Night Chapters 7-9 Quiz

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

How did the SS officers transport the prisoners?

They transported the prisoners by cattle wagons.

What did the SS officers do with the dead prisoners?

They threw the prisoners out.

What was the reaction of the 'living' prisoners to the dead?

They were joyful because they had more room in the wagon.

How did Eli save his father on the cattle wagon?

Eli saved his father by slapping him repeatedly. Signup and view all the answers

How many days did they travel?

They traveled for three days. Signup and view all the answers

What did a workman do when they passed through a town?

The workman tossed pieces of bread to the prisoners. Signup and view all the answers

What did this event remind Eli of?

It reminded Eli of a Parisian woman tossing coins to the prisoners. Signup and view all the answers

What did Eli witness in the cattle wagon that affected him?

He witnessed a son killing his own father for a piece of bread. Signup and view all the answers

What does Eli mean when he states, 'Next to me were two corpses, side by side, the father and the son.'?

It meant he was sixteen at the time and the two corpses were a father and son. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Meir Katz and what did he do?

Meir Katz was a friend of Eli's father and a gardener in Buna. He also saved Eli from being strangled to death. Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the new camp at the end of Chapter 7?

The name of the new camp was Buchenwald. Signup and view all the answers

In the beginning of Chapter 8, what did Eli want so desperately to do?

He wanted to take a hot shower. Signup and view all the answers

How had the father/son roles been reversed in the case of Elie and his father?

Eli is forced to take care of his dad instead of the other way around. Signup and view all the answers

What 'problem' did Eli have with his father?

Eli's father was exhausted and wanted to lie down while Eli wanted to get up. Signup and view all the answers

What does Eli mean when he states, 'If only I could get rid of this dead weight?'

He meant that if his father was gone, he would only need to worry about himself. Signup and view all the answers

What is dysentery?

Dysentery is a disease that has severe diarrhea. Signup and view all the answers

What were some of Eli's father's symptoms of dysentery?

Some symptoms were fever, bloody saliva, and gasping for breath. Signup and view all the answers

Why were water and coffee considered poison for Eli's father?

It was poison because drinking it could worsen his condition after vomiting or having diarrhea. Signup and view all the answers

What does Eli's father tell him before he dies?

He tells Eli that he buried the gold and silver in the cellar of their home. Signup and view all the answers

How does Eli manage to sleep in the same bunk with his father?

He exchanged a ration of bread to be with his father. Signup and view all the answers

What did the doctor tell Eli about his father?

The doctor told Eli that he can't help his father. Signup and view all the answers

What did the head of Eli's block tell him?

He told Eli to stop giving his father food and to save himself. Signup and view all the answers

What did Eli do when two inmates were hitting his father?

Eli threatened them but they laughed in his face. Signup and view all the answers

In what way(s) does Eli help his father before he dies?

He gives his father water and food, and provides him company. Signup and view all the answers

When did Eli's father die and where?

Eli's father died on January 28, 1945, in the Buchenwald camp. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Eli state he was 'free at last?' after his father's death?

He said he was 'free at last' because he could finally take care of himself. Signup and view all the answers

Where was Eli transferred to after his father's death?

He was transferred to the children's block. Signup and view all the answers

Who rescued Eli?

The Americans rescued Eli. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to Eli three days after he is liberated?

Eli gets food poisoning and has to spend two weeks in the infirmary. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it ironic that Eli almost died from food after liberation?

It's ironic because he had very little food in the camps, yet food almost took his life after liberation. Signup and view all the answers

What does Eli mean when he states, 'a corpse gazed back at me?'

He meant that his reflection looked like a corpse. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Transportation of Prisoners

SS officers transported prisoners using cattle wagons, emphasizing dehumanization.

Treatment of the Dead

Dead prisoners were discarded without ceremony, leading to a perverse sense of joy among the living for increased space in the wagon.

Eli's Act of Care

Eli saved his father during transport by repeatedly slapping him to keep him awake and aware.

Duration of Travel

The prisoners endured a harrowing journey lasting three days.

Interaction with Bystanders

A workman amusedly tossed bread to prisoners as they passed a town, highlighting the cruel spectacle of starving individuals fighting for scraps.

Flashback to Cruelty

Eli recalled a woman in Paris tossing coins to prisoners, drawing parallels between callousness and entertainment derived from suffering.

Witness to Paternal Tragedy

Eli saw a son kill his father for bread, a harrowing event that terrified him and solidified his desire to retain his humanity.

Significance of Corpse Imagery

Eli's recognition of two corpses, a father and son, represented the loss of familial bonds and the harsh reality of survival.

Introduction of Meir Katz

Meir Katz, an old friend of Eli's father and a gardener, provided crucial support, saving Eli from being strangled.

Buchenwald Camp

The new camp where the prisoners were taken was called Buchenwald, marking another grim chapter in their ordeal.

Desire for Normalcy

At the beginning of Chapter 8, Eli longed for basic human comfort, specifically a hot shower.

Role Reversal in Caregiving

The relationship between Eli and his father inverted, with Eli taking on the caregiving role as his father weakened.

Conflict with Exhaustion

Eli struggled with his father's exhaustion and desire to rest, exposing the tension between their survival instincts.

Burden of Responsibility

Eli expressed a wish to rid himself of his father's "dead weight" to focus on his survival, illustrating the moral conflict of care versus self-preservation.

Dysentery Symptoms

Dysentery caused severe diarrhea, with Eli's father exhibiting symptoms such as fever and labored breathing.

Life-Threatening Hydration

Drinking water or coffee was dangerous for Eli's father post-illness, highlighting the desperate conditions in which they lived.

Father's Final Confession

Before dying, Eli's father revealed the secret of buried valuables, a haunting reminder of lost normalcy and hope.

Sacrifice for Togetherness

Eli exchanged his food rations to sleep next to his father, demonstrating his commitment to familial bonds despite dire circumstances.

Doctor's Cynicism

A doctor dismissed Eli’s father's condition, referring to sick prisoners as lazy, exposing the dehumanization within the camp.

Physical Assault

Eli's father was beaten by other inmates for being unable to stand, prompting Eli to threaten them unsuccessfully.

Conflict with Block Leader

Eli was advised to abandon his father to save himself but refused, prioritizing familial loyalty over self-preservation.

Personal Impact of Violence

An SS officer struck Eli's father for noise, instilling fear in Eli about his father's survival and his own vulnerability.

Final Acts of Care

Eli attempted to provide comfort through food and companionship, demonstrating loyalty even in the face of death.

Death of Eli's Father

Eli's father passed away on January 28, 1945, in the Buchenwald camp, marking a profound loss for Eli.

Feeling of Freedom

Following his father's death, Eli felt "free at last," confronting the bitter irony of surviving at the cost of losing his family.

Transfer After Loss

Eli was moved to the children's block post his father's death, reflecting the changes in his situation.

Liberation and Rescue

Eli was ultimately rescued by American forces, signalling the end of his harrowing experience.

Aftermath of Liberation

Just three days after liberation, Eli suffered from food poisoning due to the sudden return to a plentiful diet, resulting in a two-week infirmary stay.

Irony of Survival

The irony lay in the fact that food, something he had longed for, nearly took his life after liberation due to his weakened state.

Reflection on Trauma

Eli's declaration that "a corpse gazed back at me" indicated his profound physical and emotional desolation fitting the circumstances of his liberation.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge of Elie Wiesel's 'Night', focusing on chapters 7 to 9. Explore key events, character actions, and the emotional impact of the experiences described in the book. This quiz will help reinforce your understanding of the narrative and themes presented.