Socratic Seminar Preparation

Transcription

1 Name Date Socratic Seminar Preparation Night Summative Assessment Question Answer (Be sure to indicate which question is being answered.) Directions: Complete the graphic organizer below to prepare for the Socratic Seminar graded discussion. Students who do not COMPLETELY FINISH this graphic organizer will not be permitted to participate in the class discussion, and will earn a zero on that assignment (which CANNOT be made up for late credit). There will be no partial credit given for partially completed assignments. Opening Questions (Choose ONE to respond): 1. At the beginning of the novel, Eliezer pursues his passion of religious study even though his family is not necessarily supportive of his dream. Discuss a time that you have pursued your passion in the face of adversity or lack of support. 2. Eliezer is initially warned about the come by Moishe the Beadle, but is either or too frightened to heed Moishe s advice. A time where you regrettably ignored advice. 3. [Rabbi Eliahou s son] had felt that his father was growing weak, he had believed that the end was near and had sought this separation in order to get rid of the burden, to free himself from an encumbrance which could lessen his own chances of survival. I had done well to forget that. And I was glad that Rabbi Eliahou should continue to look for his beloved son. And, in spite of myself, a prayer rose in my heart, to that God in whom I no longer believed. My God, Lord of the Universe, give me strength never to do what Rabbi Eliahou s son has done (Wiesel 91). Some of the most catastrophic realizations Eliezer experiences throughout the novel are the occasions in which individuals lose compassion and empathy for each other. Discuss an occasion in which you found yourself surprisingly selfish or unfeeling toward someone for whom you care.

2 Question Answer Textual Evidence with Citation Core Questions (Answer ALL of the following questions and provide textual support): 1. One of the recurring motifs throughout the novel is that of silence. In fact, Wiesel first wrote an 800- page text in Yiddish titled Un di Velt Hot Geshvign (And the World Remained Silent). Describe all of the instances in which silence recurs. What is the pervasive message about silence? 2. Do you believe that Eliezer still has any belief in God? Why or why not? 3. The memoir ends with the following quote in the far right column. Explain the significance of this quote. Identify all of the important elements within the quote and their implications. One day I was able to get up, after gathering all my I wanted to see myself in the mirror hanging on the wall. I had not seen myself since the ghetto. From the the mirror, a corpse gazed back at me. The look in his as they stared into mine, has never left me (Wiesel 115).

3 Question Answer Textual Evidence with Citation 4. One of the most tragic themes in Night is Eliezer s discovery of the way that atrocities and cruel treatment can make good people into brutes. Discuss all of the instances in which this occurs. Does Eliezer himself escape this fate? 5. It is possible to look at Night as the story of Eliezer s loss of innocence. Discuss the occasions in which Eliezer loses some of his childlike innocence. Is the loss of innocence tragic, or is innocence an impediment to survival, as when the Jews are too innocent to believe that Hitler really means to kill them? 6. In his 1996 memoir All Rivers Run to the Sea, Elie Wiesel writes, in reference to the responsibility of the Holocaust survivor, To be silent is impossible, to speak forbidden. What do you think Wiesel means? How does he resolve or circumvent this paradox?

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5 Question Answer Textual Evidence with Citation 7. In the midst of the dying men in Gleiwitz, the violinist Juliek plays a fragment of music written by the German composer Beethoven. Before and after the Holocaust, many people wondered how the Germans, cultured Europeans, could commit such barbaric acts. Does Wiesel suggest any rationale behind the Holocaust in Night? Does he speculate as to the motives of the perpetrators? What, for Wiesel, are those motives, if they exist? 8. At the end of the novel, Eliezer explains how, despite what they had suffered, the Jews left the Holocaust with no thought of revenge. Why do you think this is the case?

6 Closing Questions (Choose ONE to which to respond): 1. Explain an excerpt of Night you will never forget. 2. When the novel ends, Eliezer is completely alone with no belongings, no family, no friends, and no faith. If you were Eliezer, what would be your first steps toward regaining your life? Possible Questions Answer Textual Evidence (as needed) with Citation What makes a person dehumanize another? Would you lie to someone if that lie would keep their hope? Do people become desensitized to violence if violence is a part of their everyday life? How does music help people during difficult times? What is the impact of music on life s emotions related to pain? Is it human nature that makes people inclined to put themselves before the welfare of others, or is it society that morally corrupts people? Why are the elderly treated so poorly? Why do people commit acts of evil for moments of joy? Why are differences viewed or portrayed negatively by society? Why, in past and present times, has violence been considered entertainment? How has entertainment affected our view on tragic moments?

7 What does the effect of death have on a child? Why do humans believe it is ok to treat other people as less than important because of their status? How do people expect the world to help with tragedies? Why is it so easy to betray the people we love? If life meant prison and death meant freedom, what are humans more inclined to choose? Is a loved one enough motivation to help withstand the obstacles in life? Is the desire to survive strong enough to break the bonds between family members and friends? Is it possible to ever recover from a lifechanging tragedy? Why does hardship transform respectable men into savages? Your Own Questions Your Answers Textual Evidence (as needed) and Citation