The first time I read this chapter (as a sophomore in high school) I
kept a pocket dictionary handy so that I could look up words new to
me. Most new vocabulary words can be understood through context
clues; some words though need definition or explanation. If you
paused to look up one of the words in this list (or another word that
is not on the list), feel free to provide the definition or
explanation you learned to save others the time :)
Hasidic
waiflike
cabbala
Maimonides
mysticism
Zohar
lorries
Fascist
Nyilas party
billeted
Passover
Pentecost
Talmud
avid
haggard
dregs
phylacteries
truncheons
If you like, add a question or comment on this blog on one of these questions related to the first chapter:
1. Why, in your opinion, did the people of Sighet choose to think Moshe a madman rather than believe the truth he
was telling? Offer examples of other situations people engage in this sort of denial.
2. Many students have wondered "how could people ‘let’ themselves be taken to the death camps." Comment on the Nazi’s methods of desensitization and dehumanization used to gain control of the Jewish people.
3. Wiesel writes in a straightforward style- clear, concise, direct.
Why does he choose this style? What effect would another style have on
the narrative’s impact on the reader? For example, if Wiesel chose to
write this narrative in a style similar to Dai Sajie’s style in Balzac
and the Little Chinese Seamstress, how would the effect on the reader
be different?
4. How can you explain the optimism which seems to appear at every turn?
5. On page 18 there is a short paragraph beginning “Night…dead eyes.”
Explain the importance of this short paragraph. What is it saying? How
does what it is saying inform your understanding of the title of the
book?
You may want to read this book in segments of approximately 20 pages
each; this will allow you to process and think about what you have
read. There are just over 100 pages, so 5 days would be ideal to
complete this summer reading. For each segment, feel free to comment
on this blog to help you clarify your thoughts and reactions.
Pages 21-43
Pages 45-62
Pages 63-92
Pages 93-109
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1. Why, in your opinion, did the people of Sighet choose to think Moshe a madman rather than believe the truth he
ReplyDeletewas telling? Offer examples of other situations people engage in this sort of denial.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A) "When hope is frail, it's hard to kill." Those people were living in the fear of being captured everyday, and their only hope was that Germany got defeated before getting them. They refused to believe anything that go against their dream.
B) A perosn has an uncurable disease. The family members believe that he will recover even though the chances are he won't.
2. Many students have wondered "how could people ‘let’ themselves be taken to the death camps." Comment on the Nazi’s methods of desensitization and dehumanization used to gain control of the Jewish people.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The Germans had used the strategy of "Gradual Progression". First, they apprear friendly and kind, respecting the town-people's culture. Then the real thing kicked in -The arresting and first edict. And finally, complete domination.
This strategy prevented the Jews from fighting back. They would think, "That's it. That is everything they are gonna do. Nothing else."
3. Wiesel writes in a straightforward style- clear, concise, direct.
Why does he choose this style? What effect would another style have on
the narrative’s impact on the reader? For example, if Wiesel chose to
write this narrative in a style similar to Dai Sajie’s style in Balzac
and the Little Chinese Seamstress, how would the effect on the reader
be different?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A) Personally, I think it is the best way to write, to describe the significant things and ignore the worthless ones. When I read, I always want to skip the pointless information.
For example, "Two blue, feathered pillow is placed on top of the clean white bed sheet, on the other side of the room, facing the bed, is a dusty 5 feet cabinet made of maple. The setting sun gives everything a creepy look."- I just made that up. Now imagine a book with one of this on every two pages. How am I suppose to know which one is important and which one has no impact on the plot what-so-ever!!?? If I know the author's style, I get to skip those things when I know they are useless.
B) We haven't read the book yet, so I can't answer that question.
4. How can you explain the optimism which seems to appear at every turn?
ReplyDelete>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A)Same as 1A, they are trying to toss away the fear.
5. On page 18 there is a short paragraph beginning “Night…dead eyes.”
Explain the importance of this short paragraph. What is it saying? How
does what it is saying inform your understanding of the title of the book?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A),B),C) I knew this was going to happen, I couldn't find the version with the correct ISBN number and the shopkeeper told me they were the same. Mine is on page 21 and the content is:
"NIGHT. No one was praying for the night to pass quickily. The stars were but sparks of the immense conflagration that was consuming us. Were this conflagration to be extinguished one day, nothing would be left in the sky but extinct stars and unseeing eyes."
I have a really bad feeling about this. I hope I don't have to buy the correct version......
Anyways, my comment: This paragraph was important because its idea was visible throughout the story. The Jews were in the nighttime of their history(Most people consider night as bad). The only source of light - the stars, were their hope, but again and again the stars leding them towards the wrong way(Expecting too much). But also, if they lose their hope, they will fall into complete darkness and die. No the moon wasn't there.
No worries about the differing page numbers.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your remarks about sometimes scanning through or skipping extensive descriptive passages. I do that as well if I am not enjoying the writer's style, yet I relish and welcome the decriptive passages of authors such as Louise Erdrich or Jhumpa Lahiri or F. Scott Fitzgerald.