NightNight by Elie Wiesel by Elie Wiesel

Study Guide NotesStudy Guide Notes

NightNight Study Guide Notes Study Guide Notes

The original title Elie Wiesel gave the The original title Elie Wiesel gave the novel was novel was And the World Has Remained And the World Has Remained SilentSilent..

He wrote this book after 10 years of He wrote this book after 10 years of silence. silence.

By the end of the Holocaust, over 6 million By the end of the Holocaust, over 6 million Jews had been killed.Jews had been killed.

THEMES IN NIGHTTHEMES IN NIGHT

SILENCE is never the solution.SILENCE is never the solution.Others’ silence ALLOWS Others’ silence ALLOWS

Nazis to take over EuropeNazis to take over EuropeSilence from GodSilence from GodWiesel advises not to be Wiesel advises not to be

silent witnesses to hatesilent witnesses to hate

THEMES: EVIL EXISTS IN THEMES: EVIL EXISTS IN THIS WORLD. THIS WORLD.

ELIE QUESTIONS HIS FAITHELIE QUESTIONS HIS FAITH

CONTINUES TO PRAY TO HIS GOD, CONTINUES TO PRAY TO HIS GOD, THOUGH so THAT HE WILL NOT THOUGH so THAT HE WILL NOT BETRAY HIS FATHERBETRAY HIS FATHER

RECOGNIZES THAT THOSE RECOGNIZES THAT THOSE PRISONERS WHO LOST FAITH SOON PRISONERS WHO LOST FAITH SOON DIEDDIED

THEME:MAN CAN BE THEME:MAN CAN BE INHUMANE TO OTHERS.INHUMANE TO OTHERS.

ELIE SHOCKED THAT MANKIND IS SO CRUELELIE SHOCKED THAT MANKIND IS SO CRUEL When foreign Jews are deported, When foreign Jews are deported, When Moishe the Beadles returns and reports German When Moishe the Beadles returns and reports German

atrocities,atrocities, When Fascists take over the town,When Fascists take over the town,

The town insists all is well……The town insists all is well……

When Eliezer suggests they move to Palestine,When Eliezer suggests they move to Palestine,

THEME:INHUMANITY TO MANTHEME:INHUMANITY TO MAN When Eliezer wants to go to Palestine, When Eliezer wants to go to Palestine,

his father refuses…his father refuses… When Maria offers them refuge in her When Maria offers them refuge in her

home in another village, they do not home in another village, they do not leave…leave…

Those in Sighet cannot believe that Those in Sighet cannot believe that human beings can be so cruel to others human beings can be so cruel to others

THEME: THE ANIMALIZATION THEME: THE ANIMALIZATION OF HUMANS OCCURS WHEN EVIL OF HUMANS OCCURS WHEN EVIL

IS ALLOWED TO IS ALLOWED TO FLOURISHFLOURISH

PRISONERS BECOME LIKE PRISONERS BECOME LIKE ANIMALS IN THE ANIMALS IN THE CONCENTRATION CAMPSCONCENTRATION CAMPS

EVEN THE KAPOS TREAT EVEN THE KAPOS TREAT PRISONERS LIKE THE SS DOES.PRISONERS LIKE THE SS DOES.

ANIMALIZATION: SONS TURN ANIMALIZATION: SONS TURN AGAINST THEIR FATHERS AGAINST THEIR FATHERS ELIE WITNESSES A SON BEATING HIS ELIE WITNESSES A SON BEATING HIS

FATHER (Pipel)FATHER (Pipel)

RABBI ELIAHOU’S SON ABANDONS HIM RABBI ELIAHOU’S SON ABANDONS HIM DURING MARCH FROM BUNADURING MARCH FROM BUNA

A SON BEATS HIS FATHER OVER CRUST A SON BEATS HIS FATHER OVER CRUST OF BREADOF BREAD

THEME:THEME:

IT IS IMPORTANT TO IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE REMEMBER THE

HOLOCAUSTHOLOCAUST

SYMBOLSSYMBOLS

NIGHTNIGHT STANDS FOR DEATHSTANDS FOR DEATH

• INNOCENCEINNOCENCE

• LIVESLIVES

• CHILDHOODCHILDHOOD

• FAITHFAITH

SYMBOLSSYMBOLS

FIREFIRE STANDS FOR HELLSTANDS FOR HELL MADAM SCHACTERMADAM SCHACTER BURNING BABIESBURNING BABIES SPECTER OF FURNACESPECTER OF FURNACE IRONY IS THAT FIRE IS USED TO IRONY IS THAT FIRE IS USED TO

PUNISH THE INNOCENT.PUNISH THE INNOCENT.

NightNight Study Guide Notes Study Guide Notes

There are five motifs to look for while There are five motifs to look for while reading reading NightNight:: Night – pay attention to what happens at night Night – pay attention to what happens at night

and what that might symbolize. Remember and what that might symbolize. Remember what we learned when we talked about what we learned when we talked about archetypes and what night might symbolize.archetypes and what night might symbolize.

Bearing Witness – Pay attention to which Bearing Witness – Pay attention to which characters are witnesses and to what they characters are witnesses and to what they bear witness.bear witness.

NightNight Study Guide Notes Study Guide Notes

Motifs (continued):Motifs (continued): Father-son Relationships – Pay attention to Father-son Relationships – Pay attention to

how Elie and his father’s relationship how Elie and his father’s relationship develops; in addition, notice other father-son develops; in addition, notice other father-son relationships in the book.relationships in the book.

Loss of faith – Notice how Elie’s faith in God Loss of faith – Notice how Elie’s faith in God changes as the book progresses. Write on changes as the book progresses. Write on your study guides where these changes your study guides where these changes occur.occur.

NightNight Study Guide Notes Study Guide Notes

Motifs (continued):Motifs (continued): Voice vs. Silence – Who has a voice and who Voice vs. Silence – Who has a voice and who

chooses to remain silent? Why might Elie chooses to remain silent? Why might Elie Wiesel title his novel what he did originally, Wiesel title his novel what he did originally, and why did he no longer remain silent?and why did he no longer remain silent?

We will learn that Poland had the largest We will learn that Poland had the largest population of Jews in Europe.population of Jews in Europe.

NightNight Study Guide Notes Study Guide Notes

In Poland, 90% of the approximately In Poland, 90% of the approximately 3,000,000 Jews were murdered in the 3,000,000 Jews were murdered in the Holocaust.Holocaust.

As you read, look for times that Wiesel As you read, look for times that Wiesel mentions the people in surrounding towns.mentions the people in surrounding towns.

There are several groups who contributed There are several groups who contributed to the Holocaust, persecutors and by-to the Holocaust, persecutors and by-standers included. standers included.

Why are by-standers just as important as Why are by-standers just as important as the persecutors?the persecutors?