NIGHT Chap. 1 Questions and Journal Prompts

Night: Chapter 1 Discussion Questions

1.       Try to picture Elie’s childhood. How is his childhood like yours and how is it different?

2.       Why do you believe Wiesel began his story with Moishe the Beadle?

3.       Compare and contrast Moishe before and after his deportation.

4.       What part does religion play in the community? In Elie’s life?

5.       Describe the progression of oppression of the Jews in Sighet. How did they react each time?

6.       Describe Elie’s father. Why do you believe he refused to leave Sighet?

7.       At the bottom of page 12, Wiesel writes “The story he had interrupted would remain unfinished.” How could this be interpreted symbolically to mean more than just the story?

8.       How did the Jews adapt to the ghettos?

9.       Why do you believe no one (except for one) was told where the Jews were being deported?

10.   Describe the significance of the transports being in cattle cars.

Journal Entry #2 (keep separate from your bell-ringers)

Directions: Write about one of the prompts below. No stated minimum; write as much as you can. The topics are open-ended, so you will have the freedom to interpret the topic individually. You may do one of the topics from before (the one you have not done) or the new topic.

Option A—Like any relationship, Elie Wiesel’s relationship with God is fluid—frequently changing. What are your honest thoughts on a higher power? Do not simply regurgitate what you have learned from your parents or church—write about your honest thoughts.

Option B—Hope and fear are two of the strongest forces in this world. A leader can manipulate followers by using these two forces. People have acted in remarkable ways because of fear and/or hope. Of the two, which do you think is more powerful?

Option C—Like any teenager, the speaker’s relationships with each of his parents are complex.

Choose one of your parents and discuss the complexity of your relationship with him/her. Maybe the expectations that are set for you are too high; perhaps this parent is absent or uninvolved with your life. Hopefully, there are some positive aspects of the relationship.