INTRO
1) Elie Wiesel is introduced as a Jewish kid who wants to study Cabbala. He lives in Sighet, Romania, during the Holocaust.
2) The Germans came, and at first, nobody thought anything was wrong. They believed that the Russian army would save them before any problems happened.
3) Jewish were ordered not to leave their houses for three days, or else they would be killed.
4) Jews were told that they had no right to keep any "gold, jewels, or objects of value".
5) Jews were ordered to wear the yellow star.
6) The Jewish were deported and sent to Auschwitz.
Rising Action
7) The Jewish were separated: based on strength, age, gender, and looks.
8) Elie was separated from his mother and sister.
9) The weak were burned in the crematoriums, and the strong were forced to work.
10) Dentist take gold teeth from inmates.
11) Elie's dad was beaten in front of him, and Elie was mad at his dad for it.
12) Elie is lashed for "seeing" an officer disobeying his own orders.
13) Auschwitz was bombed.
14) Elie's father was picked for the crematorium.
15) Elie and his father were moved to Buchenwald.
16) Elie's father died.
17) Americans arrived in Buchenwald.
Climax
18) Elie was saved.
Falling Action
19) The rescued eat; however, don't think about revenge.
Resolution
20) Elie has never forgotten the look in his dead father's eyes, and remembers watching his father die.
Characterization
Elie- the main character, and also the author of Night; at first he was very optimistic and thought nothing bad would happen. He even discarded Moche the Beadle's warning of danger because he thought it impossible. He is a dynamic character because he goes from being calm and optimistic to being quiet and sad. He is also a round character because he is explained as a young boy who has a very close connection with his father, and the story explains all of his emotions throughout his experiences. Elie is the author, who wrote a book on his experiences in Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and other concentration camps. He is a major character because he is the character described throughout the book.
Elie's Father- an old an intelligent man, who wished nothing more than the safety of Elie. He is a major character because he is with Elie through most of the book and he plays the role as Elie's motivation to live in certain points. He is an important part of the story because he wants to protect Elie and supports him until he dies. When he dies, Elie is devastated, and once the American's arrive and save Elie, Elie still remembers his father's face as he died.
Moche the Beadle- a religious man, he was very poor and taught Elie in the ways of cabbala, even though nobody else in the town would. He was deported first, and sent on a train never to return; however, by playing dead, he escaped. Once he escaped, he came back to Sighet to warn the Jews to escape, but nobody believed him. Not even Elie. Believed to have been taken by madness, he watched in horror as the Germans came to Sighet and deported them.
The French Girl- In the 5th Section of the Book, as Elie is being beaten by Idek. She appears Jewish, but she was known as Aryan. When Idek finished beating Elie, she comforted him, telling him not to cry. She is a flat character, because we really are not informed much about her.
The PICTURE Method
Section One:
Prediction: I believe that the Germans will turn out worse than everybody in the town expects. I also expect that many Jewish will die.
Image:
1) Elie Wiesel is introduced as a Jewish kid who wants to study Cabbala. He lives in Sighet, Romania, during the Holocaust.
2) The Germans came, and at first, nobody thought anything was wrong. They believed that the Russian army would save them before any problems happened.
3) Jewish were ordered not to leave their houses for three days, or else they would be killed.
4) Jews were told that they had no right to keep any "gold, jewels, or objects of value".
5) Jews were ordered to wear the yellow star.
6) The Jewish were deported and sent to Auschwitz.
Rising Action
7) The Jewish were separated: based on strength, age, gender, and looks.
8) Elie was separated from his mother and sister.
9) The weak were burned in the crematoriums, and the strong were forced to work.
10) Dentist take gold teeth from inmates.
11) Elie's dad was beaten in front of him, and Elie was mad at his dad for it.
12) Elie is lashed for "seeing" an officer disobeying his own orders.
13) Auschwitz was bombed.
14) Elie's father was picked for the crematorium.
15) Elie and his father were moved to Buchenwald.
16) Elie's father died.
17) Americans arrived in Buchenwald.
Climax
18) Elie was saved.
Falling Action
19) The rescued eat; however, don't think about revenge.
Resolution
20) Elie has never forgotten the look in his dead father's eyes, and remembers watching his father die.
Characterization
Elie- the main character, and also the author of Night; at first he was very optimistic and thought nothing bad would happen. He even discarded Moche the Beadle's warning of danger because he thought it impossible. He is a dynamic character because he goes from being calm and optimistic to being quiet and sad. He is also a round character because he is explained as a young boy who has a very close connection with his father, and the story explains all of his emotions throughout his experiences. Elie is the author, who wrote a book on his experiences in Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and other concentration camps. He is a major character because he is the character described throughout the book.
Elie's Father- an old an intelligent man, who wished nothing more than the safety of Elie. He is a major character because he is with Elie through most of the book and he plays the role as Elie's motivation to live in certain points. He is an important part of the story because he wants to protect Elie and supports him until he dies. When he dies, Elie is devastated, and once the American's arrive and save Elie, Elie still remembers his father's face as he died.
Moche the Beadle- a religious man, he was very poor and taught Elie in the ways of cabbala, even though nobody else in the town would. He was deported first, and sent on a train never to return; however, by playing dead, he escaped. Once he escaped, he came back to Sighet to warn the Jews to escape, but nobody believed him. Not even Elie. Believed to have been taken by madness, he watched in horror as the Germans came to Sighet and deported them.
The French Girl- In the 5th Section of the Book, as Elie is being beaten by Idek. She appears Jewish, but she was known as Aryan. When Idek finished beating Elie, she comforted him, telling him not to cry. She is a flat character, because we really are not informed much about her.
The PICTURE Method
Section One:
Prediction: I believe that the Germans will turn out worse than everybody in the town expects. I also expect that many Jewish will die.
Image:
Clarifications: As I was reading, I had to go back and clarify that these people refused to believe anything was wrong. They wouldn't even believe Moche the Beadle!
Questions: What did Moche think when he realized that nobody would listen to him? Did he get deported again with the others? If so, did they recognize him?
Connections: I know that the Holocaust was part of the World War. Adolph Hitler began killing all Jewish people, blaming that Germany lost the war because of the Jews.
Summary: The Jewish slowly lose more and more rights, and yet they remain optimistic. Then they get deported.
Section 2
Predict: I predicted that the woman screaming "Fire!" was right, and that she foresaw the future.
Image:
Questions: What did Moche think when he realized that nobody would listen to him? Did he get deported again with the others? If so, did they recognize him?
Connections: I know that the Holocaust was part of the World War. Adolph Hitler began killing all Jewish people, blaming that Germany lost the war because of the Jews.
Summary: The Jewish slowly lose more and more rights, and yet they remain optimistic. Then they get deported.
Section 2
Predict: I predicted that the woman screaming "Fire!" was right, and that she foresaw the future.
Image:
Clarify: When I read that there were eighty people in a car, I was extremely confused. I wondered how so many people could even fit in one section!
Questions: What would happen if anybody on board the car agreed with the woman screaming fire? Also, what would somebody in the back of the car do if they had to get off to get on the medical car?
Connections: When I read the word "car", I knew the book was referring to a train car, especially when it mentioned that a car held 80+ people. Also, I would feel horrible for claustrophobic people.
Summary: The Jewish were on their ways to Auschwitz, but they didn't know it. One of the female passengers on board began screaming "Fire" and everybody thought she was insane. They even beat her to quiet her down. But she was referring to the crematoriums that would soon claim many of their families and friends.
Section 3
Predictions: When I read that the Jewish were being separated, I mentally made a note of what I thought would happen. And it did: Elie was separated from his mother and sister.
Image:
Questions: What would happen if anybody on board the car agreed with the woman screaming fire? Also, what would somebody in the back of the car do if they had to get off to get on the medical car?
Connections: When I read the word "car", I knew the book was referring to a train car, especially when it mentioned that a car held 80+ people. Also, I would feel horrible for claustrophobic people.
Summary: The Jewish were on their ways to Auschwitz, but they didn't know it. One of the female passengers on board began screaming "Fire" and everybody thought she was insane. They even beat her to quiet her down. But she was referring to the crematoriums that would soon claim many of their families and friends.
Section 3
Predictions: When I read that the Jewish were being separated, I mentally made a note of what I thought would happen. And it did: Elie was separated from his mother and sister.
Image:
Clarify: When I read that the prisoners told them their ages, I had to re-read the paragraph several times to make sense out of it. The prisoners were helping Elie and his father.
Questions: What path would they choose if you were only 17? Why did kids Elie's age go with their mother's?
Connections: Many people try to help others out, but many do not succeed. Like the prisoners who helped Elie and his father survive the division. The two prisoners were trying to save Elie's life. And they did.
Summary: The group is marched toward a pit of fire, where women and children are thrown in. Suddenly, they are told to march left, and are taken to Auschwitz.
Section 4
Predictions: I predicted that the dentist would eventually hunt down Elie and take his gold tooth, but my prediction was wrong
Image:
Questions: What path would they choose if you were only 17? Why did kids Elie's age go with their mother's?
Connections: Many people try to help others out, but many do not succeed. Like the prisoners who helped Elie and his father survive the division. The two prisoners were trying to save Elie's life. And they did.
Summary: The group is marched toward a pit of fire, where women and children are thrown in. Suddenly, they are told to march left, and are taken to Auschwitz.
Section 4
Predictions: I predicted that the dentist would eventually hunt down Elie and take his gold tooth, but my prediction was wrong
Image:
Clarify: I was confused when I read that the dentist just yanked out the teeth. It shocked me, and I was expecting that he would use some kind of tool at least.
Questions: How much gold was the dentist stealing? What was the dentist's full punishment? How did nobody recognize the French girl?
Connections: I would try to make a person who was just beaten feel better as well (in reference to the French girl in section 4).
Summary: Elie is told to go to the dentist, but plays sick and doesn't have to go. Then he meets a French girl who calms him down after he is beaten. Plus, Elie gets lashed for snooping around.
Section 5
Predictions: I predicted that Elie's father would be sent to the furnaces once I learned that he had been told to stay at the camp.
Questions: How much gold was the dentist stealing? What was the dentist's full punishment? How did nobody recognize the French girl?
Connections: I would try to make a person who was just beaten feel better as well (in reference to the French girl in section 4).
Summary: Elie is told to go to the dentist, but plays sick and doesn't have to go. Then he meets a French girl who calms him down after he is beaten. Plus, Elie gets lashed for snooping around.
Section 5
Predictions: I predicted that Elie's father would be sent to the furnaces once I learned that he had been told to stay at the camp.
Clarify: The Germans made the Jewish people wash the wooden floors an hour before they made them leave. This threw me off, because I could not understand the point.
Questions: Why wash the wooden floors? Did Germany try to cover up their crimes? If so, why?
Connections: I researched the Holocaust and learned that Germany had tried to hide its crimes. They went as far as blowing up the crematoriums to try and hide their wrongdoings.
Summary: Elie's and his father did not see their names on the list, but when the day came to call names of the chosen, Elie's father was chosen to remain in camp. Elie and his block were made to scrub the wooden floors an hour before they left the camp.
Section 6
Predictions: I predicted that they would be sent to yet another camp, this time farther away from the Russian border.
Image:
Questions: Why wash the wooden floors? Did Germany try to cover up their crimes? If so, why?
Connections: I researched the Holocaust and learned that Germany had tried to hide its crimes. They went as far as blowing up the crematoriums to try and hide their wrongdoings.
Summary: Elie's and his father did not see their names on the list, but when the day came to call names of the chosen, Elie's father was chosen to remain in camp. Elie and his block were made to scrub the wooden floors an hour before they left the camp.
Section 6
Predictions: I predicted that they would be sent to yet another camp, this time farther away from the Russian border.
Image:
Clarify: I was shocked at how far the Jewish people had to run. From morning to nightfall is a very long time to be sprinting. Especially when if you stop, you get shot.
Questions: How many people died on the death run? How far did they run?
Connections: I would never be able to run that far. I can't run a 2k as it is. Let alone where to slow down is to die.
Summary: Elie and his dad were forced to run for a very long time. If they stopped or slowed down, they would be shot or trampled by the people behind them.
Section 7
Predictions: I thought Elie would try to snatch the bread for his father, but it is a good thing that he didn't try, or he would have been killed.
Image:
Questions: How many people died on the death run? How far did they run?
Connections: I would never be able to run that far. I can't run a 2k as it is. Let alone where to slow down is to die.
Summary: Elie and his dad were forced to run for a very long time. If they stopped or slowed down, they would be shot or trampled by the people behind them.
Section 7
Predictions: I thought Elie would try to snatch the bread for his father, but it is a good thing that he didn't try, or he would have been killed.
Image:
Clarify: I could not believe that a young boy would kill his own father over a single piece of bread. To me, that is insanely unbelievable.
Questions: How did the "stronger men" have energy left to fight? What did Elie think?
Connections: I would never try to go for the bread. I would have done exactly what Elie had done: and stay away from the bread.
Summary: Some of the German officers found it amusing to throw bread pieces into the wagons and watch the survivors fight over it. The problem was that they were killing each other for it.
Section 8
Predictions: I thought Elie's dad would die, except I thought it would be from starvation.
Image:
Questions: How did the "stronger men" have energy left to fight? What did Elie think?
Connections: I would never try to go for the bread. I would have done exactly what Elie had done: and stay away from the bread.
Summary: Some of the German officers found it amusing to throw bread pieces into the wagons and watch the survivors fight over it. The problem was that they were killing each other for it.
Section 8
Predictions: I thought Elie's dad would die, except I thought it would be from starvation.
Image:
Clarify: I had to reread the section several times before I realized why Elie's father had died. He died from a severe blow to the head. Not starvation, or the cold.
Questions: How did Elie's father die? Did the officer realize he killed him?
Connections: I know what it is like to lose a parent. But poor Elie saw it happen. I would have been enraged, and probably attacked the guard.
Summary: Elie's father runs a temperature and won't eat. Instead, he continuously asks Elie for water. Then a guard gets mad, clubs Elie's dad in the head, and kills him.
Section 9
Prediction: I expected Elie to be infuriated and want revenge on the Germans for killing his dad. Especially once he saw the American tanks.
Image:
Questions: How did Elie's father die? Did the officer realize he killed him?
Connections: I know what it is like to lose a parent. But poor Elie saw it happen. I would have been enraged, and probably attacked the guard.
Summary: Elie's father runs a temperature and won't eat. Instead, he continuously asks Elie for water. Then a guard gets mad, clubs Elie's dad in the head, and kills him.
Section 9
Prediction: I expected Elie to be infuriated and want revenge on the Germans for killing his dad. Especially once he saw the American tanks.
Image:
Clarify: I had to read the last chapter several times to figure out what really happened. About the third time reading it, I realized that the tanks were American.
Questions: Did anybody consider revenge against the Germans? Would the Americans have helped them exact their revenge?
Connections: I would have been frozen when I saw a tank from the U.S. I would be saved. But I would also be swallowing any food I found.
Summary: American tanks roll into Buchenwald and save the surviving Jewish people. Once they are rescued, all of the Jewish people ate and ate, and not once thought of revenge.
Themes
There are a couple ongoing themes in the book. A couple of them are to never give up, and life goes on. The theme never give up is shown by explaining that Elie starts by being deported from his home in Sighet, Romania and is taken to Auschwitz. Even though all of these people die around him, he mostly always had the will to keep going. At the end of the story, he is rescued by American Forces and freed. All because he never gave up. A second theme would be life goes on. This theme makes sense because in the story, most of the people that Elie has ever known, even his father, died on the journey. But, Elie was a survivor. He survived everything, even though others didn't.
Motifs
Death is a major motif in the story. It appears to be in every corner of the book, in every shadow, face, and person. Millions of people died during the Holocaust; a vast majority of them to crematoriums. Another major motif in the story is fear. Every person in the concentration camps appeared to be exhibiting fear of some sort. Be it internally, or externally.
Symbols
Silence is a huge symbol in the story. It plays a large role because silence signifies acceptance. In the story, when the Jewish people are being held in concentration camps, they remain silent. They do not rebel, or fight back, but merely eat, work, and sleep. By not rebelling, or resisting, they were granting acceptance to the situation.
Tone
The tone used throughout the story is generally quite depressing. In the story, the Jewish people are deported from their homes, killed, murdered, starved to death, and thrown into the fire. Why? Because Adolph Hitler says so. Throughout the book, somebody always seems to be dying. And death generally brings a bad feeling.
Mood
The way that the book was written, the author clearly did not want it to come across as happy or peaceful. Instead, the book contains the destruction of lives, families, and mentalities of many Jewish people. By showing death and children being hit, burned, and shot, the reader tends to pick up an ominous and all around horrible feeling. As if the world were ending and the planet awaited destruction.
Questions: Did anybody consider revenge against the Germans? Would the Americans have helped them exact their revenge?
Connections: I would have been frozen when I saw a tank from the U.S. I would be saved. But I would also be swallowing any food I found.
Summary: American tanks roll into Buchenwald and save the surviving Jewish people. Once they are rescued, all of the Jewish people ate and ate, and not once thought of revenge.
Themes
There are a couple ongoing themes in the book. A couple of them are to never give up, and life goes on. The theme never give up is shown by explaining that Elie starts by being deported from his home in Sighet, Romania and is taken to Auschwitz. Even though all of these people die around him, he mostly always had the will to keep going. At the end of the story, he is rescued by American Forces and freed. All because he never gave up. A second theme would be life goes on. This theme makes sense because in the story, most of the people that Elie has ever known, even his father, died on the journey. But, Elie was a survivor. He survived everything, even though others didn't.
Motifs
Death is a major motif in the story. It appears to be in every corner of the book, in every shadow, face, and person. Millions of people died during the Holocaust; a vast majority of them to crematoriums. Another major motif in the story is fear. Every person in the concentration camps appeared to be exhibiting fear of some sort. Be it internally, or externally.
Symbols
Silence is a huge symbol in the story. It plays a large role because silence signifies acceptance. In the story, when the Jewish people are being held in concentration camps, they remain silent. They do not rebel, or fight back, but merely eat, work, and sleep. By not rebelling, or resisting, they were granting acceptance to the situation.
Tone
The tone used throughout the story is generally quite depressing. In the story, the Jewish people are deported from their homes, killed, murdered, starved to death, and thrown into the fire. Why? Because Adolph Hitler says so. Throughout the book, somebody always seems to be dying. And death generally brings a bad feeling.
Mood
The way that the book was written, the author clearly did not want it to come across as happy or peaceful. Instead, the book contains the destruction of lives, families, and mentalities of many Jewish people. By showing death and children being hit, burned, and shot, the reader tends to pick up an ominous and all around horrible feeling. As if the world were ending and the planet awaited destruction.