Night by Elie Wiesel - Themes and Struggles
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Questions and Answers

What does Elie mean when he says that he is alone?

He feels that God has left him and the other Jews and doesn't understand why God would allow such dehumanization to take place.

Why does Elie direct his anger toward God rather than the Germans?

It's easier to blame God because there will not be any direct consequences, unlike with the Nazis.

What does Elie's anger suggest about the depths of his faith?

It reveals that Elie still believes in God, but his expectations have changed.

How have Elie's experiences at Auschwitz affected his faith?

<p>He has seen terrible suffering and evil, which have scarred him and made him question his faith.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Elie's neighbor in the infirmary have 'more faith in Hitler than in anyone else'?

<p>He believes Hitler has kept all his promises to the Jews, but nobody else has.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Elie describe himself as 'afraid' of having to wish his father a happy New Year?

<p>Elie is afraid of saying this because he didn't believe there would be a new year.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe the encounter between father and son after the services.

<p>Elie took his father's hand, kissed it, and a tear fell. Neither said anything.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Elie say that he and his father 'had never understood one another so clearly'?

<p>The suffering they have both gone through together has helped them understand each other.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'selection'?

<p>It is where all the men remove their clothes and are inspected by Dr. Mengele. If their name is written down, they are chosen to leave, meaning they are of no use anymore and will be killed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Elie respond when he fears his father has been 'selected'?

<p>He thinks that the burden of his father's lack of strength will finally be lifted from him.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Elie respond when he discovers that his father has indeed been 'selected'?

<p>He hates that he thinks this might be a good thing for his father (that he won't have to suffer anymore).</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Elie respond when he learns his father has avoided the 'final selection'?

<p>He is glad.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did his father give him the spoon and the knife as his inheritance?

<p>The knife and spoon are the most valuable things his father has to leave him.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Elie's dad giving him his knife and spoon?

<p>The knife and spoon meant dignity because the prisoners normally ate in an undignified way in Auschwitz.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How has the relationship between Elie and his father changed during their time at Auschwitz?

<p>Elie is his father's strength. His father is the only thing Elie has left.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What has each come to represent to the other?

<p>They are each other's will to live.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What choices are open to Elie and his father when the camp is evacuated?

<p>They can leave with everyone else, or they can stay in the infirmary.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is the decision to leave made?

<p>Elie decided he would go wherever his father went, but his father didn't answer.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who makes the choice to leave?

<p>Elie decides for them both to evacuate with the others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to Akiba Drumer?

<p>He loses faith in God, the lack of will to live, and he is chosen for the selection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do Elie and his father promise Akiba Drumer?

<p>They promised they would say Kaddish for him.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Do Elie and his father keep their promise to Akiba Drumer?

<p>No, they do not keep their promise because terrible days followed, and they forgot.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What advice did the head of Elie's block give to the prisoners to improve their chances and avoid being selected?

<p>He told them to try to move their limbs, give themselves some color, to not walk but to run, to not look at the SS, and to not be afraid.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When winter came to the camp, what happened to Elie?

<p>His foot gets infected and begins to swell from the cold.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the doctor's diagnosis for Elie?

<p>The doctor decided to operate because he said if they waited, the toes, foot, and possibly his leg might have to be amputated.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Was the diagnosis successful?

<p>Yes, the operation was successful. Elie would be able to walk like others in just two weeks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Eliezer dream of when he dreamed of a better world?

<p>He dreamed of a world without bells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does the head of Eliezer's block make the prisoners clean out the block before they are evacuated?

<p>He wants the Russians, who are liberating them, to think that men, not animals, lived there.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a simile in Elie's experiences?

<p>'Thousands of lips repeated the benediction, bent over like trees in a storm.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a simile reflecting Elie's feelings?

<p>'In the midst of these men assembled for prayer, I felt like an observer, a stranger.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of irony in Elie's description of selection?

<p>'The SS offered us a beautiful present for the new year...selection...good for the crematorium.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a metaphor used by Elie to describe Buna?

<p>'Back then, Buna was a veritable hell. Today, this is a little paradise.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What metaphor is used to describe the old men?

<p>'The old men stayed in their corner, silent, motionless, hunted-down creatures.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Elie's quote about running imply?

<p>'Run as if you had the devil at your heels! And most important, don't be afraid.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of hyperbole in Elie's description of running?

<p>'The race seemed endless; I felt as though I had been running for years.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the bell symbolize for the prisoners?

<p>The bell symbolizes the lack of control prisoners had over their own lives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of personification in relation to the bell?

<p>'The bell gave me orders and I executed them blindly.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is imagery in Elie's description of the treatment he received?

<p>'I felt sick at heart. How kindly they treated me. Like an orphan.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What metaphor does Elie use regarding eyes?

<p>'His eyes would suddenly go blank, leaving two gaping wounds, two wells of terror.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of irony related to the rumors of liberation?

<p>'...prophets announced to us: peace in the world, the Red Cross negotiating our liberation...It was like an injection of morphine.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the final irony regarding those who remained at the infirmary?

<p>'After the war, I learned the fate of those who had remained at the infirmary. They were liberated by the Russians.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

What example of imagery does Elie use when describing cannon shots?

<p>'Through the frosty window panes we could see flashes of red. Cannon shots broke the silence of night...'</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Elie's Loneliness

Elie feels deeply alone and abandoned by God during his immense suffering in the camps.

Elie's Anger at God

Elie's anger at God is a way to cope with his suffering. Blaming the Nazis could have dangerous consequences.

Elie's Shifting Faith

Elie's anger demonstrates a change in his faith. He still believes in God but expects different things from him.

Auschwitz and Faith

Witnessing the extreme suffering and evil in Auschwitz causes Elie to question his faith profoundly.

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Unwavering Faith in Hitler

A fellow Jew expresses unwavering faith in Hitler, believing he has kept promises despite others' failures.

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Elie's Doubt

Elie fears wishing his father a Happy New Year because he doubts their survival beyond their current grim reality.

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Father-Son Understanding

Elie and his father share a moment of understanding without words, revealing a deep bond forged through shared hardship.

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Shared Suffering and Survival

Elie and his father's shared suffering strengthens their bond, representing their will to survive together.

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The Evacuation Decision

Elie and his father must choose between evacuating with other prisoners or staying in the infirmary.

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Elie's Decision

Despite his father's silence, Elie chooses to evacuate with him, emphasizing their shared fate.

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Selection Process

Selection is a brutal inspection by Dr. Mengele, determining who will be killed and who will survive.

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Fear of Father's Selection

Elie fears his father's selection, revealing his inner conflict between despair and the wish for relief.

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Akiba Drumer's Despair

Akiba Drumer symbolizes the loss of hope; he succumbs to despair and is chosen for selection.

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Broken Promise

Elie and his father fail to keep their promise to say Kaddish for Drumer, highlighting their deepening despair.

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Survival Tactics

The head of Elie's block advises prisoners to appear healthy to avoid selection, showcasing the lengths people go to survive.

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Elie's Physical Suffering

Elie suffers physically during winter due to a foot infection, requiring surgery. This further amplifies his pain and hardship.

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Symbolism of the Bell

The bell represents the prisoners' lack of autonomy, signifying the control exerted over their lives by their captors.

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Literary Devices

Similes and metaphors are used to vividly illustrate Elie's experiences, such as comparing suffering to a whip and the camp to hell.

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Imagery

Imagery throughout the text helps readers connect to the harsh conditions Elie and others face, evoking a sense of shared suffering.

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False Hope

Rumors of liberation provide fleeting false hope, acting as a temporary respite from the unbearable despair.

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Irony of Liberation

Those who remained in the infirmary were liberated shortly after the evacuation, highlighting the tragic consequence of Elie's decision.

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Writing Style

The use of short, concise sentences in

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Title Significance

The title "Night" represents the darkness and despair experienced by Elie and his fellow prisoners.

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Faith and Suffering

Elie's experience in the camps challenges traditional faith, raising questions about the existence and nature of God.

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Theme of Loss

The theme of loss permeates Elie's story, as he grieves for his loved ones, innocence, and youthful idealism.

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Dehumanization

Elie's account emphasizes the dehumanization of prisoners during the Holocaust, revealing the horrors of systematic oppression.

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Resilience and Survival

Elie's story highlights resilience and the human capacity for survival in the face of extraordinary hardship.

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Themes of Morality

The narrative invites readers to reflect on issues of morality, faith, and the complexities of human nature.

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Historical Significance

Through Elie's experience, the text seeks to educate about the Holocaust, urging readers to remember and learn from this dark chapter in history.

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Study Notes

Elie's Spiritual Struggle

  • Elie feels profound loneliness as he believes God has abandoned him during unimaginable suffering.
  • Directing anger at God is a means of coping, as blaming the Nazis could lead to real consequences.
  • Elie’s anger indicates a shift in his faith; he still believes but expects different things from God.

Effects of Auschwitz on Faith

  • Witnessing extreme suffering and evil at Auschwitz causes Elie to deeply question his faith.
  • A fellow Jew expresses unwavering faith in Hitler, believing he has kept promises contrary to others' failures.

Father-Son Relationship

  • Elie's fear of wishing his father a Happy New Year stems from disbelief in a future beyond their grim reality.
  • An intimate encounter occurs where Elie and his father share a moment of understanding without words.
  • Their shared suffering deepens their bond, representing each other's will to live.

Survival Choices

  • Elie and his father can choose to evacuate with other prisoners or stay in the infirmary.
  • Ultimately, Elie decides they will evacuate together despite his father's silence.

Selection Process

  • "Selection" entails a brutal inspection led by Dr. Mengele, determining who will be killed.
  • The emotional turmoil of fearing his father’s selection reveals Elie’s internal conflict between despair and the wish for relief.

Loss of Faith and Promises

  • Akiba Drumer symbolizes the loss of hope; he succumbs to despair and is chosen for selection.
  • Elie and his father fail to keep their promise to say Kaddish for Drumer amidst rising despair.

Living Conditions and Survival

  • The head of Elie's block advises prisoners to appear healthier to avoid selection during their time in the camps.
  • Winter brings physical suffering for Elie as his foot becomes infected, resulting in a diagnosis that requires surgery.

Symbolism and Literary Devices

  • The bell represents the prisoners' lack of autonomy, controlling their lives detrimentally.
  • Various similes and metaphors illustrate Elie's harsh experiences, such as comparing suffering to a whip and the camp to hell.
  • Imagery throughout the text connects readers to the grim conditions faced by Elie and others.

Irony and Unexpected Outcomes

  • Rumors of liberation serve as false hope for the prisoners, acting like an "injection of morphine" amid despair.
  • The ultimate irony arises when those who remained in the infirmary were liberated shortly after evacuation, highlighting the tragic consequences of Elie's choice.

Writing Style

  • The use of short, controlled sentences in "Night" suggests every word is carefully chosen for precise meaning, enhancing the impact of the narrative.

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Description

Explore the profound spiritual struggles and transformations of Elie in 'Night' as he grapples with his faith amidst the horrors of Auschwitz. This quiz delves into themes of father-son relationships, survival choices, and the impact of suffering on belief. Test your understanding of Elie's journey and the emotional depth of this powerful narrative.

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