Life in Sighet
Where does Elie live at the beginning of the story?
Sighet, Transylvania
What are Jews forced to wear?
Yellow stars
What condition are the cattle cars in?
Overcrowded with little food or water
What infamous phrase is associated with Auschwitz?
“Work makes you free”
What was Mengele’s role at Auschwitz?
A doctor who performed selections and experiments
Who is Moché the Beadle?
A poor man who teaches Elie about Jewish mysticism
What are ghettos?
Segregated areas where Jews were forced to live
Who starts screaming about fire?
Mrs. Schächter
What happens during selection?
People are separated based on ability to work
What was he known as?
The “Angel of Death”
What happens to Moché before he returns?
He is deported and escapes execution
What happens to Jewish homes in Sighet?
They are taken over or abandoned
What do people think about Mrs. Schächter's visions?
They think she is crazy
Who does Elie get separated from?
His mother and sister
What type of people was he especially interested in?
Twins
How do the townspeople react to Moché’s warnings?
They don’t believe him
What are people told about their deportation?
That they are being relocated for work
What do Mrs. Schächter's visions foreshadow?
The crematoriums at Auschwitz
What do the flames represent?
The burning of bodies in crematoriums
What did he decide during selection?
Who lived and who died
What is Elie studying at the start of the book?
The Talmud and Kabbalah
How are people transported from Sighet?
In crowded cattle cars
How do the passengers treat Mrs. Schächter?
They beat and silence her
What lie helps Elie survive selection?
Saying he is older/younger and able to work
What was the purpose of his experiments?
To study genetics and racial traits