Night

What town is Elie from?

Sighet.

How old is Elie at the start of the memoir?

12 years old.

Who warns the Jews of Sighet about the Nazis?

Moshe the Beadle.

What do the Jews think will happen when they are deported?

They think they are being relocated for work.

What do the SS officers say will happen to those who cannot work?

They will be sent to the crematorium.

What prayer do prisoners recite as they approach the crematorium?

The Kaddish, a prayer for the dead.

How does Elie avoid having his gold crown taken?

He pretends to be sick.

What does Franek do to force Elie to give up his gold crown?

He beats Elie’s father.

What punishment does Elie receive for seeing Idek with a girl?

He is whipped 25 times.

What are the prisoners’ first reactions to Auschwitz?

They are shocked by the smoke and stench.

What are the conditions like on the train to Auschwitz?

Overcrowded, unsanitary, and filled with fear.

What does Elie dream of after liberation?

Bread, not revenge.

What do the Jews leave behind in the ghetto?

Their valuables and homes.

Why doesn’t Elie fast on Yom Kippur?

He rebels against God and needs his strength to survive.

What does Elie inherit from his father?

A knife and a spoon.

How do the prisoners react when one tries to steal soup?

They watch in silence, knowing he will be killed.

What happens during the public execution Elie witnesses?

A boy is hanged, and the prisoners are deeply affected.

How do prisoners react when bread is thrown into their train car?

They fight each other savagely.

What does Elie see in the mirror at the end of the memoir?

A corpse-like reflection.

What illness does Elie’s father suffer from?

Dysentery.

Why doesn’t Elie help his father when he’s beaten?

He is afraid and focused on his survival.

How do the prisoners keep warm during the death march?

They huddle together.

What does Elie say about God’s justice during his suffering?

He questions and rejects it.

What happens to Elie’s foot?

It becomes infected and requires surgery.

What are the last words Elie’s father says?

"Eliezer."

Who liberates the camp Elie is in?

The American army.

What do the prisoners do immediately after being freed?

They look for food.

Why does Elie feel guilty after surviving?

He feels he abandoned his father and others.

What symbolizes the inhumanity of the Holocaust in Night?

The crematoriums and death marches.

What does Elie say about humanity at the end of the book?

He struggles to comprehend the cruelty he witnessed.

What religious faith does Elie practice at the start of the book?

Judaism.

Who is Elie’s mentor in Kabbalah?

Moshe the Beadle.

What year are Elie and his family deported to Auschwitz?

1944. 
      

What symbol are the Jews forced to wear?

The yellow Star of David.

What is the first concentration camp Elie and his family are sent to?

Auschwitz.

What camp do Elie and his father go to after Auschwitz?

Buna.

Why does Elie refuse to give up his shoes in Buna?

They are one of his last possessions.

What motivates the prisoners during the death march?

Fear of being shot and hope for survival.

How do prisoners prove their usefulness to avoid being killed?

By appearing strong and healthy.

Who is Idek, and what does he do to Elie?

Idek is a Kapo who beats Elie brutally.

What happens to the young pipel who is executed?

He struggles to die because he is too light, leaving the prisoners horrified.

How does Elie lose his faith in God?

By witnessing innocent children and others being killed.

Why do prisoners fight each other in cattle cars?

Over scraps of bread.

How does Elie describe himself at the end of the book?

As a corpse.

What advice is given to the prisoners about the selection process?

Move around to appear healthier and avoid being selected.

What work do Elie and his father do at Buna?

Sorting electrical parts in a warehouse.

What does Elie’s refusal to fast on Yom Kippur symbolize?

His rebellion against God.

Why do prisoners march to Gleiwitz?

To evacuate the camp ahead of the advancing Allies.

What emotion does Elie feel most when his father dies?

Relief, mixed with guilt.

How does the doctor treat Elie’s infected foot?

He performs surgery.

What happens to those who fall during the death march?

They are shot.

Why does Elie feel guilt after the Holocaust?

For surviving while so many others, including his family, died.

What literary genre is Night?

Memoir.

What is the significance of Juliek’s violin?

It represents beauty and humanity amidst suffering.

Who does Elie blame for his father’s death?

Himself, for not doing more to protect him.

What is the name of the Nazi officer known for cruel selections?

Dr. Mengele.

Why is Elie’s family reluctant to leave Sighet when warned?

They cannot believe the Nazis will reach them.

What do the Nazis use to deceive the Jews upon arrival at Auschwitz?

They tell them they are being relocated and ask them to leave valuables behind.

How does Elie save his father from being thrown off the train?

By waking him up and convincing others he is alive.

What do the prisoners chant after liberation?

They do not chant but focus on finding food.