Timeline of Night

Devout Faith

3

“By day I studied Talmud and by night I would run to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the Temple.” (3) He is very devout and studies Talmud day and night. He is also crying over the destruction of the temple which shows that he really cares.

Devout Faith

5

"We spoke that way almost every evening, remaining in the synagogue long after all the faithful had gone, sitting in the semi-
darkness where only a few half-burnt candles provided a flicker-
ing light." (5) Studying very late into the night is a sign that he really cares about his religion.

Perception of the Ghettos

11

"Little by little life returned to "normal." The barbed wire that
encircled us like a wall did not fill us with real fear. In fact, we felt
this was not a bad thing; we were entirely among ourselves." People thought this was a good thing. We would no longer
have to look at all those hostile faces, endure those hate-filled
stares. No more fear. No more anguish. We would live among
Jews, among brothers... (11-12) If he had this feeling about the ghettos they must have not been that bad.

Feelings

19

That was when I began to hate them, and my hatred remains
our only link today. They were our first oppressors. They were
the first faces of hell and death. (19) This is the first time he mentions hate for a certain group of people. This hatred progresses not only for Hungarians but also for SS and other German officials.

Physical Condition

26

"Our nerves had reached a breaking point. our very skin was aching. It was as though madness ahs infected all of us. We gave up." (26)
This is one of the first signs of his physical struggle after leaving the ghettos. This shows that what he complains about is still quite small compared to what he will face in the future.

Safety

29

"I kept walking, my father holding my hand." (29) He feels safety by holding his fathers hand. This theme keeps coming up as later on in the book the only thing that keeps him mentally alive is his father.

Feelings

32

"A truck drew close and unloaded its hold: small children. Babies! Yes, I did see this, with my own eyes... children thrown into the flames. (Is it any wonder that every since then, sleep tends to elude me?)... I pinched myself: Was I still alive? Was I awake? how was it possible that men, women, and children were being burned and that the world kept silent? (32) This is the first time he learns about the severity of the camps. He is quite shocked and can't believe it.

Devout Faith

33

"For the first time, I felt anger rising within me. Why should I sanctify His name? The Almighty, the eternal and terrible Master of the Universe, chose to be silent. What was there to thank Him for? (33) He is starting to blame god for standing around.

Feeling

34

"Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed." (34) He feels that the period that he was in the camps was the longest period of time in his life.

Feeling

36

"We were incapable of thinking. Our senses were numbed, everything was fading into a fog. We no longer clung to anything."(36) This shows how they don't really care about other people anymore and are only focusing on their own survival

Feeling

41

"Don't lose hope. You have already eluded the worst danger: the selection Therefore, muster your strength and keep your faith... Those were the first human words." (41) After being treated like an animal and demoralized this is the first time Elie has heard "real" human words.

Devout Faith

45

“I concurred with Job! I was not denying His existence, but I doubted His absolute justice.” (45) He isn't doubting if god is real he is wondering if god is fair.

Feeling

52

"The bread, the soup--those were my entire life. I was nothing but a body. Perhaps even less: a famished stomach. The stomach alone was measuring time." (52) This is when he starts loosing faith in living and differentiates from body and soul.

Feeling

59

"Fear was greater than hunger." (59) Even though all of them are really hungry because they don't get fed the thing keeping them from going for the soup is fear of being shot. This shows that they have not lost all dignity yet and are not willing to risk their lives for food.

Devout Faith

67

“Why, but why would I bless Him? Every fiber in me rebelled. Because He caused thousands of children to burn in his mass graves? Because He kept six crematoria working day and night, including Sabbath and the Holy Days? Because in His great might, He had created Auschwitz, Birkenau, Buna, and so many other factories of death?” (67) He is questioning god again while fasting during Yom Kippur.

Devout Faith

68

"When you were displeased by Noah’s generation, You brought down the Flood… But look at these men you have betrayed, allowing them to be tortured, slaughtered, gassed, and burned, what do they do? They pray before You! They praise Your name!” (68) This shows that he is angry that god has betrayed them

Safety

75

"Here, take this knife," he said. "I won't need it anymore. You
may find it useful. Also take this spoon. Don't sell it. Quickly! Go
ahead, take what I'm giving you!"
My inheritance...(75) His father, the person who used to protect Elie was now on the edge of death. He gives his inheritance as a way of saying goodbye.

Feeling

85

"I was putting one foot in front of the other, like a machine. I
was dragging this emaciated body that was still such a weight. If
only I could have shed it! Though I tried to put it out of my
mind, I couldn't help thinking that there were two of us: my body
and I. And I hated that body." (85) He starts feeling like his body and soul is separating again. He realizes how your body can sometimes hold back your mental state.

Feeling

87

"My father's presence was the only thing that stopped me. He
was running next to me, out of breath, out of strength, desperate. I had no right to let myself die. What would he do without me? I
was his sole support." (87) His father is the only thing that keeps him wanting to live. This has been a constant theme throughout his time at the camp.

Feeling

88

"Don't let yourself be overcome by sleep, Eliezer. It's dangerous to fall asleep in snow. One falls asleep forever. Come, my son. (88) This shows how weak Elie is right now and how many other people have crossed the boundary of death.

Feeling/ Safety

91

"A terrible thought crossed my mind: What if he had wanted to
be rid of his father? He had felt his father growing weaker and,
believing that the end was near, had thought by this separation to
free himself of a burden that could diminish his own chance for
survival." (91) This is when Elie starts questioning weather or not to leave his father for his own survival.

Feeling

98

Die today or tomorrow, or later? The night was growing longer, never ending. (98)

Feeling

100

Our eyes closed, we merely waited for the next stop, to un-
load our dead. (100) They have lost most of their humanity and just wait to throw out their dead bodies.

Feeling

101

"Two men had been watching him. They jumped him. Others joined in. When they withdrew,
there were two dead bodies next to me, the father and the son.
I was sixteen." (101) This experience also shows us how many people have turned into animals wiling to kill for food.

Safety

104

"He didn't answer. I myself was so weary that his silence left
me indifferent. My only wish was to take the shower as soon as
possible and lie down on a cot." (104) His form of safety is now starting to rely on Elie for help. I think this is the first time when Elie realizes that his father might not survive.

Feeling

105

This discussion continued for some time. I knew that I was no
longer arguing with him but with Death itself, with Death that
he had already chosen. (105) His father decides to die.

Feeling

107

I gave him what was left of my soup. But my heart was heavy.
I was aware that I was doing it grudgingly.
Just like Rabbi Eliahu's son, I had not passed the test. (107) Elie is starting to feel guilty and is fending for himself because he knows that his father won't survive much longer.

Feeling

111

My father groaned once more, I heard:
"Eliezer...
I could see that he was still breathing—in gasps. I didn't
move. (111) He pretty much abandoned his father and felt that there was nothing he could do anymore.