Podcast
Questions and Answers
Where are Elie and his father first taken to work?
Where are Elie and his father first taken to work?
An electrical equipment warehouse
Who is known for their 'fits of rage'?
Who is known for their 'fits of rage'?
Idek
When Elie is summoned to the dentist to have his gold tooth extracted, how does he manage to escape having the tooth removed?
When Elie is summoned to the dentist to have his gold tooth extracted, how does he manage to escape having the tooth removed?
He tells the dentist that he is not feeling well
What happened to the dentist?
What happened to the dentist?
Why didn't Elie feel pity for the dentist?
Why didn't Elie feel pity for the dentist?
Why does Idek give Elie 25 lashes?
Why does Idek give Elie 25 lashes?
During the bombing, what did one inmate try to do that caused him to die?
During the bombing, what did one inmate try to do that caused him to die?
What did Elie say the soup tasted like?
What did Elie say the soup tasted like?
What holiday is celebrated at the end of the Jewish year?
What holiday is celebrated at the end of the Jewish year?
What was the debate over the Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur?
What was the debate over the Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur?
Why does Elie run very fast when he is examined by the SS doctors?
Why does Elie run very fast when he is examined by the SS doctors?
Why is Elie put in the camp hospital?
Why is Elie put in the camp hospital?
What happens to those prisoners who remain behind in the hospital ward?
What happens to those prisoners who remain behind in the hospital ward?
Who is in charge of the selection process in Buna?
Who is in charge of the selection process in Buna?
What does Akiba Drumer ask Elie and his father to do after he dies?
What does Akiba Drumer ask Elie and his father to do after he dies?
What was Elie's inheritance from his father?
What was Elie's inheritance from his father?
Why was his father giving it to him?
Why was his father giving it to him?
Did the men remember to say the Kaddish for Akiba Drumer?
Did the men remember to say the Kaddish for Akiba Drumer?
What was the last thing the head of the block ordered the men to do before they evacuated?
What was the last thing the head of the block ordered the men to do before they evacuated?
What was the weather like during the evacuation?
What was the weather like during the evacuation?
The dentist takes great care in examining the prisoners' mouths because he wants to make sure they have good dental hygiene.
The dentist takes great care in examining the prisoners' mouths because he wants to make sure they have good dental hygiene.
Elie is able to keep all of his teeth in the camp.
Elie is able to keep all of his teeth in the camp.
Franek, the foreman, treats Elie's father with kindness despite his inability to march.
Franek, the foreman, treats Elie's father with kindness despite his inability to march.
Idek, the Kapo in charge of the prisoners, treats the men kindly.
Idek, the Kapo in charge of the prisoners, treats the men kindly.
When Elie witnesses Idek with the girl, he is beaten with a whip.
When Elie witnesses Idek with the girl, he is beaten with a whip.
What does 'altruistic' mean?
What does 'altruistic' mean?
What does 'pittance' mean?
What does 'pittance' mean?
What are 'gallows'?
What are 'gallows'?
What does 'pipel' mean?
What does 'pipel' mean?
What does 'cowardice' mean?
What does 'cowardice' mean?
What does 'solemn' mean?
What does 'solemn' mean?
What does 'audible' mean?
What does 'audible' mean?
What does 'barter' mean?
What does 'barter' mean?
What does 'incentive' mean?
What does 'incentive' mean?
What does 'infirmary' mean?
What does 'infirmary' mean?
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Study Notes
Elie and His Father in the Camp
- Elie and his father are assigned to work at an electrical equipment warehouse.
- Idek is notorious for his violent outbursts, described as having 'fits of rage'.
Key Incidents and Characters
- Elie successfully avoids having his gold tooth removed by feigning illness to the dentist.
- The dentist faces execution for hoarding gold, illustrating the severity of punishment in the camp.
Life in the Camp
- Elie experiences a loss of empathy for the dentist, believing he deserved his fate.
- Idek punishes Elie with 25 lashes for witnessing his inappropriate actions with an inmate.
- In a desperate act during a bombing, an inmate dies while attempting to steal soup, highlighting desperation in the camps.
Food and Festivals
- Elie describes the taste of the soup as that of corpses, reflecting the grim reality of their situation.
- Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, prompts a debate among the prisoners about fasting, revealing differing attitudes towards faith.
Survival Instincts
- Elie runs rapidly during examinations by SS doctors to avoid being selected for death.
- He necessitates hospitalization due to a swollen foot needing surgery; however, he evacuates before the camp is liberated, missing that chance.
Significance of Relationships
- Dr. Mengele oversees the selection process at Buna, symbolizing the arbitrary nature of life and death in the camps.
- Akiba Drumer requests that Elie and his father recite the Kaddish for him posthumously, emphasizing the importance of remembrance and faith.
Final Moments
- Elie's father gives him a knife and spoon as an inheritance, indicating Mr. Wiesel's impending selection and death.
- The men fail to honor their promise to say Kaddish for Akiba Drumer after he passes away.
Last Orders and Conditions
- Before evacuation, the head of the block orders cleaning of their quarters, an act of maintaining order amidst chaos.
- Evacuation takes place in harsh conditions, with continuous snowfall affecting their march.
True/False Reflections
- False claims about the dentist's gentleness and care, as his focus is to extract gold rather than ensure hygiene.
- Elie ultimately loses his gold crown, contradicting any notion of retaining all his teeth.
- Franek beats Elie's father rather than treating him kindly due to his inability to keep pace.
- Idek is harsh and violent, contrary to any notions of kindness.
- Elie's punishment of 25 lashes for witnessing Idek is a significant display of brutality.
Vocabulary Terms
- Altruistic: selfless concern for the well-being of others.
- Pittance: a small allowance or meager amount.
- Gallows: structure for hanging individuals, symbolizing death.
- Pipel: a term for a young boy in concentration camps, denoting innocence exploited.
- Cowardice: the lack of bravery, often seen in desperate times.
- Solemn: characterized by seriousness, reflecting the camp's grave atmosphere.
- Audible: sounds that can be heard amidst the silence of suffering.
- Barter: to trade items for sustenance in the camps.
- Incentive: a motivating factor to encourage actions, often scarce in the camps.
- Infirmary: a hospital treatment area where Elie is temporarily cared for.
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