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?​

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)

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?