Questions and Answers
What were the prisoners on the train ordered to do with the dead?
The prisoners were ordered to throw the dead outside.
How old is Elie during Chapter 7?
16
How many people are left in the cattle car when they reach their destination?
12/100 people
Where did they arrive from the cattle car?
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What is the connotation of 'tangled'? What does it imply about the way the prisoners looked?
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What is the purpose of Elie's story at the bottom of page 100?
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Why do the last chapters' harsh father/son reactions impact Elie?
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What does Elie mean when he says the prisoners' cries seemed to come from beyond the grave?
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What does Elie do during the alert in regard to his father?
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What does Elie's attitude become towards his father?
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What is Elie's father sick with?
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Why do Elie's father's neighbors hate him?
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What advice does the Blockalteste give Elie about his father?
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What figurative language is used when Elie says he was arguing with death itself?
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Why is Elie's insight into his thoughts about his father significant?
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List some descriptions Elie uses for his father and discuss their connotations.
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What does it mean when it is said that, 'In this place, there is no such thing as father, brother, friend'?
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Study Notes
Prisoner Conditions and Despair
- Prisoners were instructed to discard dead bodies from the train, highlighting the dehumanization they faced.
- Arrival at Buchenwald left only 12 out of 100 individuals alive in each cattle car, illustrating severe mortality rates.
- The chaotic imagery of "tangled human shapes" evokes a sense of being intertwined in despair, reflecting their horrific reality.
Elie's Personal Insight and Transformation
- Elie is 16 during Chapter 7, grappling with the loss of his childhood innocence amidst brutality.
- The indifference of a woman hoarding coins contrasts with the desperate humanity sought by prisoners, emphasizing moral decay during the Holocaust.
- Observations of broken father-son relationships in the camps deeply affect Elie, as he mirrors these dynamics in his relationship with his own father.
Father-Son Relationships
- Elie’s father's illness, dysentery, exacerbates the strain in their relationship, making Elie resentful and grim about his situation.
- Elie's abandonment of his father during an alert signals a shift from selflessness to selfish survival instincts, as he relates to Rabbi Eliahu's son.
- Neighbors’ contempt for Elie's father stems from his inability to perform basic human functions, showcasing societal breakdown in the camps.
Internal Conflict and Guilt
- Elie's internal struggle is evident as he wishes for liberation from his father's responsibility while feeling ashamed, highlighting the moral dilemmas faced in extreme contexts.
- Reflections on his father's physical decay—dark, shadowy descriptions—reinforce the pervasive sense of death in their environment.
Themes of Isolation and Loss
- The sentiment that "there is no such thing as father, brother, friend" encapsulates the pervasive isolation and loss experienced in the concentration camps, stripping away familial bonds and human connections.
- Elie's grim acceptance of his father's impending death illustrates the harsh realities imposed by survival in the camps.
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Description
Test your knowledge of Chapters 7 to 9 of Elie Wiesel's 'Night'. These flashcards cover key events, facts, and character details to enhance your understanding of the text. Perfect for students preparing for exams or discussions about the Holocaust.