Chapter Two( Pages 21- 27)

Chapter Two( pages 21- 27)

1. How many were in each cattle car? What was the train ride like? Quote one sentence that is especially descriptive of this experience.
2. Why was lying down out of the question in the cattle car? Page # what was said?
3. Why is it ironic when Elie describes the people near the windows as lucky?
4. “Our eyes were opened but too late.” Why did Elie say this? Where was the train at this point?
5. What event initially caused Madame Schächter to lose her mind?
6. How and why did they want to silence Madame Schächter? Be specific.
7. How was Mrs. Schachter’s screaming prophetic?
8. Which concentration camp does Eliezer arrive at first?
9. Look up Dramatic Irony. Write definition.
10. When they arrive at Auschwitz what is the dramatic irony?

Chapter 3 - pp. 27-43

Night Chapter 3

1. What was so important about the eight words spoken by the SS to Elie when he first arrived at the camp?
2. Eliezer and the other prisoners are fully exposed to the horrible inhumanity of the Nazis. Due to the brutal methods of the Nazis, they are transformed from respected individuals into obedient, animal-like automatons. How does this transformation take place?
3. How old does Eliezer tell Dr. Mengele he is when he arrives at Birkenau? Why does the older prisoner tell him to say this?
4. What does one of the second veteran prisoners ask the group of new prisoners? What advice does he give Elie’s group?
5. Why was there a threat of a revolt by a few young Jews? What did the elders say to them?
6. As Elie and his father approached the ditch (p.31), what did they think their fate was to be?

1. What is a Kaddish? What did Elie consider so unusual that they reciting it? What pray might this be compared to in Catholicism?

1. It is difficult to have faith in God when one is constantly surrounded by death and inhumanity. During this first night in camp Elie sees and is subjected to many horrible sights and events. Describe two instances that cause Elie to question his faith?
2. If the prisoners were considered “sturdy” what kind of work would they be assigned?

10. Compare Elie to Madams Schächter son after he watches his father been struck by the gypsy deportee in charge of the stone barracks? What does this tell you about human nature?

1. What happens to the prisoners every time they enter a new camp?
2. The head of Eliezer's block kindly offers advice to his new charges: What is it?
3. What is the identification number tattooed on Eliezer? What other atrocities did the prisoners endure after they pass section that degrades and dehumanizes them? And what effect did these offensive acts have on they prisoners?
4. What is the name of the distant relative that Eliezer meets at Birkenau? What does Elie tell him about his family? Why do you think he tells him this informant? What happens when a transport from his home town come to the camp?
5. What is one constant thought; one thing he wants during the selections and assignment of camps?
6. What does the inscriptions say over Auschwitz’s camp door? What is important about this? Is it true? What might you change it to?
7. When the prisoners first arrive at the camp, some of the young men want to rebel: "We've got to do something. We can't let ourselves be killed. We can't go like beasts to the slaughter. We've got to revolt." Despite these early feelings of rebellion, the prisoners rapidly become docile and fearful, and they follow the rules set out by the Nazi authorities. Why do they obey people who are so obviously intent on destroying them?

Chapter 4 - pp. 45-62

1. What were the objectives of the medical examinations?

2. Why were the Jewish musicians not allowed to play music by Beethoven?

3. Describe one of Idek’s bouts of madness.

4. How did Elie initially avoid losing his gold crown?

5. Whom did Elie meet years later on the Paris Metro?

6. What happened when Elie refused to give his crown to Franek? What was the end result?

7. Describe the scene with the soup cauldrons.

8. During one of the preliminary “ceremonies” for a hanging, what did Juliek whisper to Elie? What does this suggest?

9. During one hanging, Elie and the other prisoners cried. What made this hanging different from others?