“Night” by Elie Wiesel



“Night” Understanding Euphemism Name_________________________

Chapter 1

A euphemism is, at best, a more gentle or tactful term for a difficult, painful, or embarrassing subject. For example “We had the dog put to sleep” instead of “We had the dog killed.” In Chapter 1 the Wiesels are informed that they are going to be “deported” or “resettled”, a euphemism for the Nazis’ true plans.

Complete the chart below by writing the literal meaning of each euphemism in the space provided. It may be necessary to do some research. The first three euphemisms on the chart are currently used by the United States military and government. The remaining three were used by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Don’t forget to answer the question at the bottom of the chart!

|Euphemism |Literal Meaning |

|Friendly Fire | |

| | |

|Collateral Damage | |

| | |

|Soft Targets | |

| | |

|Final Solution | |

| | |

|Liquidation | |

| | |

|Resettlement | |

| | |

Why do you think the Nazis used euphemisms like “Final Solution” and “resettlement”? How did it assist them in their plans?

“Night” by Elie Wiesel Name______________________

Chapters 1 & 2

Answer the following questions In Complete Sentences. Failure to do so will result in 0 credit

Study Questions

1. Who is Moishe the Beadle? How is he described?

2. How does Wiesel describe himself as a boy of 12?

3. Why does Elie’s father prohibit him from studying the Kabbalah? How does Elie end up studying the Kabbalah?

4. When Moishe returns what story does he tell Elie? How did Moishe escape?

5. How did the other villagers react to Moishe’s story? Why do you think they acted this way?

6. Describe Wiesel’s community at the beginning of the story. How does young Elie view

the world and his place in it?

7. What happened in the spring of 1944 in Hungry? How did the Jewish people react to this? Give an example of how Wiesel uses Irony in regards to the people’s reactions to the Germans.

8. After Passover, Wiesel says “the curtain finally rose” (pg 10). What does this refer to? What happened?

9. After requiring all Jews to wear a yellow Star of David, what was the next step taken by the Germans? How did the Jewish people react?

10. What happened to the Jews after the Germans forced them to leave the ghetto?

11. What are the conditions on the Jews’ train journey? How do the Jews react to Madame

Schäcter’s behavior? What does this reveal about human nature?

12. Based on the title “Night”, what do you think a major theme of this book will be?

13. Identify each the steps in the Germans’ plan, and point out how the structure of the plan and the Jewish people’s need for optimism led them to the transports.

14. What did the people on train realize after traveling for several days?

15. What happened to Madame Schächter? How did the rest of the passengers react to her?

16. What connection might there be between Madame Schäcter’s treatment on the train and

possible future events in the concentration camp?

17. Madame Schächter’s hysterical screaming of “Fire! Fire” is an example of what literary device?

18. When the Jews were finally unloaded from the trains where were they? What was significant about the time?

Personal Response-

What is your reaction to Moché the Beadle? What do you think about his treatment by the

villagers after his return from Poland?

Even though it was 1944, and Nazi extermination of Jews had begun years earlier, the

Sighet Jews had very few facts about it. Do you think it is possible in today’s world for a

community to know so little, to be so unprepared? Explain.

Active Reading

Night chapters 1 and 2

In chapters 1 and 2, a number of significant things happen to Elie Wiesel and the other Jews of Sighet. As

you read this section, look for important events and for how people respond to them. List some key events

in the Event column. In the Response column identify how Wiesel and the other Sighet Jews respond. In

the third column, write what happens next in the story. Discuss whether or not the villagers’ responses to

events influenced, at least in part, events that followed.

|Event |Response |What Happens Next |

|Moche the Beadle is deported | | |

|because he is a foreign Jew. | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

Night Study Guide Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

“Night” by Elie Wiesel

Chapter Review

Imagine you are a book critic and you have just finished reading chapter two. Write a review of the chapter that answers the following questions:

1. While you were reading what emotions did you feel?

2. What is the most moving part of the chapter?

3. What words or phrases enhanced the mood of the chapter?

4. How does Wiesel convey the characters’ physical and emotional experiences on the train?

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