Night Flashcards: Characters Overview

Questions and Answers

Describe Moshe the Beadle.

Moishe the Beadle was Eliezer's mentor/teacher in Kabbalah studies. He was a poor man from Sighet, respected by everyone, physically awkward, and spoke little.

Describe Elie Wiesel's father. What was his occupation?

Elie's father was a cultured and respected man who owned a store with his wife.

Why was Moshe the Beadle important to Elie Wiesel?

He was important because he guided Elie's studies of Kabbalah and helped him deepen his beliefs.

Summarize the story Moshe the Beadle told on his return from being deported.

He told how he and other Jews were taken to dig graves and killed, and he returned to warn the Jews. Signup and view all the answers

What was the public reaction to Moshe's story?

The people refused to believe him and thought he had gone mad. Signup and view all the answers

What was the setting and the year for the first section of the book?

The year was 1942, set in Sighet, Transylvania, during World War II. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the events that happened from the last day of Passover until Pentecost.

Germans arrested Jewish leaders, restricted movement, imposed the yellow star, set up ghettos, and planned deportations. Signup and view all the answers

How did Wiesel say he felt about the Hungarian police?

He began to hate them as they were the first oppressors of his community. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Martha? What happened when she visited the Wiesel family in the ghetto?

Martha was a former servant who offered the Wiesel family refuge, but they refused to leave. Signup and view all the answers

What did Madame Schachter see in her vision?

She saw a huge fire. Signup and view all the answers

How did the other people in the car react to Madame Schachter?

They tried to comfort her, beat her, and eventually gagged her. Signup and view all the answers

Where did the train stop?

Auschwitz-Birkenau. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Jews in the train car discover when they looked out the window?

They saw flames gushing out of a tall chimney. Signup and view all the answers

When did Wiesel say the travelers left their illusions behind?

When they arrived at the camp and left their cherished possessions on the train. Signup and view all the answers

Which notorious SS officer did they meet at Auschwitz?

Dr. Mengele. Signup and view all the answers

What was Elie's main thought as the men and women were being herded from the train?

He wanted to stay with his father and avoid being separated. Signup and view all the answers

What prayer were the people saying? What was unusual about it?

They were saying, 'May his name be celebrated and sanctified' for the dead, acknowledging they were likely going to die. Signup and view all the answers

How did Elie react when the gypsy struck his father? Why? What was his father's response?

Elie did nothing because he feared getting hit too; his father said it didn't hurt. Signup and view all the answers

How long were Elie and his father at Auschwitz? Where did they go after that?

They were there for 3 weeks, then went to Buna. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Elie's encounter with the dentist.

The dentist wanted to take Elie's gold tooth, but Elie pretended to be ill and kept it. Signup and view all the answers

What did Elie Wiesel do when Idek hit his father? What was he thinking?

He didn't help his father and thought about why his father didn't avoid getting hit. Signup and view all the answers

Who took Elie's gold tooth? Why did Elie give it up?

Franek took it. Elie gave it up to stop Franek from tormenting his father. Signup and view all the answers

What were the only things in which Elie took an interest?

Soup and the crust of stale bread. Signup and view all the answers

How did Elie describe the men after the air raid?

He said they had inhaled smoky air and could see hope through their eyes. Signup and view all the answers

How did Elie say the soup tasted the night the pipel was hanged?

It tasted like corpses. Signup and view all the answers

What did the men do on the eve of Rosh Hashanah?

They held a prayer service and wished each other a happy new year. Signup and view all the answers

How did Elie feel while the others were praying?

He felt strong but like a stranger to the prayers, unable to feel sorrow. Signup and view all the answers

What was Elie's decision about fasting on Yom Kippur? Why did he make that decision?

He did not fast because his father had forbidden it due to his weakness, seeing this as rebellion against God. Signup and view all the answers

What was Elie's 'inheritance' from his father? Why was his father giving it to him?

A knife and a spoon; his father was giving it to him as a final possession because he was selected. Signup and view all the answers

Did the men remember to say the Kaddish for Akiba Drumer? Why or why not?

No, they had become used to just surviving for themselves. Signup and view all the answers

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

He imagined a world with no bells. Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the patients who stayed in the hospital instead of being evacuated?

They were liberated by the Russians two days later. Signup and view all the answers

What was the last thing the head of the block ordered the men to do before they evacuated?

He ordered them to clean the block. Signup and view all the answers

What was the weather like during the evacuation?

It snowed the entire time. Signup and view all the answers

While running, an idea began to fascinate Elie. What was the idea? What kept him from carrying it out?

The idea of death fascinated him, but his father's presence prevented him from acting on it. Signup and view all the answers

What did Elie realize about Rabbi Eliahou and his son?

The son was trying to abandon his father during evacuation while the Rabbi searched for him. Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the camp to which the men walked?

Gleiwitz. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Elie's meeting with Juliek.

Elie met Juliek in the barracks at Gleiwitz where he played his violin before dying. Signup and view all the answers

How long were they at Gleiwitz? Where did they go next?

They stayed for three days before going to Buchenwald. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Meir Katz? What happened to him?

He was a friend of Wiesel's who died on the train before arriving at Buchenwald. Signup and view all the answers

How many men started out on the train? How many were left when they arrived at Buchenwald?

One hundred men started out, about twelve were left. Signup and view all the answers

Explain what happened to Mr. Wiesel, Elie's father.

He became very ill and died from beatings while calling for Elie. Signup and view all the answers

What was Elie's only desire?

Elie's only desire was to eat. Signup and view all the answers

What happened on April 10, 1945?

The resistance fighters took charge of the camp, and American troops arrived. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Moshe the Beadle

Moishe was Eliezer's mentor and teacher in Kabbalah, residing in Sighet, Transylvania.
He was poor, respected, and preferred to stay out of people's way, speaking little and chanting instead.

Elie Wiesel's Father

Shlomo Wiesel was a cultured, unsentimental man who rarely expressed feelings to his family.
He was well-respected in the community and ran a store with his wife, allowing Elie to focus on his Kabbalah studies.

Importance of Moshe to Elie

Moshe significantly influenced Elie's religious education, guiding him through Kabbalah and the Zohar.

Moshe's Story After Deportation

Moshe recounted being taken with fellow Jews, forced to dig graves, and witnessing their execution.
He escaped by playing dead and returned to warn the Sighet community.

Public Reaction to Moshe's Warning

The townspeople dismissed Moshe's story, believing he had lost his mind and accused him of fabricating a tale for sympathy.

Setting and Historical Context

The initial setting is Sighet in 1942, amidst World War II, with widespread disbelief in the threat posed by Hitler.
Moshe fell silent as the community grew increasingly in denial.

Events from Passover to Pentecost

Beginning with the arrest of Jewish leaders on the seventh day of Passover, Jews faced confinement and were mandated to wear yellow stars.
Two ghettos were established, leading to deportation notices.

Attitude Toward Hungarian Police

Wiesel developed hatred for the Hungarian police for being the first oppressors of his community.

Martha's Visit

Martha, a former servant, offered refuge to the Wiesel family, but they chose to stay together instead.

Madame Schachter's Vision

She predicted a massive fire, which foreshadowed the horrors of the camps.

Reactions to Madame Schachter

Fellow passengers experienced a range of reactions, from belief and attempts to comfort her to physical violence against her.

Arrival at Auschwitz

The train stopped at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where the reality of the situation became evident.

Discovery through Train Windows

Upon looking out, Jews saw flames rising from chimneys, signaling their grim fate.

Loss of Illusions

Travelers left their hopes and dreams behind as they arrived at the camp.

Encounter with Dr. Mengele

The notorious SS officer was present at Auschwitz, symbolizing the cruelty of the regime.

Elie's Thoughts on Separation

Elie's primary concern was to stay with his father and avoid separation amidst chaos.

Kaddish Prayer

Jews recited the Kaddish, knowing that death awaited them, reflecting their resignation.

Elie's Reaction to Violence Against His Father

He remained passive when Idek hit his father, prioritizing his own safety over his father's suffering.

Duration at Auschwitz

Elie and his father spent three weeks in Auschwitz before being transferred to Buna.

Encounter with the Dentist

Elie avoided losing his gold tooth by feigning illness, while the dentist later faced arrest.

Elie's Inaction During Abuse

He allowed Franek to take his gold tooth to stop his father’s torment.

What Interested Elie

Elie was only focused on food, specifically soup and stale bread, amidst suffering.

Post-Air Raid Descriptions

After an air raid, Elie observed a flicker of hope in the men’s expressions.

Taste of Soup on Pipel's Hanging Night

The soup tasted like corpses, reflecting the horror surrounding the execution.

Rosh Hashanah Observance

The men held a prayer service, conveying a semblance of normalcy amidst despair.

Elie's Feelings During Prayer

He felt detached, watching the service as an outsider and devoid of emotion.

Decision Regarding Yom Kippur Fasting

Elie chose not to fast as his father advised against it due to their weakened state.

Inheritance from His Father

Prior to being selected, Shlomo Wiesel gave Elie a knife and spoon, symbolizing their bond.

Forgetfulness of Kaddish for Akiba Drumer

The men failed to say Kaddish, consumed by survival instincts over mourning.

Dream of a Better World

Elie's dream envisioned a world without bells, symbolizing freedom.

Fate of Hospital Patients

Patients who remained in the hospital were liberated by Russian troops shortly after evacuation.

Final Orders Before Evacuation

The block leader ordered men to clean the block to show dignity to the liberators.

Weather During Evacuation

The evacuation occurred in harsh, snowy conditions.

Fascination with Death

Elie became fascinated with the idea of death, but was deterred by his father's presence.

Rabbi Eliahou and His Son

Rabbi Eliahou's son was found trying to distance himself during the chaos, highlighting human disconnect.

Destination Camp

After the march, the prisoners arrived at Gleiwitz.

Meeting with Juliek

Elie briefly encountered fellow prisoner Juliek, who played his violin before succumbing to death.

Stay at Gleiwitz

They were at Gleiwitz for three days before moving to Buchenwald.

Meir Katz's Fate

Elie's friend Meir Katz died on the train before reaching Buchenwald.

Train Journey Numbers

Originally, one hundred men boarded the train, with only about twelve surviving upon arrival.

Elie's Father’s Illness

Shlomo suffered for a week before dying from beatings on January 29, 1945.

Elie's Sole Desire

Elie's singular focus became survival through food amidst the overwhelming suffering.

Liberation of Buchenwald

On April 10, 1945, resistance forces took control, with American troops arriving later that day.

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Description

This quiz focuses on the key characters from Elie Wiesel's 'Night'. It includes descriptions of Moshe the Beadle and Eliezer's father, among others. Test your understanding of these pivotal figures and their significance in the narrative.