Read the excerpts from chapter 2 of Night.Excerpt 1When they came back, they told us that they had learned, in exchange for a gold watch, that this was the final destination. We were to leave the train here. There was a labor camp on the site. The conditions were good. Families would not be separated. Only the young would work in the factories. The old and the sick would find work in the fields.Confidence soared. Suddenly we felt free of the previous nights’ terror. We gave thanks to God.Excerpt 2We stared at the flames in the darkness. A wretched stench floated in the air. Abruptly, our doors opened. Strange-looking creatures, dressed in striped jackets and black pants, jumped into the wagon. Holding flashlights and sticks, they began to strike at us left and right, shouting:"Everybody out! Leave everything inside. Hurry up!"We jumped out. I glanced at Mrs. Schächter. Her little boy was still holding her hand.In front of us, those flames. In the air, the smell of burning flesh. It must have been around midnight. We had arrived. In Birkenau.
Read the excerpt from chapter 2 of Night.Lying down was not an option, nor could we all sit down. We decided to take turns sitting. There was little air. The lucky ones found themselves near a window; they could watch the blooming countryside flit by.After two days of travel, thirst became intolerable, as did the heat.
Read the excerpt from chapter 7 of Night.One day when we had come to a stop, a worker took a piece of bread out of his bag and threw it into a wagon. There was a stampede. Dozens of starving men fought desperately over a few crumbs. The worker watched the spectacle with great interest.Years later, I witnessed a similar spectacle in Aden. Our ship's passengers amused themselves by throwing coins to the "natives,” who dove to retrieve them. An elegant Parisian lady took great pleasure in this game. When I noticed two children desperately fighting in the water, one trying to strangle the other, I implored the lady:"Please, don’t throw any more coins!”"Why not?” said she. "I like to give charity . . .”
How is the connotative meaning of a word different from the denotative meaning of a word?
What is the author’s main purpose for writing the memoir Night?
What is atmosphere in literature?
Read the excerpt from chapter 7 of Night.Meir Katz remained on the train. The last day had been the most lethal. We had been a hundred or so in this wagon. Twelve of us left it. Among them, my father and myself.
Read the excerpt from chapter 2 of Night.We tried to reason with her, more to calm ourselves, to catch our breath, than to soothe her:"She is hallucinating because she is thirsty, poor woman . . . That's why she speaks of flames devouring her . . .”But it was all in vain. Our terror could no longer be contained. Our nerves had reached a breaking point. Our very skin was aching. It was as though madness had infected all of us. We gave up. A few young men forced her to sit down, then bound and gagged her.
How is the connotative meaning of a word different from the denotative meaning of a word?
Which statement defines denotation?
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