Remaining Chapters of Night

Due Thursday, February 17th:
Study Questions: Chapters SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, and NINE
1. Throughout the memoir, what various things have Elie and Chlomo “pretended” to believe? Explain these situations and the various motivations both Elie and his father had for their actions.
2. Why and how does Wiesel portray “Death” as a character?
3. What terrible thought does Elie have about Rabbi Elizahou’s son? What do the actions of Rabbi Elizahou’s son demonstrate about how these conditions changed people in the camps?
4. Think about the following questions: Why did the two men try to throw Elie’s father from the carriage? Why did the living "rejoice" when the order came to throw out the corpses? How did the prisoners in the wagon act like animals? What incident many years later reminds Elie of this event? After thinking about your answers to these questions, contrast the actions of those involved in both incidents.
5. Citing evidence from the memoir, describe the transition between the parent/child relationship. Your analysis should examine the changes that occur.
6. In your opinion, what does Elie mean when he says “free at last” at the end of chapter eight? Why, many years later, might he feel guilty for this?
7. Analyze the Wiesel’s last line.
8. Going back to the preface of the memoir, Wiesel wrote that “the witness has forced himself to testify. For the youth of today, for the children who will be born tomorrow. He does not want his past to become their future.” In your opinion, does Wiesel achieve the purpose for his testimony?