Podcast
Questions and Answers
How did the new camp appear to Elie?
How did the new camp appear to Elie?
It appeared deserted and dead.
As part of their medical examinations, what was the dentist looking for?
As part of their medical examinations, what was the dentist looking for?
Gold teeth.
What were Elie and his father supposed to do as part of their work detail?
What were Elie and his father supposed to do as part of their work detail?
They had to sort electrical parts.
What potential problems were present in Elie's job?
What potential problems were present in Elie's job?
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Why was Elie called to the dentist?
Why was Elie called to the dentist?
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How did Elie avoid having his tooth pulled?
How did Elie avoid having his tooth pulled?
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What was Elie pleased about regarding his gold crown?
What was Elie pleased about regarding his gold crown?
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What finally happened to the dentist?
What finally happened to the dentist?
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What happened to Elie one day at the factory?
What happened to Elie one day at the factory?
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Who cleaned the blood from Elie and soothed him with kind words?
Who cleaned the blood from Elie and soothed him with kind words?
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What was unusual about the girl that comforted Elie?
What was unusual about the girl that comforted Elie?
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What else did Idek do to the Wiesel's?
What else did Idek do to the Wiesel's?
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How did Elie respond to Idek's behavior?
How did Elie respond to Idek's behavior?
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What did Franek want from Elie, and how did Elie react?
What did Franek want from Elie, and how did Elie react?
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How did Franek get revenge on Elie and his father?
How did Franek get revenge on Elie and his father?
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What did Elie try to do to stop the beatings?
What did Elie try to do to stop the beatings?
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What did Elie finally do regarding his gold crown?
What did Elie finally do regarding his gold crown?
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It is surprising that the Kapos were so cruel considering that they were prisoners.
It is surprising that the Kapos were so cruel considering that they were prisoners.
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How did Idek punish Elie for spying on him?
How did Idek punish Elie for spying on him?
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Why did Elie's unit have to go to the warehouse?
Why did Elie's unit have to go to the warehouse?
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Why was a prisoner shot during the air raid?
Why was a prisoner shot during the air raid?
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What other public execution does Wiesel write about?
What other public execution does Wiesel write about?
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Why was this execution particularly cruel?
Why was this execution particularly cruel?
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What is Elie's first impression of the camp at Buna?
What is Elie's first impression of the camp at Buna?
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What does the dentist look for in the mouths of the prisoners?
What does the dentist look for in the mouths of the prisoners?
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What excuse does Elie give the dentist so that he won't take out his gold crown?
What excuse does Elie give the dentist so that he won't take out his gold crown?
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What part of Elie's body is aware of 'the passage of time'?
What part of Elie's body is aware of 'the passage of time'?
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Why does Idek beat Elie's father?
Why does Idek beat Elie's father?
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What is the punishment Idek gives Elie for leaving the area assigned to him?
What is the punishment Idek gives Elie for leaving the area assigned to him?
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Who bombs the camp at Buna?
Who bombs the camp at Buna?
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Why is the pipel hanged?
Why is the pipel hanged?
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What is the reputation of the pipel and the fifty-second cable unit?
What is the reputation of the pipel and the fifty-second cable unit?
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What makes the hanging of the pipel different from the other hangings?
What makes the hanging of the pipel different from the other hangings?
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How does Buna compare to other camps?
How does Buna compare to other camps?
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What does Elie refuse to give up to the 'hard-faced' assistant?
What does Elie refuse to give up to the 'hard-faced' assistant?
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What is the purpose of the medical examinations?
What is the purpose of the medical examinations?
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Why can't the Jewish musicians play music by Beethoven?
Why can't the Jewish musicians play music by Beethoven?
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List at least two people that Elie meets in the unit at Buna.
List at least two people that Elie meets in the unit at Buna.
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How does Elie initially avoid losing his gold crown?
How does Elie initially avoid losing his gold crown?
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Describe one of Idek's 'bouts of madness.'
Describe one of Idek's 'bouts of madness.'
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Who does Elie meet years later at the Paris Metro?
Who does Elie meet years later at the Paris Metro?
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What does Elie do during Idek's attack on his father?
What does Elie do during Idek's attack on his father?
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What happens when Elie refuses to give his crown to Franek?
What happens when Elie refuses to give his crown to Franek?
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What is Elie's punishment for 'meddling in other people's affairs'?
What is Elie's punishment for 'meddling in other people's affairs'?
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Describe the scene with the soup cauldrons.
Describe the scene with the soup cauldrons.
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What does Juliek whisper to Elie during a hanging ceremony?
What does Juliek whisper to Elie during a hanging ceremony?
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What makes one hanging different from the others?
What makes one hanging different from the others?
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How is the question, 'Where is God now?' answered?
How is the question, 'Where is God now?' answered?
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Study Notes
Camp Description
- Elie's first impression of Buna was that the camp looked deserted, eerie, and lifeless.
- The camp appeared as if it had been struck by an epidemic, accentuating the sense of despair and hopelessness.
Medical Examinations
- Dentists examined prisoners primarily for the presence of gold teeth, a valuable asset.
- Elie avoided having his gold crown extracted by claiming sickness, showcasing the desperation to retain any valuables.
Work Assignments
- Elie and his father were assigned to sort electrical parts, a relatively safer job compared to others in the camp.
- The work was menial and monotonous, emphasizing the dehumanizing routines that prisoners endured.
Interactions with Authorities
- Idek, the Kapo, displayed erratic behavior and was known for his volatility, which posed a constant threat to the prisoners.
- Elie faced violent consequences for witnessing Idek's actions; he was whipped severely as punishment.
Relationships and Solidarity
- A French woman kindly soothed Elie after he was beaten, indicating moments of compassion amidst the brutality.
- Elie's relationship with his father deteriorated when he felt anger towards his father rather than Idek during beatings.
Theft and Consequences
- During an air raid, a prisoner was shot while attempting to steal soup, highlighting the extreme desperation faced by inmates.
- The camp’s harsh reality resulted in public executions, including that of a child, exacerbating the trauma experienced by the prisoners.
Survival Strategies
- Franek, the Polish foreman, sought Elie's gold tooth, which escalated tensions and violence during marches.
- Elie ultimately surrendered his gold crown, revealing the irony that his act was a way to ensure temporary comfort but left him vulnerable.
Psychological Effects
- The constant brutality and cruelty eroded familial bonds and individual humanity, as seen through Elie's emotional responses to violence against his father.
- Elie’s outcry, "Where is God now?" marks a pivotal moment of spiritual crisis, encapsulating the despair and loss experienced by the prisoners.
Execution and Morality
- The hanging of a beloved child (the pipel) left a profound impact, causing immense sorrow amongst the prisoners.
- The pipel’s struggle after being hanged symbolized the helplessness and the moral decay occurring within the camp.
Cultural Restrictions
- Jewish musicians were forbidden from playing Beethoven, illustrating the broader oppression and targeted attacks on Jewish culture.
Camp Comparisons
- Buna was noted to be less populated compared to other camps, contributing to a sense of isolation among the inmates.
Personal Connections
- Years later, Elie encountered a former acquaintance from Buna, who concealed her Jewish identity to escape persecution, reflecting the long-lasting impacts of their shared experiences in the camps.
Resistance to Dehumanization
- Elie's refusal to part with his shoes signifies a desperate clinging to dignity amid degradation, underscoring the struggle to maintain one’s identity in extreme conditions.
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Description
Test your understanding of Chapter 4 from Elie Wiesel's 'Night'. This quiz covers important events and details that Elie and his father experience in the new camp. Answer questions about their observations, medical procedures, and assigned work tasks.
