Essay on Holocaust: Elie Wiesel and Concentration Camps

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Initiating Questions
1. Q: Several times throughout the book, the narrator, Elie, mentions that he wants to die. What do you think gave him the strength to keep going until the end? A: I believe he never necessarily wanted to die. I think he was dreaming of getting out of concentration camp. He must have been hopeful in some aspects in order to continue to the very end. Otherwise, if he wanted to die enough, he probably would have just let himself out of concentration camp the easy way.

2. Q: What do you think happened to Elie’s mother and sister? A: At the end of the book, it is probably assumed that they died within the holocaust because it is never stated what actually happened to them. I do believe that they died in the holocaust, because if not, they probably would have reunited and that would have been the ending to the book. Also, at the beginning of the book, it says something about seeing his mother and sister for the last time when they are separated. However, this does not mean they die. They could have got out alive and never reunited with Elie.

3. Q: If you were in Elie’s position, how do you think your outlook on life change after this experience? A: I’d definitely be more grateful. Just reading about it and thinking of the excruciating things they have done and seen, I have become more educated and sympathetic towards the victims and all affected. I think it gives you both a positive and negative outlook on life. Positive being that you become more thankful; negative being that the world seems much scarier and that many people can be horrible.

Factual Questions
1. Q: What is foreshadowed in the quote “And I started to hit him harder and harder. At last, my father half opened his eyes. They were glassy. He was breathing faintly.” (Wiesel 99). ? A: It is clearly foreshadowed that his father was getting worse and was going to die in the end.

2. Q: The author uses unique imagery in the quote “That night, the soup tasted of corpses.” (Wiesel 65). What do you think was the purpose of this imagery? A: I think the use of the author’s unique imagery was good. It helps set the mood of the situation and adds more detail than a regular old detail like ‘that was scary’.

3. Q: How does the author display a character trait of his in the quote “I had no right to let myself die. What would he do without me? I was his [referring to father] sole support.” (Wiesel 87).? A: This shows a caring side to Elie. He seems a bit emotionless other than being tired most of this book, and this shows a new aspect. It shows how much he cared and honored his father so he wouldn’t let himself die because his father was hope for him. He couldn’t give up on his father.

Interpretive Questions
1. Q: Why do you think the author included the character Mrs. Schächter at the beginning of the book where it says “’She is a mad, poor woman…’ Some had places a damp rag on her forehead. But she nevertheless continued to scream: ‘Fire! I see fire!’” (Wiesel 25).? A: I am not completely certain as to why, but I think it was to show the other people that were attending these concentration camps. Also, she was a bit crazy and even though it was barely the beginning, I think it showed how crazy these things can make a person.

2. Q: Why do you think the author chose to keep in some sad and violent moments such as the time on page 111, “The officer came closer and shouted to him to be silent. But my father did not hear. He continued to call me. The officer wielded his club and dealt him a violent blow to the head. I didn’t move. I was afraid, my body was afraid of another blow, this time to my head.” (Wiesel 111).? A: I believe he chose to keep sad, violent moments like these in order to show the true colors of the concentration camps. Of course, we all know they were bad and did horrible things. But when there’s multiple stories of victims and others witnessing these actions, it gives you a better
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