Chapter 1
1. Who are members of Elie Weisel’s family?
2. Why does the Sighet community doubt Moshe the Beadle’s story of what took place in the forest?
3. Explain three things that take place that should have warned the Jews that they were in danger.
4. What stages of Hitler’s’ Final Solution are implemented for the Sighet Jews?
Thinking Critically:
5. What does Moshe the Beadle foreshadow regarding Elie’s spiritual faith?
6. Explain two significant reasons why Elie Wiesel begins his memoir with Moshe the Beadle.
7. List three character traits to describe Elie Wiesel as a young boy giving textual evidence as an explanation for each one.
Chapter 2
8. Describe the conditions of the cattle wagon during the deportation.
9. Who is Madame Schachter and why is she troubled?
10. What does Madame Schachter see that frightens Elie and the others?
11. Madame Schechter’s child troubles Elie more so than her cries. Explain why.
12. What is the first thing the Jews see when they first arrive at the concentration camp?
Thinking Critically:
13. How is the Madame able to foresee the flames of the furnace?
14. Why does Elie include this incident in his memoir? Is the incident somehow linked to his faith? Explain.
Chapter 3
15. Explain the reason for the prisoner’s anger upon seeing the new Jews arrive at the camp.
16. Why must Elie and his father lie about their ages?
17. List 5 things Elie witnesses and experiences his first night in camp.
18. Why was Elie’s father struck by the gypsy?
19. What inscription is on the sign of the entrance gate leading into the Auschwitz camp?
Thinking Critically
20. Consider Wiesel’s passage on page 32 beginning with “Never shall I forget…” Based on our lesson, explain the symbolism of “night.”
21. Explain Elie’s surprise that everything he experienced from the ghetto to the camp transpired in one night.
Chapter 4
22. Why do some of the camp guards give some of the children “special” privileges such as extra food?
23. During the medical examination what are the dentists looking for?
24. Why do the prisoners march to military music?
25. Why does Elie feign sickness when the dentist wants to remove his gold crown?
26. Who is the young French girl?
27. Why does Franek want Elie’s gold crown? How does he eventually get it?
28. What crime does the youth of Warsaw commit?
29. Describe his physical features.
30. Describe the reactions of the youth of Warsaw as he was being readied for his hanging.
31. What is the significance of the Elie’s statement right after the youth from Warsaw died?
32. Describe the angelic Pipel’s physical features.
33. What crime did he commit?
34. Describe the reactions of the Pipel as he was being readied for his hanging.
35. What is the significance of the Elie’s statement right after the youth from Warsaw died?
Thinking Critically
36. Another symbol Wiesel uses takes the form of a person and event. In what ways does the hanging of the young boy, the "angelic pipel," symbolize the following:
a) The Jewish people -
b) God -
c) The faith of the author and other prisoners like him –
Chapter 5
37. What takes place on the last day of the Jewish year?
38. What is one reason Elie gives for being angry with God?
39. Why does Elie refuse to fast on Yom Kippur?
40. Explain selection.
41. What is the inheritance given to Elie by his father?
42. Why does Elie need an operation in his foot?
43. What are the evacuations called?
Thinking Critically
44. Give an example of situational irony on page 78 regarding Elie and his father’s decision to remain in the hospital or evacuate.
Chapter 6
45. Why were the prisoners being evacuated?
46. Why does Zalman abandon his father?
47. What happens to Juliek?
48. How does Elie’s father escape the selection?
Thinking Critically
49. “We were masters of nature, masters of the world. We had forgotten everything—death, fatigue, our nature needs. Stronger than cold or hunger…we were the only men on earth” (83). Explain how this is an example of hyperbole?
50. Give an example of personification in this chapter.
Chapter 7
51. Who are the “gravediggers?”
52. What takes place when food is thrown into the cattle wagon?
53. What happens when food is thrown into the cattle wagon Elie is in?
Thinking Critically
54. How are the prisoners demonstrating dehumanized behavior?
Chapter 8 & 9
55. Why does the crematory no longer make an “impression” upon the Holocaust prisoners?
56. What is wrong with Elie’s father?
57. Once again Elie is angry. Explain the reason for his anger and why it is justified.
58. Explain why Elie stated this: “Another wound to the heart, another hate, another reason for living lost.”
59. Explain whether or not you agree with the head of the block and what he told Elie on page 105?
60. Explain why many readers would be shocked at Elie reactions to his father’s death.
61. In your opinion, why do the former prisoners fail to think of revenge?
Thinking Critically
62. What could Elie have seen in his eyes when he looked into the mirror?