Vocabulary
a poor urban area occupied primarily by a minority group or groups
A ghetto
What did some of the passengers do to quiet Madame Schacter?
They bound and gagged her to prevent her from screaming. They feared everyone would get in trouble.
What was the first horrifying sight that Elie, at first, disbelieved?
A burning/fiery ditch filled with the bodies of children/infants.
What were the objectives of the medical examinations?
To check health status and to find gold teeth in the prisoners.
Why didn’t Elie fast on Yom Kippur?
He was slowly losing faith in his religion.
relating to or tending to cause infectious diseases
Pestilential
Upon his return, what story did Moshe tell?
He was expelled from Sighet with other foreign Jews. They were made to dig their own graves, then they were shot.
Explain what Elie meant when he said, “Never shall I forget these flames which consumed my faith forever.”
The Nazis/Holocaust stole his concept/faith in his religion.
Why was Elie beaten in front of the camp?
He witnessed Idek with an underaged Polish girl and laughed.
What advice was Elie give to pass the selection process?
Run so you look more alive; run so fast the guards can't read your number.
not stopping or ceasing
Unremittingly
Why didn’t the people believe him?
They didn't want to believe humans could be so cruel and inhumane.
What was Elie’s first impression of Auschwitz after leaving Birkenau?
Elie initially believed it to be a "rest home" compared to Birkenau.
Describe the scene with the man and the soup cauldrons.
A man crawled toward the unattended soup cauldrons and just as he lifted himself up to get some he was shot and killed.
What time of year is it at the end of Chapter 5?
Winter
making or constituting a disturbingly harsh and loud noise
Raucous
What was foreshadowed by Madame Schacter’s nightmare?
The furnaces/crematories (fire/death)
What was the “compulsory formality” at the entrance to all camps?
Selection
Describe why Elie cried during one of the hangings.
The prisoner being hanged was a little boy. He was too small to be hanged properly, and he died a very slow, painful death.
What was unique about Elie's doctor?
He was Jewish and a prisoner.
clarity of expression; intelligibility
Lucidity
Why did Elie spend so much time with Moche the Beadle?
Moche was guiding Elie's studies of the cabbala.
What was Bela Katz forced to do once he was chosen for his strength?
He had to put his father's body in the crematory oven.
Why were the Jewish musicians not allowed to play music by Beethoven?
Jews were not allowed to play German music.
How did Elie’s father respond when he learned his name had been written down? What did he give Elie?
He was panicked because he did not see the guards write his number down. He gave Elie his knife and spoon.