Night Test Chapters 4-9 Flashcards

Elie's Encounter with the Dentist

• Elie's initial visit to the dentist was to check for decaying teeth, but the dentist was actually looking for valuable gold teeth.
• During his second visit, the dentist had his own rotten teeth and was attempting to extract Elie's gold crown.
• Elie feigned illness to avoid having his crown removed, and the dentist was later executed for trading the inmates' gold teeth for personal gain.

Elie's Thoughts on Idek's Abuse

• Elie remained silent as Idek struck his father, feeling conflicted between anger and guilt.
• He considered stealing to escape physical punishment, reflecting a struggle with survival instincts and loyalty to his father.

Franek's Extraction of Elie's Gold Tooth

• Franek, the foreman, forcibly took Elie's gold tooth, exploiting the situation to assert dominance.
• Elie reluctantly surrendered the tooth to protect his father, who was unable to withstand further brutality from the guards.

Elie's Basic Needs

• Elie likened his existence to that of a mere physical body, emphasizing his primary focus on survival and the need for food.
• Time was measured only by his hunger, indicating a decline in his emotional and spiritual state.

Prisoners’ Response to Bombing Raids

• The prisoners displayed indifference to the threat of death during air raids, even expressing joy when bombs fell nearby.
• The lack of fear reflects their desensitization to violence and loss of hope.

Fate of the Young Man from Warsaw

• A young man was sentenced to death for stealing food during an air raid, illustrating the extreme desperation for survival in the camps.

Impact of Executions on Elie's Perceptions

• After witnessing a hanging, Elie found the soup to taste surprisingly good, revealing a momentary disconnection from moral suffering.
• Following a second hanging, his enjoyment turned to revulsion, symbolizing a shift towards a more profound existential despair.

Rosh Hashanah Observations

• On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, tension permeated the camp as the prisoners sensed the gravity of their situation.
• Participation in mass highlights the juxtaposition between faith and the dire reality of imprisonment.

Elie's Spiritual Crisis

• While others prayed, Elie wrestled with profound doubt, questioning God's existence and justice amidst their suffering.

Elie's Decision on Yom Kippur Fasting

• Elie chose not to fast for Yom Kippur, believing it would hasten his death and motivated by his loss of faith.
• His decision aimed to preserve his strength for survival and to honor his father's wishes.

Inheritance from His Father

• Elie's father bequeathed a knife and spoon to him, foreseeing the grim possibility of their imminent deaths.
• This act signifies a father's care in the face of impending loss, emphasizing survival instincts.

Memory of Akiba Drumer

• Reflection on the collective forgetting of the Kaddish prayer for Akiba Drumer underscores the emotional toll taken by their experiences.
• Days of hardship led to diminished regard for personal rituals and remembrance.

Desire for a Better World

• Elie's dream of a better world is characterized by the absence of oppressive signs, such as bells, which symbolize control over their existence.

Fate of Infirmary Patients

• Patients who chose to remain in the infirmary were liberated by advancing Russian troops shortly after the main camp evacuation.

Final Orders Before Evacuation

• The head of the block commanded that the barracks be cleaned for the liberating forces, establishing an ironic sense of dignity amidst despair.

Weather During Evacuation

• The evacuation occurred under heavy snowfall, setting a bleak scene for the prisoners' forced departure.

Elie's Rationing of Food

• Despite overwhelming hunger, Elie avoided consuming his bread to save it for a critical moment, demonstrating a survival tactic rooted in pragmatism.

Explore key concepts from Chapters 4 to 9 of 'Night' by Elie Wiesel with these flashcards. Engage with important themes, character insights, and pivotal moments that define this powerful memoir of survival and suffering.