Question

English II: Night

Study Questions

Directions: Save this document to your computer. After you have finished reading Night by Elie Wiesel, compose your answers in the space provided. The answer boxes will expand as you type.

Your responses should be in the form of detailed paragraphs. A well-written paragraph is at least five sentences. Each question will require more than one paragraph to fully answer. Use specific examples from the book to support your claims.


1. Dehumanization is the process by which the Nazis gradually reduced the Jews to little more than "things" which were a nuisance to them. Discuss at least three specific examples of events that occurred which dehumanized Eliezer, his father, or his fellow Jews.



2. After Eliezer’s father was beaten by Idek, a Kapo, Eliezer says, "I had watched the whole scene without moving. I kept quiet. In fact, I was thinking of how to get farther away so that I would not be hit myself. What is more, any anger I felt at that moment was directed, not against the Kapo, but against my father. I was angry with him, for not knowing how to avoid Idek’s outbreak. That is what concentration camp life had made of me." Discuss what the last line signifies. Discuss how his attitude had changed.



3. Discuss why you think the townspeople remained complacent despite the advance of the German army.



4. Discuss why Eliezer lied to Stein, his relative, about Stein’s family. Discuss whether you think he was morally right.



5. Discuss the significance of "night" in the novel. Cite examples from the story to support your answer.




6. Explain the author’s meaning when he says after the handing of the youth from Warsaw that "the soup tasted excellent that evening," yet after the pipel was hanged, "the soup tasted of corpses."

Answer 1

I only know a few of the answers, so I will give them to you in a short answer format, based on which you can construct your paragraph. I hope it helps!

Step-by-step explanation:

1. Three examples:

a. Beating up his father with an iron bar for doing nothing wrong (Page 54)

b. Whipping Elie on the crate in front of all of the inmates, after Elie accidently caught him having you know what with the young Polish girl. (Page 57)

c. Having sons throw their fathers in furnaces (Chapter 3)

2. The last line meant that Elie was no longer the Elizer that he used to be. He's like a total stranger. Elie was angry at his father for being weak and not for defending himself. He probably believed that showing you're strong can prevent you from being beaten up.

3. The townspeople thought that the Germans wouldn't reach their town. However, they were wrong though. Furthermore, the Germans approached with such kindness that they believed in every single word they said. Also, the people were kinda like outcasts..

4. Elizer lied to Stein because he thought it would pain Stein if he finds out that his family were probably dead. Besides, his family was his reason to survive. He was happy when he thought his family were okay. -> He was weeping with joy. (pg.44) Elie's mother hasn't received a letter from her niece since 1940.

5. The significance of "night" in the novel is that its a symbol of darkness. Remember night means dark and stuff like that? Well, while Elie was in the camp he struggled to survive. In this place, it is every man for himself, and you cannot think of other. Not even your father. (pg.110)

6. Second quote means that Elie saw a young boy be killed in front of many people. He was so young. Death was around Elie. (I am not sure about this one though...)