Night by Elie Wiesel - Chapter 5 Flashcards

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.

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.