Night by Elie Wiesel - Chapter 5 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What are the three reasons why Elie does not want to bless God?

He created factories of death (correct)

He forsakes the Jews (correct)

He chose them among all to be tortured day and night (correct)

He causes thousands of children to burn (correct)

What was the purpose of Yom Kippur?

It is a day of atonement in which the Jews are supposed to fast.

What does Elie compare the selection process to and why?

The Last Judgement, because he thinks the selection is similar to what the last judgement, going to heaven or hell, would be like.

What does Elie think during selection?

He thinks he was too weak and skinny and wants to hide the number on his arm. Signup and view all the answers

Which days are the prisoners given off and what is their treat on these holidays?

Christmas and New Years; a slightly less transparent soup. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the infirmary.

They received white sheets, good bread, thicker soup. It was not bad at all. Elie could sometimes send bread to his father. There was no work or roll call. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Elie's surgery.

The doctor needed to open a sac of pus in the sole of his foot. He was supposed to rest for 2 weeks after. Signup and view all the answers

List all of the 'last nights.'

At home, in the ghetto, in the cattle car, in Buna. Signup and view all the answers

What is Elie's attitude toward God at the beginning of this chapter?

Mad because God is not coming to help. Signup and view all the answers

Whom does Elie understand clearly and why?

His father, because they both were unhappy and felt the same way. Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'muscleman'?

Extremely weak inmate. Signup and view all the answers

What advice is Elie given on how to pass the selection process?

Move your limbs, give yourself color, run, don't be afraid. Signup and view all the answers

How does Elie's father respond when he learns that his name has been written down?

He ran over to Elie and began telling him everything he needed to know. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'inheritance' that Elie's father gives him?

Knife and spoon. Signup and view all the answers

What did Akiba Drumer ask the others to do for him?

Say Kaddish for him. Signup and view all the answers

Why was Elie placed in the hospital?

His right foot swelled. Signup and view all the answers

When the camp prisoners hear the rumor that the camp may be liberated, what is Elie less concerned with?

Separating from his father. Signup and view all the answers

What does Elie learn of the fate of those who stay behind in the hospital?

He thought they would be killed but they actually were not. Signup and view all the answers

What is each prisoner allowed to take with them?

Clothes. Signup and view all the answers

What does the head of the block make the men do before they leave?

Clean and mop the floors. Signup and view all the answers

Who is in charge of the selection process in Buna?

Dr. Mengele. Signup and view all the answers

How are they told to skip the selection process?

Run ahead of the SS officers. Signup and view all the answers

Why doesn't Elie fast like the other prisoners?

He was mad at God and to please his father. Signup and view all the answers

What holiday is celebrated at the end of the Jewish year?

Yom Kippur. Signup and view all the answers

What does Elie confess to the rabbi?

That he couldn't believe in God. Signup and view all the answers

What caused Elie to endure surgery?

A swollen foot. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Elie in a different block than his dad at Buna?

Because Elie was transferred to a different facility to work. Signup and view all the answers

What does Shlomo give Elie when he thinks he is going to die?

A knife and spoon. Signup and view all the answers

What does Akiba Drumer ask Elie and his father to do after he dies?

Recite the Kaddish. Signup and view all the answers

What is Elie scared of during his recovery?

That he will be selected. Signup and view all the answers

When Elie describes this New Year's inspection as a 'gift', what is this an example of?

Irony. Signup and view all the answers

In the shed, what does Eliezer pray for?

For the strength to never abandon his father for his own benefit. Signup and view all the answers

After Akiba Drumer's death, what do Eliezer and the other prisoners do?

Forget to say the prayer for the dead. Signup and view all the answers

What do the prisoners receive the night before Rosh Hashanah?

Thick soup. Signup and view all the answers

What does Elie do as other Jews praise God on Rosh Hashanah?

Criticize God. Signup and view all the answers

Why doesn't Elie fast on Yom Kippur?

Rebelling against God. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'selection'?

The process of separating the weak and healthy and releasing them. Signup and view all the answers

How does selection work?

Prisoners have to pass tests which demonstrate that they are healthy and strong. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to prisoners who are selected?

Sent to the crematory. Signup and view all the answers

What are Elie's feelings about selection?

Worried. Signup and view all the answers

How does Elie's father fare in the first round of the selection process?

He is not selected. Signup and view all the answers

In chapter 5, what happens when Dr. Mengele calls out numbers for another round of selection?

Neither Elie nor his father were called. Signup and view all the answers

What happens after this round of selection in which Elie's father's number is called?

Elie's father is selected. Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of the knife and spoon given to Elie by his father?

It shows how little they have. Signup and view all the answers

What does Elie find when he returns from work, still possessing his father's knife and spoon?

His father wasn't selected. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Elie return the knife and spoon to his father?

It reinforces the fact that he wasn't selected; he was still useful. Signup and view all the answers

In Chapter 5, what happens to Elie's leg?

It swells. Signup and view all the answers

What does Elie need to do because of his leg?

It would have to be amputated; surgery. Signup and view all the answers

What can Elie do when rumors start that the Russians are approaching the camp?

He can gain hope. Signup and view all the answers

What do Elie and his father decide to do after hearing that the Russians may be approaching the camp?

Evacuate. Signup and view all the answers

After the war, what does Elie learn about the Russians coming to the camp?

Anyone who remained in the camp was taken prisoner. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Reasons for Elie's Discontent with God

Elie believes God has forsaken the Jews and allowed unimaginable suffering.
He reflects on the tragedy of countless children being burned and the existence of death factories.
Elie struggles with the notion of God's chosen people experiencing relentless torture.

Significance of Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur serves as a day of atonement, during which Jews are traditionally expected to fast.

Selection Process Comparison

Elie equates the selection process to The Last Judgement, viewing it as a moment determining life or death akin to divine judgement.

Elie's Thoughts During Selection

He feels weak and fears being selected for death, wishing to conceal the number tattooed on his arm.

Holidays and Prisoner Treats

Prisoners receive days off on Christmas and New Year's, rewarded with slightly better soup.

Life in the Infirmary

Patients are provided with white sheets, good bread, and thicker soup, contrasting with general camp conditions.
Elie sometimes shares food with his father, and inmates are exempt from work and roll call.

Elie's Foot Surgery

Elie's medical condition involves the need for surgery to address a pus-filled sore on his foot, with a recovery period of two weeks expected.

Series of "Last Nights"

The "last nights" are experienced at home, in the ghetto, in the cattle car, and in Buna, marking significant moments prior to tragic events.

Elie's Initial Attitude Toward God

At the chapter's beginning, Elie expresses anger towards God, questioning His absence during their suffering.

Understanding His Father

Elie and his father share a deep emotional connection, both feeling despair and unhappiness, which brings them closer.

Definition of a "Muscleman"

A "muscleman" refers to an extremely frail and weak inmate within the camp.

Advice for Passing Selection

Inmates are advised to move their limbs to appear healthier, enhance their complexion, run, and suppress fear to evade selection.

Father's Reaction to Selection

Elie's father responds to the news of being selected by rushing to inform Elie of essential survival information.

Elie’s Father’s Inheritance

Elie's father entrusts him with a knife and spoon, symbolizing their meager possessions.

Akiba Drumer's Request

Akiba Drumer asks his fellow inmates to say Kaddish for him after his expected death, but they ultimately forget.

Elie in the Hospital

Elie is hospitalized due to a swollen right foot, a serious condition amidst the harsh camp environment.

Priorities During Rumors of Liberation

When prisoners hear rumors of liberation, Elie's main concern shifts from death to possibly being separated from his father.

Fate of Hospital Patients

Elie learns that those staying behind in the hospital are not executed as he initially feared.

Allowances for Prisoners

Each inmate is permitted to carry only clothing with them during transfers or evacuations.

Cleaning Before Evacuation

The block leader orders prisoners to clean and mop the floors to present a sense of order to the soldiers.

Selection Leadership

Dr. Mengele oversees the selection process in Buna, known for his cruel and arbitrary decisions.

Evasion Strategies for Selection

Prisoners are instructed to run ahead of the SS officers to avoid being identified for selection.

Elie's Decision Not to Fast

Elie refrains from fasting during Yom Kippur as an act of rebellion against God and to honor his father's wishes.

Observations on Rosh Hashanah

Elie criticizes God during Rosh Hashanah as others express praise, reflecting his internal conflict.

Akiba Drumer's Aftermath

After Drumer's death, Eliezer and his fellow inmates forget to say the Kaddish, highlighting a loss of faith.

Night Before Rosh Hashanah

The night before Rosh Hashanah, prisoners are given a thicker soup, symbolizing the rare moments of comfort.

Elie's Fear During Recovery

While recuperating, Elie fears being selected for death, anxiety heightened by uncertainty in the camp.

Literary Device: Irony

Elie's description of the New Year's inspection as a "gift" exemplifies irony amid their harsh reality.

Prayer for Strength

Eliezer prays for the resolve to not abandon his father, highlighting familial loyalty despite dire circumstances.

Conditions of Selection

Selection involves rigorous tests assessing the strength and health of prisoners, with weak individuals discarded.

Consequences of Selection

Those selected face death, as they are sent directly to the crematory.

Emotional Weight of Selection

Elie feels a constant worry regarding the selection process, fearing for both himself and his father.

Elie’s Father in Selection

Elie's father successfully avoids selection in the initial round, providing a glimmer of hope.

Aftermath of Selection Round

In a subsequent round, Elie's father is unexpectedly called, intensifying Elie's panic.

Value of Elie's Knife and Spoon

The knife and spoon symbolize their dwindling possessions, emphasizing their tenuous survival.

Discovery of Father's Status

Upon returning from work with his father's belongings, Elie learns his father has avoided selection.

Returning Belongings to Father

Elie restores the knife and spoon to reinforce their connection and his father's continued utility.

Elie's Leg Condition

Elie's leg swells during the chapter, posing a significant health threat.

Surgical Necessity

The condition of Elie's foot necessitates surgery, hinting at possible amputation.

Actions Amidst Liberation Rumors

During rumors of approaching Russian forces, Elie is uncertain about the implications for their safety.

Decision to Evacuate

Elie and his father ultimately decide to evacuate due to concerns about potential liberation efforts.

Post-war Revelation

Elie learns that those who remained in the camp after the Russian approach were taken prisoner, altering his understanding of their survival.

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Test your understanding of Chapter 5 from Elie Wiesel's 'Night' with these flashcards. Explore key concepts such as reasons for Elie’s crisis of faith and the significance of Yom Kippur. Ideal for students studying this poignant memoir of the Holocaust.