The Cage - Chapters 25-48 Final Exam Review

Questions and Answers

List the five steps Riva goes through when she arrives at Auschwitz.

Undress, 2) Shaved head, 3) Cold shower, 4) Given one piece of clothing, 5) Ordered to go to the barracks.

Why must Riva live, even when it is so hard to get through each day at Auschwitz?

She must find Motele, Moishele, and Mama.

How long has Riva been at Auschwitz?

Seven days.

What is the result of being sent to the right?

Life. Signup and view all the answers

How is Mittelsteine different from Auschwitz?

There are no chimneys, no gas chambers, no ovens. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Riva's bunk so uncomfortable?

It feels like a coffin, no room to move her head. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important that 'the head count passes without incident today'?

There is no one punished that day. Signup and view all the answers

What Jewish holiday is approaching during the Fall/Winter of 1944?

Hanukkah. Signup and view all the answers

What is the cause of Riva's infection?

Scraping her hand on a bucket while working at the underground bomb shelter. Signup and view all the answers

What convinces Riva she is dying?

The camp elder offers her bread and jam. They only do this when someone is about to die. Signup and view all the answers

What does Riva wear when she goes to the hospital?

<ol> <li>Coat with yellow star 2) Pin with number 3) Striped hat.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is Riva's number?

<ol start="55082"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What does Madam Overseer Lotta do that startles Riva?

She calls her by her name. Signup and view all the answers

What will Riva's scar remind her of?

Someone cared if she lived or died. Signup and view all the answers

What is Riva's new job?

To help wash, sterilize, and reroll bandages to be reused. Also to wash the outdoor bathtubs and toilets. Signup and view all the answers

What does the camp doctor agree to teach Riva? Why?

She teaches her to write with her left hand because she cannot write with her right. Poetry brings Riva joy. Signup and view all the answers

Who is the 'goddess of the sick'?

Camp doctor. Signup and view all the answers

How did the commandant think the Nazis killed the Jews' emotions?

By starving them, thinking all they could feel was hunger; all they wanted was food. Signup and view all the answers

Name three things the commandant says about Riva's poetry.

<ol> <li>Love, 2) Hope, 3) Feeling/She still dreams.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What are Riva's worries about working in the factory?

She cannot see; she cannot use her arm. Signup and view all the answers

Why haven't the girls of Barrack Two seen Riva?

She has been in the sickroom. Signup and view all the answers

What makes the long walks to the factory hard?

Snow covered roads. Signup and view all the answers

What things does Katia do for Riva?

<ol> <li>Massages her frozen toes 2) Gives her food (mashed potatoes, cooked vegetables, and bread) 3) Gives her a bath 4) Gives her information about the war.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What camp is Riva at now after the ride from Mittelsteine?

Grafenort - a place for nobles. Signup and view all the answers

What is significant about May 3, 1945?

Riva's last birthday as a prisoner (she is 19). Signup and view all the answers

What is significant about May 5, 1945?

Riva is free. Signup and view all the answers

What is significant about May 7, 1945?

WWII ends. Signup and view all the answers

What are Riva's two predictions while at Grafenort?

<ol> <li>You are digging your own grave. 2) As long as there is life, there is hope.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Riva's Experience at Auschwitz

Five steps upon arrival: undressing, head shaving, cold shower, receiving one piece of clothing, and being ordered to barracks.
Riva's motivation for survival stems from the need to find her loved ones: Motele, Moishele, and Mama.
Riva endures seven days in Auschwitz before making observations.

Life and Conditions in the Camps

Being sent to the right during the selection process results in life.
Mittelsteine differs from Auschwitz as it lacks chimneys, gas chambers, and ovens, indicating a less lethal environment.
Riva's bunk is uncomfortable and coffin-like, limiting her movement and sleep.

Survival and Health Struggles

Successful headcounts are crucial; if incident-free, it means no penalties for inmates that day.
Hanukkah approaches during Fall/Winter 1944, highlighting a significant Jewish holiday amidst hardship.
An infection develops from scraping her hand while working, causing Riva to face health challenges.
Riva associates the offer of bread and jam from the camp elder with impending death, signaling her deteriorating condition.
She wears a coat marked by a yellow star, carries a prisoner number (55082), and a striped hat when taken to the hospital.

Relationships and Emotional Support

Madam Overseer Lotta startlingly acknowledges Riva by name, indicating a strange familiarity in the oppressive environment.
Riva's resulting scar serves as a reminder of someone’s concern for her life.
Her new job involves washing and sterilizing bandages, which symbolizes a small yet meaningful contribution to survival.

The Role of Creativity and Expression

The camp doctor, considered the "goddess of the sick," teaches Riva to write with her left hand as a form of emotional escape.
The commandant believes the Nazis extinguished the Jews' emotions through starvation, mistakenly thinking only hunger remained.
Riva's poetry themes include love, hope, and dreams, suggesting resilience despite oppression.

Challenges and Struggles in the Factory

Riva faces significant obstacles working in the factory due to her limited vision and arm usage.
Barrack Two's girls are unaware of Riva's presence because she has been isolated in the sickroom.
Long walks to the factory are made difficult by snow-covered roads, emphasizing the harsh conditions.

Acts of Kindness and Companionship

Katia provides essential support to Riva: massages for her toes, food, a bath, and updates on the war, showcasing the importance of human connection in despair.

Transition and Liberation

Riva arrives at Grafenort, a camp for nobles, after being transferred from Mittelsteine.
Significant dates: May 3, 1945, marks Riva's last birthday as a prisoner at 19; May 5, 1945, signifies her freedom; and May 7, 1945, marks the end of WWII.
Riva harbors dual beliefs about life: a somber prediction about self-destruction and a hopeful assertion that as long as there is life, hope remains.

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Prepare for your final exam with this review of Chapters 25-48 from 'The Cage'. This quiz features flashcards covering key concepts, events, and character motivations that Riva experiences in Auschwitz. Enhance your understanding and retention of the material by testing your recall.