Background & Beginning
Who screams about fire on the train to Auschwitz?
Madame Schachter, who has visions of flames and furnaces.
What does Elie begin to question in the camp?
His faith in God and humanity.
Why do the prisoners begin a long march in winter?
The Nazis evacuate the camp as the Russians approach.
Why is Silence important in the memoir?
It represents the world's failure to speak out and act against the Holocaust.
Who warns the Jews of Sighet about the Nazis' plans?
Moshe the Beadie, who escapes after being deported and tries to warm others.
What do the Jews of Sighet initially believe about the German soldiers?
They believe the Germans are polite and not a threat.
What is Elie's initial reaction to Auschwitz?
Fear and disbelief, especially after seeing the flames and smelling burning flesh.
What does Elie fear when he visits the infirmary?
That the camp will be liberated and he'll be left behind.
What is a major theme in Night?
The danger of silence, the loss of faith, dehumanization, and survival.
What happens to the dentist who tries to extract Elie's gold crown?
He is arrested for keeping the gold for himself.
What is Elie's religious interest at the start of the memoir?
He is deeply religious, studying the Talmud and want to learn Kabbalah.
What number is tattooed on Elie's arm?
A-7713
What happens when prisoners are loaded into cattle cars again?
many die or are killed over food; they are given no shelter or care.
What was Elie Wiesel's purpose in writing Night?
To bear witness to the Holocaust and ensure the world never forgets.
What injury does Elie suffer before the March?
He has an infection in his foot.
Where are Elie and his family first transported to?
First to a ghetto, then Auschwitz-Birkenau.
What type of work does Elie do in the camp?
He works in an electrical warehouse (factory).
How does Elie feel after his father's death?
He feels numb and empty; he doesn't cry and feels guilty for his relief.
What does "Night" symbolize in the memoir/
Darkness, loss of faith, suffering, and the moral night of humanity.
How does Elie's view of God change throughout the book?
He loses his faith due to the horrors he witnesses and experiences.
Where is Elie Wiesel originally from?
Sighet, a town in Transylvania (then a part of Hungary, now Romania).
What happens to Elie's mother and sister upon arrival?
The are separated from Elie and later killed in the gas chamber.
What image does Elie see when he looks in the mirror at the end?
He sees a corpse staring back at him.
What literary genre is Night best classified as?
Autobiographical memoir (nonfiction)
What does Elie do when his father is beaten?
He feels ashamed for not doing anything and for being angry at his father.