)
Darkness of night= the darkness of the human soul