Introduction
Elie Wiesel's statement to "remain silent and indifferent in the greatest sin of all..." represents a driving force for his work. Mr. Wiesel is a Holocaust survivor. This remarkable man is not only a survivor but also a hero of enormous proportions. Mr. Wiesel is the author of thirty-six books dealing with the Holocaust, Judaism, and the moral responsibility of all people to fight hatred, racism, and genocide.
Therefore, the goal of this Internet search assignment is to help students become more familiar with Mr. Wiesel. It is vitally improtant that before students begin reading Night that the yhave a firm understanding of Mr. Wiesel's cultural and religious background and an accurate understanding of the horrors of the Jewish Holocaust.
Questions
1. Who is Elie Wiesel? Where was he born? What year?
2. What was life like for young Elie before the Nazi invasion?
3. What happened to his sisters and mother?
4. What type of relationship did he have with his father before the concentration camp experience?
5. What concentration camp held Elie and his father prisoners?
6. Did Elie's father survive? Explain his particular ordeal.
7. How did Elie manage to survive?
8. Why did Elie take a vow of silence after being liberated?
9. Why did he write Night
10. Why did Elie call his first novel Night?
Internet Resources
Elie Wiesel Interview
History of the Holocaust
Elie Wiesel on his beliefs
Elie Wiesel was deported from Hungary to Auschwitz in May 1944
Night (book)
Elie Wiesel by Shira Schoenberg
Elie Wiesel Biography
Night Study Guide
Why did Elie Wiesel call his autobiography Night?
Case Study: The Jewish Holocaust
Activities
1. Create a timeline sequencing the major events of Mr. Wiesel's life.
2. Find three primary sources describing the Jewish Holocaust.
3. Draw a map showing the location of Auschwitz.
4. Imagine yourself as anewspaper correspondent sent to document the conditions of Auschwitz. Write a newspaper article describing the event.
5. Write two paragraphs escribing what you have learned about the Jewish Holocaust.
Paul Koski, Teacher, and Adrienne Tran, AP student, collaborated to develop this web hunt.
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