Night Characters
Who said this "I wanted to come back to Sighet to tell you the story of my death. So that you could prepare yourselves while there still was time. . . I wanted to come back, and to warn you. And see how it is, no one will listen to me.”
Moshe the Beadle
During the time that Eliezer spends with Moshe the Beadle, what is the main topic that they discuss?
They discuss prayer and the ancient teachings of the Cabbala.
A young, Polish man called Zalman is running beside Eliezer during the march. As they are running, what happens to Zalman?
Zalman gets a pain in his side, falls down, and is trampled by the other men.
Abut
to join at one end or be next to; to support, prop up
Divergent
going in different directions; different from each other; departing from conversation, deviant
“Jews, listen to me! I can see a fire! There are huge flames! It is a furnace!”
Madame Schachter
When Moshe returns to Sighet after being taken by the Hungarian police, he tries to tell everyone of his experience. What exactly happened to the foreign Jews that were taken from Sighet, according to Moshe?
They were forced to dig mass graves and then they were killed and buried.
What is the one thing Eliezer says keeps him from letting himself die?
Eliezer says that his father’s presence and dependence on him is the only thing keeping him alive.
Attire
clothes, apparel, garb; (v.) to dress, adorn, or bedeck
Enmity
hatred, ill-will
“There’s a long road of suffering ahead of you. Don’t lose courage. You’ve already escaped the gravest danger: selection. So now, muster your strength, and don’t lose heart. . . Above all else, have faith. . .We are all brothers, and we are all suffering the same fate.”
SS Officer on his first night in Auschwitz.
What does Moshe do so that he is able to return to Sighet to tell his story?
He pretends to be dead after being shot in the leg and is later able to escape
After the march, what happens to many of the men after they arrive at the shed?
Many of the men lie down in the snow and end up dying in their sleep.
Avail
to be of use or benefit to; to make use of; to take advantage of; to profit or benefit; use, benefit, or value
Fervent
very earnest, emotional, passionate; extremely hot
“Bite your lip, little brother. . .Don’t cry. Keep your anger and hatred for another day, for later on. The day will come, but not now. . .Wait. Grit your teeth and wait.”
The French girl
Once Eliezer’s family arrives at Birkenau, the holding center for Auschwitz, what is the first thing that happens to them?
They are separated into two groups: able-bodied men to the left, women and children to the right.
What happens when the cattle trains pass through the towns?
The townspeople throw bread into the cattle trains because they find pleasure in watching the men kill each other to get a piece of bread.
Crony
a very close friend, pal, chum, buddy
Gaunt
thin and bony, starved looking; bare, barren
"I’ve got more faith in Hitler than in anyone else. He’s the only one who’s kept his promises, all his promises, to the Jewish people.”
Ellie
During Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, all the men celebrate and praise God despite their circumstances. What is Eliezer’s reaction to the celebration?
Eliezer is rebellious and angry that anyone would worship a God that he believes left the Jews to be massacred.
When Eliezer realizes his father is missing, what does he do?
He decides to search for his father but secretly hopes that he will not be able to find him because he now sees his father as a burden.
Cryptic
puzzling, mystifying, or enigmatic
Infiltrate
to pass through or gain entrance to gradually or stealthily