Night Themes and Motifs

Night Themes and Motifs

By Shon Rand

Motif

Motifs are:​

recurring elements that help develop themes in a work​

Ready to explain what a motif is?​

Fill in the Blank

What is a motif?

Motifs in Night

The word "night" is itself a motif

This word is used throughout the book in both a literal and symbolic fashion.

Multiple Choice

The word "night" is used throughout Wiesel's memoir in...

• both a literal and literal fashion

• both a literal and symbolic fashion

• the first chapter

• exclusively a symbolic fashion

Some other motifs:

​Tradition and Religious Observance

Various Jewish religious traditions are mentioned repeatedly​.

Wiesel refers to himself as "deeply observant" (p. 3).​

What are some of the traditions and observations from the memoir?​

See p. 3 and p. 8

Going to the synagogue

​This is a celebration that begins the Jewish New Year.

​

​

Rosh Hashanah

What other traditions or observances can you think of from the text?

​

Perhaps prayer?​ What else?

Kaddish is mentioned repeatedly (see p. 33 for but one example)

Fill in the Blank

On page 3, Wiesel says, "I was almost thirteen and..."

Open Ended

What is a theme? (refer to the chart on the wall if you forgot)

​THEMES in Night:

​Indifference and Silence

Cruelty

Humanity

Inhumanity

​Faith

​Loyalty

These are developed throughout the text

Open Ended

Is there a moral to Night? What do you think it is?