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Summary of Chapter 1 : 

Elie is one of four children, Hilda, Bea, and Tzipora. Elie was interested 

in becoming a cabbalist, but he received disapproval from his father. 

He met Moche who was a poor man living in the community, that 

became a mentor to Elie. (religion) Moche the Beadle was taken 

prisoner by Gustappo and after surviving the ensuing slaughter, tried 

to tell people his story to warn, but they didn't listen to him. 

Eventually, German troops appeared in Sighet, removing valuables 

from all Jewish homes, forcing the Jews to wear a yellow star and 

setting up ghettos. Elie's father was called to council to be deported. 

The first wave of Jews are deported. Elie and his family were sealed 

into a cattle car for deportation filled with 80 people.

Quote:

"Optimism soon revived." (page 19)

It was almost exactly one year ago, when my cousins living in 

Hawaii were getting ready to be taken by the state. I 

remember getting a phone call from their case worker telling 

my dad that they were up for foster and were needing a 

home. My family and I were optimistic about making the 

choice to try and have them live with us or tell the case 

worker we can't. I think making the decision to help my 

cousins benefited my family and I, because we are now in the 

foster care system, and working on trying to help my family.

Literary Device:

"He was as awkward as a clown" (page 13) - 

simile

Wiesel uses this simile to clarify that Moche 

was physically awkward because clowns are 

usually associated with being clumsy, which is 

what Wiesel wanted to help the reader 

understand.

Symbol : The symbol of a blind eye stands for 

denial. This concept shows up in Chapter 1 

when Moche warns the Jews about what is 

going to happen, and they happen and they 

ignored him so "denial" is an appropriate  

concept to this chapter.

Chapter 2 :

Cattle Cars

 Summary : 

Ellie and his family were leaving the ghetto and were packed into a cattle car 

filled with 80 people. They sat piled in the cattle car for three days, dying of 

thirst and aching from hunger. The air became hot and the stench of the people 

became strong. While they were riding in the cattle car, a German soldier took 

all of the gold and silver possessions of the Jews aboard, and reported to them 

that if any of them were to be missing they were to be shot and killed like dogs. 

There is a lady aboard who is about the age of 50 and she is with her 10 year old 

son, her name is Madame Schachter. Madame starts to yell and scream about 

this fire that nobody sees. Repeatedly she screams and points at a mysterious 

fire that only she sees. They believe she has gone mad and is crazy. Finally, the 

train arrives at Auschwitz a labor camp with fair treatment, and a place to see 

your family, is what they were told. When the Jews get off the train they are in 

for a rude awakening. Ellie sees the fire that Madame was talking about, he 

smells the terrible odor of burning human flesh, and Ellie sees the strange 

people dressed in the striped clothing.

Quote : "Jews, look! Look through your 

window! Flames! Look!"   (page 36)

When my dad called me to tell me that my 

older brother was in the hospital with both of 

his legs broken, I didn't believe him at first. 

The reason for that is, it was april fools day. 

Literary Device : 

"You'll all be shot like dogs."   (page 33)

A German soldier uses this simile to compare 

the Jews to dogs. The Jews are being tortured 

in the cattle cars and thrown and piled in like 

dogs. They aren't receiving fair treatment.

Symbol : 

A blind eye. The reason I used a blind eye, is 

because of Madame Schachter screaming of 

the fire burning. The other people aboard on 

the cattle were blinded of seeing til they 

reached the crematories.

Chapter 3 :

                Humanity 

Summary : 

The lives of the Jews were just getting ready to change. All possessions were to be left in the train. All 

the Jews were gathered in a huge crowd and were separated, men to the left and women to the right. 

Ellie and his father had to leave his mother and younger sister Tzipora. Ellie and his father were told by 

a prisoner that in order to stay alive, they were to lie about their ages. Ellie was now 18, and his father 

40. Ellie and his father soon find out about the crematories and are told that’s where they are heading. 

The men are then separated to the left and right based on age and profession Ellie and his father still 

remained together. They begin to march and with each step Ellie can see the piles of babies and 

children piled by the crematories, and the smell only gets stronger. Ellie begins to think why would God 

let this happen? What has happened to humanity? This is a nightmare, this can't be real. Ellie decides 

right then and there to abandon his faith. He tells his father he wants to run to the electric fence 

rather than burn alive. They stop marching and are told to strip from all clothing leaving belts and 

shoes in hand. They then were moved to the barbers and all their hair was clipped and shaven off. They 

move to the showers and arrived at the barracks where they were given ratty uniforms. They later 

march to the outer side of Auschwitz and were in cement two story buildings. The officer assigned to 

their barrack was a nice man, and treated the Jews kindly. Later, the officers find out about the fair 

treatment and replace the officer with a cruel and savage man. Three weeks pass by in Auschwitz and 

Ellie and his father are met by Stein, a cousin of the family. Ellie remembers him right off the bat, but 

his father can't remember Stein. He asks about his family, how they are doing, and if they are alive. 

Ellie knows what happened to his family, but doesn't want Stein to lose all his hope and reports that 

his family is doing fine and remains together. Those three weeks feel like an eternity to Ellie.

Quote :

"Humanity? , Humanity is not concerned with 

us. Today anything is allowed. Anything is 

possible, even these crematories."   (page 42)

Literary Device :    (page 43)

Repetition, when Ellie repeats never shall 

I forget the first night in camp that made 

each night eternal, the smoke, the little 

faces of the children, the flames that 

consumed his faith forever, the nocturnal 

silence, and never shall I forget those 

moments which murdered my God and 

my soul and turned my dreams to dust. 

Symbol :

Cherished objects. I chose cherished objects as a 

symbol for Chapter 3, because at this point of the 

story nothing mattered everything was left behind. 

Ellie and his father had to separate from his 

mother and his younger sister Tzipora. They had to 

give their wedding rings, any jewelry and all gold 

and silver up. The one suitcase they packed was 

left in the cattle cars. They couldn't even have one 

suitcase of their own. 

           Chapter 4

          Bombs

Summary : 

- Moved to Buna

- Elie and his father now work in an electrical warehouse and Idek is the Kappo 

- A fat German is in charge of Elie and his fathers barrack, one of his assistants tells 

Elie that in exchange for his shoes, he will make sure Elie gets into a good labor unit

- Elie refuses to part with his shoes

- Elie has a gold crown and makes excuses to the dentist, so that he won't remove 

Elie's crown

- Elie meets the French girl, that lies about being German. The French girl is very 

kind to Ellie

- Elie's father gets beaten by Idek, Elie's mind is brainwashed by the unhuman camp 

they're in and is angry at his father for getting beaten

- Franek the assistant leader decides to use Elie's fathers weakness to get the gold 

crown from Elie

- Elie snooped on Idek, and he was later whiped 25 times infront of the whole block 

for spying on him

- Buna becomes bombed, and all the prisoners are happy about it

- Elie witnesses a man getting Polish man getting hung for stealing during the air raid

- A little boy described as having the face of angel is also hung infront of everyone, 

he was called the Pipel

- Elie describes his as the worst to watch, because he did not die immediately

- Elie said that the soup tasted of corpses that day

Quote : "Where is God now?" 

(page 72)                                                                                

I can relate to this quote because of all the 

terrorist attacks in Paris.            

Literary Device :   "Jealousy consumed us, 

burned us up like straw." (page 67)

This literary device shows and example of two 

literary devices, a simile and personification.

The first part shows an example of 

personification, because it's explaining how 

jealousy consumed their lives. The second part 

is a simile because it compares jealousy to a 

burning straw.

Symbol :   A symbol from Chapter 4 is the 

Scales of Justice, it shows the balance of right 

and wrong. I used this symbol, because in this 

chapter the characters faced many 

punishments and consequences because of 

wrong actions. The characters in the story 

have to balance their thoughts and actions. 

      Chapter 5 : 

Selections

Summary of Chapter 5   :

- Elie continues to rebel against God, and not participate in the fast, 

also because his father said not to. 

- It is Elie and his fathers turn for selections. Elie was given advice on 

how to pass the selections.

- Eile's father is unsure how long he can make it, so he decided to give 

Elie his inheritance. Elie received a spoon and a knife from his father.

- Elie was placed into the hospital, because of his swollen foot.

- Elie was opertaed on, but no major surgery. 

- Elie is concerned about staying in the hospital for 2 weeks, because 

he is afraid of dying there. Elie later finds out those who were left in the 

hospital were liberated. 

- The head of the blocks command all the prisoners to clean and mop 

the floors, because they don't want people to see how dirty and filthy 

things are.

- After cleaning, the prisoners are commanded to start their march in the snow.

Quote : (page 89)

"Yet another last night. The last night 

at home, the last night in the ghetto, 

the last night in the train, and, now, 

the last night in Buna. How much 

longer were our lives to be dragged 

out from one 'last night' to another?" 

I can think of a time when I was at 

the hospital for my older brother. The 

night seemed endless, because of 

how long we sat in the hospital room. 

It seemed like time was slowed down 

that night, we just wanted my brother 

to be healthy and to return back 

home.

Literary Device : (page 82)

" The whole day, I wandered about as if 

sleepwalking. "

The simile describes how Elie is under 

stress and pressure about taking care of 

his father, and now it's really starting to 

get to him. 

 Symbol : Ball and Chain

In this chapter, Elie feels like he is 

completely responsible for his father. 

Elie carries his father around like a 

burden on his back, or like a ball on a 

chain. Elie is always worried and 

stressed about his father.

Chapter 6 : The March 

The Jews were being transported and were told to run 

the whole way there in the icy wind and snow. Anyone 

that stopped along the way was shot on the spot. After 

hours of running and pure torture, they are allowed 

rest. Elie and his father find a small shed to rest in. 

Elie's father reminds Elie not to sleep, because sleep is 

death. The next day they continue the march to 

Gleiwitz. Their packed into a cattle car to arrive at 

Gleiwitz. When they arrive the place is extremely 

crowded and filled with people. They are forced to 

sleep piled on top of each other fighting for air. Elie 

heers Juliek playing his violin in the night, and feels 

sorrow for Juliek because his violin is being smashed. 

Three days later when Elie is awake, he sees Juliek's 

corspe, and his violin laying next to him.

Literary Device : " A great tidal wave 

of mrn came rolling onward and would 

have crushed me like an ant."    (page 

93)      

Elie describes himself as an ant 

compared to the huge stampede of 

people. Elie uses this to show how 

small he is compared to all of the 

prisoners marching.

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