In preparation for tomorrow's exam, today we first reviewed vocabulary words from the novel and then reviewed literary terms such as :symbolism, irony, personification, and metaphor. With this foundation, we reviewed Kaitlin's study guide work (which was good) and interposed these literary terms into her answers . I further demonstrated how to use portions of a passage in support of a thesis. Last, we discussed the impact of Wiesel's experiences on his view of revenge as well as how his horrific experiences in Auschwitz extirpated his faith, and created a life long sense of guilt due to his feeling a sense of relief upon his father's death.
I provided instruction on and defined the following literary terms: symbolism, metaphor, simile, personification, and theme, We then studied the text of the novel ,Night, and located examples of each . Kaitlin recognized the author's symbolic use of "night" ,and we noted the personification of Death as the author notes he was "arguing with Death." I discussed how a novel can contain multiple themes usually about life, human nature or society . Last, we examined the final pages of the novel wherein the author comments that upon liberation neither he nor the other prisoners thought about revenge. We discussed the concepts of revenge and forgiveness in the novel and generally. We will have our final test on the novel next Tuesday.
As Kaitlin finished reading the novel last night, she discussed her response . She noted that for her most impactful was the ultimate disintegration of the father /son relationship that the two had so struggled to maintain. We explored how Elie "failed" the moral test he imposed on himself-never to emotionally abandon his father. Yet, he feels relief upon his father's death. We then noted the ongoing symbolic reference to night and discussed its ongoing import in final chapters. Further, we worked on yesterday's quote analysis paragraph on irony. Last, we reviewed Kaitlin's study guide homework which was very good .
Today we studied how dehumanization impacts the family relationship between fathers and sons. We discussed three specific examples of sons with relief abandoning their fathers to a certain death . We then examined and revised Kaitlin's homework essay analyzing a quote with this theme. She did substantively well , but we reorganized sentence order for cohesion and added the role of symbolism in the quote. We then worked on a second quote that required an analysis of metaphor and symbolism which Kaitlin will complete for homework.
After reviewing Kaitlin's study guide homework, I provided instruction on how to prepare a quote analysis by addressing context, content, and significance. I explained how significance can include diction ,narrative style, figurative language ,and /or theme and character development. I reviewed the definition of literary terms such as theme, irony, and metaphor. We then practiced drafting a one paragraph analysis based on a quote from the novel evidencing Elie Wiesel's loss of faith and consequent anger towards God. As Kaitlin drafted I provided suggestions on how to eliminate vague terms and vague pronoun references. We further worked on incorporating character change into the response. Kaitlin will prepare another analysis for homework tonight.
We first discussed plot details to check on comprehension of the assigned reading. Studying the text, I also highlighted examples of the personification of Death as well as the continual use of the word "night" as a symbol. We discussed how at this juncture in the novel ,as the prisoners begin the notorious death march, night or a "darker night" emphasizes how the brutality and horror of the concentration camp is eclipsed by the brutality and inhumanity of the death march. We then reviewed Kaitlin' study guide homework and noted where and how to both add textual detail and to correct run-on sentences.
After reviewing vocabulary from the novel, we explored a motif within last night's reading a moral "epidemic" -the contagious loss of faith. Kaitlin noted how Drumer Akiva, Elie Wiesel, and Elie's father are all suffering physical consequences as they are forced to acknowledge that God does not care about them and is not merciful as they had been raised to believe. We discussed the irony of some of the prisoners atoning on Yom Kippur notwithstanding their innocence and suffering. Last, we studied textual passages wherein in Elie not only expresses his loss of faith but voices anger and defiance at God. He refuses to fast on Yom Kippur as an act of rebellion. We discussed why the loss of faith was critical to the members of the insulated Jewish community as their lives were so steadily and strictly guided by their religious practices. In this context, we continue to interpret the repeating word "night" as meaning something deeper and darker after each reference.
We explored the results of the author's dehumanization noting disparate responses to witnessing two executions. After the hanging of a young boy who writhes for hours on the end of a rope, the author comments that it is God who " is hanging on the gallows. "I provided instruction on quote analysis -context, paraphrase, and significance -and we practiced an analysis of this quote in effect a pronouncement that God is dead. We examined the implications of this conclusion to the author who had been a serious student and believer of the Jewish faith . We further studied the author's observation that the evening's ration of soup tasted" like corpses." Additionally, we continue to study the eroding relationship between the author and his father as survival becomes more important than family or love.
Today we discussed the influence or role of illusion in the life of both the imprisoned Jewish community and in the Nazi community. We first contrasted how Elie's loss of faith differs from other characters who still cling to their faith.We discussed how the ability to maintain faith in some degree is an aspect of illusion or believing that God or the world will intervene. We discussed Elie's loss of faith in the context of the novel's allusion to Job. We then explored other illusions maintained in order to survive such as Elie and his father's pretending to each other that the remaining members of their family are alive. Kaitlin offered her view that the German people and SS were also suffering from rationalization and delusion believing somehow that their brutality and cruelty was a manifestation of patriotism . We discussed the influence of demagoguery and antisemitism on the German and Austrian people.
