Night
By Elie Wiesel
Author’s bibliographical information
Born in Sighet, Transylvania
Very religious child; studied sacred Jewish texts
His father owned a grocery store and was well-respected in his
community, but the family was not rich.
Elie Wiesel was very close to his mother as a child, but was a
fragile and often sick child.
His two older sisters are Hilda and Bea. His younger sister was
Tzipora.
He was sent to Auschwitz and Buna (in Poland) as a teenager at
age 15, then to Gleiwitz, and finally Buchenwald before
liberation.
He was freed from Buchenwald on April 11, 1945 at age 16.
He was sent to France after WWII (did not speak French at the
time)
He moved to the United States in 1956 and is now a citizen.
Night is his only book written in his native language
(Yiddish). He writes in French. His works are then
translated into other languages, including English. (Since
Night was not originally written in English some of his
diction and syntax may seem disjointed.)
Night is an autobiographical memoir about Wiesel’s
experiences during the Holocaust.
The original manuscript of Night was 865 pages, but it was
edited to the current version prior to its original
publication in 1958.
One of his favorite phrases is, “and yet” – look for it and
annotate the phrase in the text!
Elie Wiesel won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 (his
acceptance speech is published at the end of the book).
He is currently Professor Emeritus in the Humanities at
Boston University and a powerful speaker and advocate for
human rights.
Historical background information
Most Jews in Europe lived in eastern Europe, primarily in the Soviet Union
and Poland.
The Nazi party came to power in Germany in 1933 led by Adolf Hitler.
The Germans moved to extend their power in central Europe.
Germany invaded Poland in 1939.
The Germans established ghettos in occupied eastern territories. They
isolated and persecuted the Jewish population when liquidating ghettos, in
concentration camps, and in death camps.
By the end of WWII in 1945 over 6 million Jewish people had been killed
by the Germans.
Important terms in Night
Transport
Selection
Holocaust
Genocide
Ghetto
Prejudice
Discrimination
Kapo
Gestapo
Anti-Semitism
SS
Liquidation
Death camp
Concentration camp
*We will discuss these terms and the importance of the author’s diction
during seminar. Be sure to annotate the terms and references in the text
as they are introduced to you while you are reading Night.
Important names, places, and essential
terms for understanding Night
Adolf Hitler – A leader and dictator of Germany (Chancellor –
1933, President – 1934). He was a master of propaganda.
Heinrich Himmler – The head of the SS
Adolph Eichmann – Devised a plan for the Final Solution
Rudolph Hess – The commander of Auschwitz
Dr. Mengele – Famous doctor who performed experiments and brutal
treatments on camp prisoners. Nicknamed “The Angel of Death”
Third Reich – Republic of Germany under Hitler’s rule from 1933-1945
“Schutz Staffel” – SS established as Hitler’s bodyguards and became the elite
Nazis guards in charge of concentration camps
Gestapo – secret police and part of SS
Auschwitz – The largest death camp
The Final Solution – Plan devised in 1941 to increase the efficiency of the
killing of Jews and other prisoners by the Germans. This plan created the
death camps that included gas chambers and crematoriums.
Kaddish – A Jewish prayer that is said for the dead.
Rosh Hashana – Jewish New Year
Synagogue – A Jewish house of worship and study
Yellow star – Nazis forced Jewish people to wear a cloth badge that was a
yellow six pointed star, so they could be easily identified.
Yom Kippur – a day of Atonement; a Jewish Holy day of fasting and prayer
for forgiveness of sins
At age 8, Elie Wiesel received a blessing from Rabbi of
Wizhnitz who was highly respected and visiting his town. His
mother mother cried when she spoke to the Rabbi and Elie
never knew why until almost 25 years later when he visited his
cousin Anshel in a hospital in NYC. This was the prediction
the Rabbi gave his mother:
“Sarah, know that your son will become a gadol b’Israel, a great
man in Israel, but neither you nor I will live to see the day”
(Wiesel 13).
-from his book, Memoirs: All Rivers Run to the Sea
As you read Night and learn about Elie Wiesel’s life and
struggles, think about the Rabbi’s words. Did they come true?
We will discuss this idea in relation to the text after you read
the book.