Dignity
Faith
Evacuation
Gifts
Death
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Question 1 - 10
• Does Madame Schächter keep her dignity on
the train? Explain why or why not.
Answer 1 – 10
• Yes she did: she kept screaming because she
truly wanted to warn the people about what
was coming no matter how crazy she sounded
• No she didn’t: even when she was tied up and
gagged she still managed to make a fool out of
herself and look crazy amongst the other
passengers.
Question 1 - 20
• How is the theme dignity in the face of
inhumane cruelty represented in this section?
Think about Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur at the
camp and Eliezer’s participation.
Answer 1 – 20
• At Yom Kippur Wiesel did not want to fast
because it was dangerous to do so and
because he did not believe in God.
They were so malnourished that some wanted
to prove that even in such horrible conditions
they would still respect the tradition even
though it could be detrimental to their health
Question 1 - 30
• What is the tradition of Yom Kippur?
Answer 1 – 30
• It is the holiest day of the year for Jewish
people where they must fast and pray in order
to be cleansed of their sins.
Question 1 - 40
• What excuse does Elizer give when he is called
to go to the dentist to have his gold crown
pulled?
Answer 1 – 40
• He said he was too ill and promises that he
would return when he felt better
Question 1 - 50
• Give an example of how Elizer’s faith in his
family has changed, specifically his faith in his
father.
Answer 1 – 50
• When Idek takes his rage out on Elizer’s father,
he thinks that it is Chlomo’s own fault for not
staying away from Idek when he is angry.
Question 2 - 10
• What does Wiesel mean when he says that
the prisoners stood naked… “This must show
how one stands at the last judgment”?
Answer 2 – 10
• There are many possible answers such as:
• He means that we come into this life naked
and may leave our lives naked.
• Judgment day has always been seen as a
demeaning experience
• The Jews were going to be killed no matter
what; their judgment day was imminent
Question 2 - 20
• Why is Eliezer skeptical of praying when he
first enters the camp? What does he see that
makes him so skeptical of his religion?
Answer 2 – 20
• He is skeptical because they are heading
toward the pit with burning bodies. Everyone
is praying but he does not understand why
they are praying if they are not going to be
saved.
Question 2 - 30
• What kind of faith does Akiba Drumer have in
the beginning of the memoir? What does he
predict that will happen to the Jews in the
camp?
Answer 2 – 30
• Akiba still has a very strong faith and thinks
that the Jewish people will be rescued from
the camp.
Question 2 - 40
• Elizer does not believe that Jews are “God’s
chosen people”. Why does he think this way?
Answer 2 – 40
• He thinks this way because all of the Jewish
people are being sentenced to death.
Question 2 - 50
• Finish this quotation:
“Where is God now?”
And I heard a voice within me answer him:
“Where is He? He is– He is hanging here on
these ________?”
Answer 2 – 50
“Where is God now?”
And I heard a voice within me answer him:
“Where is He? He is– He is hanging here on
these gallows.”
Question 3 - 10
• How did the “face of the camp” change on the
morning of the evacuation?
Answer 3 – 10
The prisoners were wearing strange outfits: like
clowns or a masquerade trying to put on as
much clothes as they could to keep warm.
Question 3 - 20
• On the morning of the evacuation why were
the prisoners ordered to clean the floor? How
did they feel about their task?
Answer 3 – 20
• The prisoners were ordered to clean the floor
before evacuation so that when the Red Army
came in they would think that men lived in the
barracks and not pigs.
• The prisoners were unclear about why they
had to do it, and were confused as to whether
the SS soldiers actually believed that the Jews
were men and not pigs.
Question 3 - 30
• When Elizer is in the hospital, why does he
decide to leave?
• Was it the smartest decision?
Answer 3 – 30
• He decides to leave because he hears that the
Russian army may come to save them. He
thinks that the people in the hospital will be
killed so he and his father leave.
• No, because the people in the infirmary were
freed only a few days after they had left.
Question 3 - 40
• Why do you suppose the author chooses to
use a series of short sentences when the
prisoners are preparing to leave?
• What is the effect?
Answer 3 – 40
• The short sentences represent each small step
in the large journey. It creates anticipation for
the freedom of the Jews.
Question 3 - 50
• Are most of the Nazis Wiesel describes
apparently enjoying their work, following
orders mindlessly, afraid to disobey?
Answer 3 – 50
• The soldiers are the rule makers and enjoy
having power over the weak.
• When they were leaving the camp, the
soldiers kept their fingers on the triggers of
their guns while everyone ran and would
shoot the people who could not keep up
because they wanted to keep their power as
long as possible.
Question 4 - 10
• What sorts of “inheritance” did Wiesel’s father
give him?
Answer 4 – 10
• A knife and spoon
Question 4 - 20
• Why did Eliezer give the knife and spoon
back?
Answer 4 – 20
• He said his dad would need them just as much
as he would and that he would see him again.
Question 4 - 30
• What does the inheritance situation show you
about how life changes when mere survival is
a struggle?
Answer 4 – 30
• It shows how something so insignificant can
mean when you have nothing.
• One small gesture can mean so much in times
of need/struggle.
Question 4 - 40
• What educational gift was Elie given by Moshe
the Beadle?
• Hint: this is not a physical item
Answer 4 – 40
• Extensive learning of Cabbala
Question 4 - 50
• What piece of advice did a prisoner give Elizer
when he steps off the train and is about to go
through the selection process?
Answer 4 – 50
• To lie about his age and occupation.
Question 5 - 10
• What were used as target practice when
Moshe the Beadle was expelled for being a
foreign Jew?
Answer 5 – 10
• Babies
Question 5 - 20
• When reading about the massacre in the
forest, we find out that Moshe escapes by
__________.
Answer 5 – 20
• He was wounded in the leg and pretended to
play dead
Question 5 - 30
• Elizer and his father meet their relative Stein
who is wondering if his family is alive when in
fact they are not. What is Elizer’s response?
Answer 5 – 30
• He says that the Stein family is alive and well
so that Mr. Stein can maintain hope.
Question 5 - 40
• What makes the hanging of the pipel different
from the other hangings in the camp?
Answer 5 – 40
• He is a child and he does not die immediately
when he is hung. He struggles on the rope and
the workers are forced to watch.
Question 5 - 50
• Who miraculously survives the selection in
Section 6?
Answer 5 – 50
• Elizer’s father