fromNight
RAQs (Reading Analysis Questions)
Answer the questions AND support your responses with evidence from the selection.
1. Infer: In Lines 32 through 33, Wiesel writes,
the old men stayed in their corner, silent,
motionless hunted-down creatures. Some
were praying. Which words in this quotation
have strong connotations? How do these
words convey the tone of the narrative?
2. Cite Evidence: What evidence does the
author provide to support the idea that though
being beaten down the prisoners had creative
ways of coping with their confinement and of
sustaining themselves?
3. Analyze: Look back at the scene in which
Weisel run before the SS doctors during
inspection (lines 83-86). Why does Wiesel
repeat his thoughts, you are too skinny, you
are too weak? How does this repetition help
readers understand his experience?
4. Interpret: Sometimes Wiesel uses
punctuation and sentence structure to convey
meaning. Reread the second to last paragraph
in the text. Why does he use short in complete
sentences? How does this stylistic approach
affect meaning?
5. Analyze: Wiesel includes statements and
reactions from other prisoners, the head of the
block, and the veterans of the camp that
reveal different perspectives about life in the
concentration camp. Identify examples of
these different perspectives and explain what
they reveal about the prisoners ordeal.
6. Draw Conclusions: Why do you think
Wiesel chose to call his memoir Night? What
might be the significance of that title?
In lines 32-33, words that have strong connotations are the ones
that describe the behavior of the old men: silent, motionless,
hunted-down creatures, (Weisel 32-33). These words help
convey the tone of the narrative, which is serious, dark, and
hopeless tone. It also shows that they are dehumanized and
feeling worthless. The description of the men reveal that they
are genuinely scared, and have fear for their lives.
Although the prisoners were beaten down and could die any
day, they managed to cope with that idea well. For example,
they keep their faith even though times where its difficult: But
there were those who said we should fast, precisely because it
was dangerous to do so. We needed to show God that even
here, locked in hell, we were capable of singing His praises.
In the scene where Weisel runs before the SS doctors, he
repeats you are too skinny, you are too weak? (Weisel 83-86).
This repetition helps readers understand his experience
because it demonstrates his constant fear that he is not
sufficient enough to survive anymore. If prisoners are not
deemed fit, they will be killed. It demonstrates the uncertainty of
life or death in the camp.
Short, broken up, sentences emphasized important points that
the author was trying to convey. It emphasized the fact that they
were exhausted and giving up, and that they were losing hope.
The veterans had a very different perspective of the situation:
"You're lucky to have been brought here so late. Today, this is
paradise compared to what the camp was two years ago. Back
then, Buna was a veritable hell. No water, no blankets, less
soup and bread. At night, we slept almost naked and the
temperature was thirty below. We were collecting corpses by the
hundreds every day. Work was very hard. Today, this is a little
paradise. (Weisel 18-24).
I think Weisel decided to call his memoir Night because night is
a mysterious and a time where the unknown lurks. The whole
experience of the camp was full of uncertainty.