Studying 'Night' by Elie Wiesel

 1. Empathy Map 2 - Elie aged 16, at the end of the war

We completed a second Empathy Map looking at what Elie was like at the end of the war. When Elie's father died, he felt more free (rather than sad) of the burden of having to look after him. When he was finally free, there were lots of provisions for him to eat, and he felt full after that which was a feeling he hadn't felt in a while. Only 3 days after he was free, he became very sick.

2. How had Elie changed from the 12 year old boy in Sighet to the 16 year old liberated from the concentration camp at the end of the war?

He had changed from his innocent and virtuous self to a torn and pitiful boy who had lost all of his family due to the war, along with his confidence and beliefs.

3. As you read and/or listened to Elie's account of what he experienced during the Holocaust, how did it make you feel? 

It made me feel sorrow and pity, nobody should deserve to be treated in that way.

4. What part of Elie's story did you find most upsetting or hardest to cope with? Why do you think that was?

I think the most upsetting part was when Elie's father died, because when his father died, he felt free, free of trying to look after his father and taking care of him.

5. Did any part of Elie's story give you hope or make you feel a bit better? Why?

No, because there really weren't any happy or good parts, it was all sorrowful, about losing loved ones and being tortured. Besides at the end when they were finally set free, although Elie was still sad, there weren't many parts that made me feel any better.

6. Has Elie's story altered or made clearer your views about human beings and how we relate to each other in society? How?

Yes, it has made it clearer that people in this day and age are not equal, like how the jews were being treated as not human, and the nazi's were like god. Even now there are lots of people who don't get treated the same way as other people, for eg, the lgbtq+ community, black people, different cultures and religions.

7. What is the most important message or idea you have taken from reading Night

That we should be treated as equals, not focusing on our differences.