Night: Comprehension Questions

Night
Elie Wiesel

Chapter 1

1. Where did Elie Wiesel spend his childhood? Who were the people in his
family?
2. Describe Moshe the Beadle
3. What happens to Moshe in the beginning of chapter 1
4. Upon his return, what story does Moshe relate?
5. Why don’t the people of Sighet believe Moshe’s story? Why do they say he
came back?
6. How do the people of Sighet feel about the Germans at first?
7. What rights did the Jews lose after Passover?
8. Why were the Jews forced to live in the Ghettos?
9. What news does Elie’s father learn the Saturday before Pentecost?
10. Describe the scene of leaving the ghetto. How does it make you feel?

Chapter 2

1. Describe the situation on the train.
2. What does Madame Schachter say she sees?
3. What did the people on the train do to quiet her down?
4. Where does the train finally stop?
5. How were Madame Schachter’s screams a premonition?
6. Describe the scene on pp 22-23.

Chapter 3

1. What is going to happen to the prisoners at Auschwitz?
2. What would have happened to Elie if he did not lie about his age?
3. When Elie arrived at the barracks, what was he made to do?
4. What was the inscription on the iron door of Auschwitz?
5. What does the Pole in charge of Elie’s group advise him to do?
6. How does Drumer explain the reason the Jews are at the camp?

Chapter 4

1. Where were Elie and his father sent to work?
2. Why did Elie have to go to the dentist?
3. How did the French girl hide her identity?
4. What happened to Elie and his father when Franek asked for Elie’s gold crown?
5. What was Elie’s punishment for seeing Idek with a girl?
6. What is the punishment for stealing soup?

Chapter 5

1. Where did Elie go after Yom Kippur?
2. What is the selection?3. Why did Elie have to go to the hospital?
4. What happened to those whom stayed behind?
Chapter 6
1. Why did Elie’s father not let him sleep?
2. Describe the vents in chapter 6.

Chapter 7

1. What did they do with the dead bodies on the train?
2. What happened when workmen threw bread on the train?
3. Meir Katz groaned, “Why don’t they shoot us right away?” Why do you think
they didn’t?

Chapter 8

1. What is happening to Elie’s father?
2. How does Elie feel about this?
3. How does Elie’s father die?

Chapter 9

1. What does Elie see in the mirror when he looks back at his reflection for the first
time since his imprisonment?
2. In what ways is his reflected image symbolic of his internal self as well as a
description of his physical appearance?
3. Why can he never forget the look he saw in the eyes of his reflection?
Have you ever seen an interview with Elie Wiesel? What questions would you like to ask
him if you had the opportunity?