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At the beginning of Section 7, Eliezer describes how “night was growing longer, never-ending.” What does night represent in this passage?

(Book Night) (20 points)
Write a paragraph explaining your answer. Support your response with at least two pieces of evidence from the text.

User Betehess
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Answer:

In the context of the passage, night represents the darkness and hopelessness that pervades Eliezer's experience in the concentration camp. The phrase "never-ending" suggests that the darkness is not just physical, but also symbolic of the endless suffering and despair that Eliezer and the other prisoners are experiencing. The passage describes how "the days were like nights, and the nights left the dregs of their darkness in our souls." This metaphorical language suggests that the darkness of the night is not just external, but is also affecting the prisoners' internal state of mind. Furthermore, the fact that the night is growing longer implies a sense of foreboding and a lack of hope for a better future. The darkness seems to stretch out endlessly, and there is no end in sight to the prisoners' suffering. Overall, the passage uses the image of a never-ending night to convey the sense of hopelessness and despair that characterizes Eliezer's experience in the concentration camp.

User Fernando Ferreira
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