I felt anger and disbelief. Why couldn’t they have known where the Jews were being transported? They had many chances to run away and escape, but how could they have known what was waiting for them at the end of their “vacation”? Chapter 2: For me, hopelessness and helplessness were the major feelings in this part of the book.
When I first heard Mrs. Schachter shout “Fire! ” I had a pretty good idea that she was foreshadowing, but obviously not on purpose. When they arrived at Auschwitz, I felt that there was no longer hope for their lives. *Apparently, there was. Chapter 3: This chapter was indescribable for me. First, he came face to face with his own death. Secondly, he started to actually learn about where he was, and what they were doing there. Elie and his father
...may actually survive this major ordeal, because they are healthy, strong and sometimes untruthful. (This may save their lives)
Chapter 4: This part of the book was hard to read and very moving. I am starting to see maturity rising from Elie. Seeing his father tortured right in front of him, and himself getting tortured was unimaginable. I certainly couldn’t do it. This “experience” is forcing him to endure incomprehensible pain, and will probably cause him psychiatric torment in the future. Chapter 5: The beginning of this chapter mostly talked about religious stuff. It was a bit boring to read, but by the end of the chapter, it was motivating me to continue reading, because I knew that the SS men were now leeing from the German army. From that, I know that the end of the
war is getting closer and closer, and that made me want to continue my reading to know what will happen to Elie and his father. Chapter 6: For me, this was probably the hardest chapter to read. Normally, when I read, I always picture myself being in his/her shoes, and when Elie was being suffocated I was literally gasping for air, even though there was really nothing stopping me from breathing. Even now, after finishing the chapter, my heart is still beating heavily. What a rush!
Furthermore, one of my phobias is dying from suffocation, so I had trouble reading that part of the chapter. My “way” of reading is probably the worst and best one to have with this book. Chapter 7: I felt sorrow and helplessness. All those men were dying for a small piece of bread. And they were only doing so for the pleasure and amusement of the SS men. How cruel. This must be the end of concentration camps, because if it is not, there will be no more people to kill. Too much people died already. They can’t go through another camp or even a selection for that matter.
Chapter 8: I too, felt relief like Elie from his father’s passing. His father was like “dead weight” to Elie. As cruel as it may be, you must start to think about yourself, especially in a concentration camp. At least, now, Elie can gather up his strength (that is left) and survive the last chapters of the horrible camp. Chapter 9: What a great book! Of course it was extremely emotional and hard to wrap your head around, but Elie Wiesel made
me understand of how the Jews were treated and to be thankful for our soldiers that keep fighting for our liberty.
He has really made me think twice about how thankful I should be for my family and my life, but most importantly, my freedom. I thank him for allowing me to learn about his experiences and to make sure they will never happen again. I salute him for his courage and his accomplishments. Figures of speech Page 10- “The good story he had been in the middle of telling us was to remain unfinished” Foreshadowing Page 17- “They passed me by, like beaten dogs, with never a glance in my direction” Simile
Page 17- “The street resembled fairgrounds deserted in haste. There was a little of everything: suitcases, briefcases, bags, knives, dishes, banknotes, papers, faded portraits. ” Imagery Page 45- “The camp looked as though it had suffered an epidemic: empty and dead” Personification Page 77- “ I’ve got more faith in Hitler than anyone else. He’s the only one who’s kept his promises, all his promises, to the Jewish people. ” Irony Quotations 1. “You must never lose faith, even when the sword hangs over your head. That’s the teaching of our sages... If Elie wants to survive what he is going to go through, faith is very important, and if he never gives up because of faith, well then it must be an important part for his survival. 2. “Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never” That was very moving because you can see how much these camps destroyed those men and
women, (that survived) not just physically, but mentally also. 3. “Work or the crematory-the choice is in your hands” That may be the cruellest phrase ever spoken.
If I would have heard that I would have been terrified. 4. “At a sign from the head of the camp, the three chairs tipped over. Total silence throughout the camp. On the horizon, the sun was setting. ” Why make all those Jews watch the hangings? That would have been too much for me to handle, and it would have marked my life forever. 5. “After my father’s death, nothing could touch me anymore” It is unimaginable what he is going through. There was only him left, and I can’t believe that he never gave up after everything that happened.
