Night Notes PDF

Getting Things Straight 1\. Describe Moshe the Beadle. Moshe was poor, humble, and deeply religious. 2\. In what year does the story begin? How old was the narrator at that time? The story begins in 1941, and Elie was 12. 3\. Describe the narrator's family. Elie had three sisters, and his fami...

Getting Things Straight 1\. Describe Moshe the Beadle. Moshe was poor, humble, and deeply religious. 2\. In what year does the story begin? How old was the narrator at that time? The story begins in 1941, and Elie was 12. 3\. Describe the narrator's family. Elie had three sisters, and his family owned a shop. His father was respected in the community. 4\. Moshe says he prays and what kinds of prayers does he make? Moshe prays to understand God's will. 5\. Why does Moshe say he prays, and what story does Moshe tell when the narrator and Moshe reunite after a separation of several months? Moshe prays to find answers. He later tells how he escaped after being taken and seeing Jews killed. 6\. How do the townspeople of Sighet respond about the deportees? They didn't believe Moshe and thought he was crazy. 7\. What was the attitude of the people of Sighet in the spring of 1944? They were optimistic and didn't believe they were in danger. 8\. What happened around Passover in 1944? The Germans arrived, set rules, and took control of the Jews' lives. 9\. Describe the ghettos. The ghettos were fenced-off areas where Jews were forced to live, crowded and isolated. 10\. What is the people's initial reaction to the ghettos? They tried to adapt and saw it as temporary. 11\. How much time were the Jews of Sighet given to prepare to be deported? What were they permitted to take with them? They had 24 hours and could only take a small bag of clothes and food. 12\. What event caused the narrator to witness his father's weeping for the first time in his life? His father cried when they were forced to leave their home. 13\. Why were there no Hungarian police present at the expulsion? The police were too busy managing the deportations elsewhere. Delving In 1\. Why does Wiesel emphasize that people thought things were normal? It shows their hope and denial of the growing danger. 2\. Why does Wiesel mention the times his family could have escaped? To show the missed chances and the tragedy of fate. 3\. How does the emphasis on nightfall affect the mood of the story? It creates fear, sadness, and a sense of doom. Getting Things Straight 1\. When did the narrator and his neighbors realize they were being taken out of Hungary? When the train crossed the Hungarian border. 2\. Who was Madame Schachter? How did she upset the passengers on the train? How did the passengers stop her from this behavior? She was a woman who screamed about fire and furnaces. Passengers beat her to silence her. 3\. What rumors did they hear about Auschwitz when they finally arrived? They heard it was a labor camp with good conditions and families would stay together. Delving In 1\. Why do you think Wiesel included the story of Madame Schachter in his memoir? To show how people ignored warnings and dismissed signs of the coming horrors. Vocabulary 1\. Pestilential - Related to disease or something harmful and deadly. 2\. Truncheon - A club, like a police officer's baton. Allusions/References 1\. Birkenau - A part of Auschwitz, the largest Nazi extermination camp, where 960,000 Jews and many others were killed. 2\. Auschwitz - The largest concentration and extermination camp during WWII, divided into three parts: Auschwitz I (administrative), Auschwitz II-Birkenau (extermination), and Auschwitz III (labor camp). Literary Terms 1\. Foreshadowing - A literary device where hints or warnings about future events are given. Vocabulary 1\. Noncommissioned officer - A low-ranking officer chosen from enlisted men. 2\. Unremittingly - Constantly, without stopping. 3\. Antechamber - A waiting room. 4\. Convalescent home - A place for recovery from illness. 5\. Colic - Severe stomach pain. 6\. Compulsory - Required, mandatory. 7\. Wizened - Shrunken and wrinkled. Allusions/References 1\. SS - Hitler's elite military unit responsible for most Nazi war crimes. 2\. Dr. Mengele - An SS doctor who performed experiments on prisoners. 3\. Kaddish - A Jewish prayer for the dead. 4\. Kapos - Prisoners assigned by the Nazis to supervise others in camps. 5\. Gypsy - A term used for the Roma people persecuted during WWII. 6\. Buna - A sub-camp of Auschwitz. Literary Terms 1\. Irony of the Situation - When the opposite of what is expected happens. 2\. Verbal Irony - When the literal meaning of words is opposite to their intended meaning. Getting Things Straight 1\. What eight words stand out in Wiesel's mind from the last moment he saw his mother? "Men to the left, women to the right." 2\. What were Elie's and his father's actual ages? What did they tell the SS their ages were? Why? Elie was 15, and his father was 50, but they said 18 and 40 to avoid being killed. 3\. How did the older men calm the younger ones when they learned from prisoners where they were? They told them not to lose hope and to keep faith. 4\. What profession did Elie claim when he spoke to Dr. Mengele? He said he was a farmer. 5\. What caused Elie to begin to question his faith in God? The burning of children in the crematorium. 6\. Who is Bela Katz? A prisoner forced to work in the crematorium and burn his own father's body. 7\. What change came over Elie after his first night in the camp? He felt like he lost his faith and innocence. 8\. Why was Elie allowed to keep his new shoes? They were covered in mud and not noticed by the guards. 9\. What is ironic about the death's head mark on the electric fencing? The fence warned of death, but prisoners wanted to use it to escape suffering. 10\. What is ironic about the sign over the entrance to Auschwitz? It said, "Work makes you free," but no one gained freedom. 11\. What block were Elie and his father assigned to? Describe the prisoner in charge when they arrived. They were in Block 17, and the prisoner in charge was kind and comforting. 12\. What number was Elie assigned? A-7713. 13\. Why did Elie lie to Stein? To give him hope by saying his family was alive. Delving In 1\. How do ironic details in Chapter 3 contribute to Wiesel's tone? They highlight the cruelty and hopelessness of camp life. Night Chapter 4 Study Guide Allusions/References Define each term: Haifa: A port city in Israel. Aryan: A term Nazis used for a "pure" German race, often with blond hair and blue eyes. Lagerkapo: A head prisoner in charge of other prisoners in a concentration camp. Oberkapo: A chief Kapo supervising several Kapos. Pipel: A young boy who served and assisted the Kapos. Getting Things Straight 1\. What advice were Elie and his companions given by veteran prisoners at Buna? They were told to lie about their age and profession to improve their chances of survival. 2\. What block were Elie and his father assigned at Buna? What sort of work were they forced to do? They were assigned to the musicians' block and had to sort electrical parts in a warehouse. 3\. What was ironic about the dentist who was supposed to extract Elie's gold crown? Why was the dentist thrown in prison? The dentist, who was stealing gold for himself, got caught and punished for it. 4\. What feelings came over Elie when Idek beat his father? He felt angry, but at his father for not avoiding Idek's wrath. 5\. How did Franek punish Elie for not giving him his gold crown? Franek beat Elie's father until Elie gave in. 6\. Why did Idek whip Elie? Elie caught him with a woman and laughed. 7\. Who was the only victim of the air raid on Buna? A man who tried to steal soup during the raid. 8\. What did the two prisoners who helped with the hanging get as a reward? They were given more food. 9\. What was unusual about the hanging of the Pipel? The boy was so light that he didn't die immediately, and he struggled for a long time. Delving In 1\. How do sentence fragments contribute to the tone and mood of the story? They make the writing more intense and reflect the chaos and fear of the events. 2\. What was Elie's reaction to watching his father being punished? Is it what the reader would expect? He felt guilty for not helping and angry at his father. It's surprising because readers might expect him to feel only sadness or outrage. Night Chapter 5 Study Guide Vocabulary Define each term: Lamentation: Expression of sorrow or grief. Mirage: An illusion or something that appears real but isn't. Countenance: A person's face or facial expression. Atonement: Making up for sins or wrongdoings. Reprieve: A temporary relief or delay. Interminable: Seeming endless. Emaciated: Extremely thin due to lack of food. Crucible: A severe trial or challenge. Decisive: Final or conclusive. Fortnight: Two weeks. Allusions/References Define each term: Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year, a holy day of prayer and reflection. Adam and Eve: The first humans in the Bible. Noah: A biblical figure who built the ark during the flood. Sodom: A biblical city destroyed due to sin. Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement, a Jewish holy day of fasting and repentance. Musulman: A term used in camps for prisoners close to death. Achtung: German for "attention." Calvary: The site of Jesus' crucifixion. Getting Things Straight 1\. What was strange about the last day of the year in this particular year? Prisoners were debating whether to pray despite their suffering. 2\. Describe Elie's state of mind and thoughts during the Rosh Hashanah prayer service. He doubted God and felt angry instead of hopeful. 3\. What is ironic about people in this chapter wishing one another a Happy New Year? They were in the middle of extreme suffering and death. 4\. Why did people debate whether or not to fast on Yom Kippur? What was Elie's decision? Fasting would weaken them further. Elie chose not to fast as an act of rebellion. 5\. What "New Year's gift" did the SS give the prisoners? Another selection process to decide who would live or die. 6\. What advice did the head of the block give regarding selection? Run, appear strong, and don't be afraid. 7\. After he finds out his father's number was taken at the selection, what is Elie referring to when he says "the inheritance"? A spoon and knife his father gave him, symbolizing survival. 8\. What is ironic in the statement, "How well they were treating me! Like an orphan!" It sarcastically highlights the cruel treatment disguised as care. 9\. Why did Elie go to the hospital? He had an infected foot. 10\. What does Wiesel mean when he says rumors of the front moving closer were "an injection of morphine"? The rumors gave them temporary hope and relief from despair. 11\. Why did Elie leave the hospital early? In retrospect, was his decision a good one? He didn't want to be left behind during the evacuation. It saved his life since those left behind were killed. Delving In 1\. Find three examples from Chapter 5 where Wiesel comments on night or nightfall. How does this focus on night affect the tone of the story? Night symbolizes death, suffering, and loss of faith. Examples: The Rosh Hashanah prayer occurred at night. The selection process often happened at night. Elie reflects on the darkness of his faith and spirit. This focus makes the tone grim and hopeless. Chapter 6: Vocabulary 1\. (Choose 3 difficult words from the chapter and look up their meanings.) Allusions/Reference Gleiwitz Getting Things Straight 1\. How did Elie motivate himself to keep running? He thought of his father and didn't want to leave him alone. 2\. Describe Rabbi Eliahou's effect on the prisoners. What sad event did Elie witness relating to the Rabbi? Rabbi Eliahou gave them hope. Elie saw his son abandon him while running. 3\. Summarize Elie's recollection of Juliek. Juliek played his violin one last time before he died. 4\. How did Elie save his father from the selection when Gleiwitz was evacuated? Elie caused confusion, pulled his father to the other side, and saved him. Chapter 7: Vocabulary 1\. (Choose 3 difficult words from the chapter and look up their meanings.) Allusions/References Aden Buchenwald Getting Things Straight 1\. What is ironic in the prisoners' reaction to the order to throw the corpses from the train into the field? The prisoners were happy because it made more space for them. 2\. Find two examples of metaphors from this chapter. (Choose 2 examples of metaphors from the text, like "The night was endless.") 3\. What is the effect of Elie's descriptions of the cries of the dying prisoners? It shows how much pain and suffering surrounded them. 4\. How many of the prisoners originally loaded into the train car survived the journey to Buchenwald? Only 12 out of 100 survived. Delving In 1\. In this chapter, Elie includes an anecdote about the Parisienne throwing money to children at Aden. Find two other examples from the novel where Elie includes memories from his life after the war. Why do you think he includes these memories in his narrative? Examples: (a) Reflection on his father's death, (b) The reaction to the liberation of the camp. Why: To show how these events stayed with him and shaped who he became. Let me know if you'd like anything else added or revised!