Night Reading Passages Night
Section 3 Excerpts • Elie Wiesel
THE BELOVED OBJECTS that we had carried with us from place to place were now left behind in the wagon and, with them, finally, our illusions.
An SS came toward us wielding a club. He commanded: "Men to the left! Women to the right!" Eight words spoken quietly, indifferently, without emotion. Eight simple, short words. Yet that was the moment when I left my mother. There was no time to think, and I already felt my father's hand press against mine: we were alone. In a fraction of a second I could see my mother, my sisters, move to the right. Tzipora was holding Mother's hand. I saw them walking farther and farther away; Mother was stroking my sister's blond hair, as if to protect her. And I walked on with my father, with the men. I didn't know that this was the moment in time and the place where I was leaving my mother and Tzipora forever. I kept walking, my father holding my hand.
My hand tightened its grip on my father. All I could think of was not to lose him. Not to remain alone.
***
"Poor devils, you are heading for the crematorium." He seemed to be telling the truth. Not far from us, flames, huge flames, were rising from a ditch. Something was being burned there. 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 ever since then, sleep tends to elude me?)
So that was where we were going. A little farther on, there was another, larger pit for adults. 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? No. All this could not be real. A nightmare perhaps... Soon I would wake up with a start, my heart pounding, and find that I was back in the room of my childhood, with my books...
***
In the afternoon, they made us line up. Three prisoners brought a table and some medical instruments. We were told to roll up our left sleeves and file past the table. The three "veteran" prisoners, needles in hand, tattooed numbers on our left arms. I became A-7713. From then on, I had no other name.
***
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?
We continued our march. We were coming closer and closer to the pit, from which an infernal heat was rising. Twenty more steps. If I was going to kill myself, this was the time. Our column had only some fifteen steps to go. I bit my lips so that my father would not hear my teeth chattering. Ten more steps. Eight. Seven. We were walking slowly, as one follows a hearse, our own funeral procession. Only four more steps. Three. There it was now, very close to us, the pit and its flames. I gathered all that remained of my strength in order to break rank and throw myself onto the barbed wire. Deep down, I was saying good-bye to my father, to the whole universe, and, against my will, I found myself whispering the words: "Yisgadal, veyiskadash, shmey raba... May His name be exalted and sanctified..." My heart was about to burst. There. I was face-to-face with the Angel of Death... No. Two steps from the pit, we were ordered to turn left and herded into barracks.
***
NEVER SHALL I FORGET that night, the first night in camp, that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed.
Never shall I forget that smoke.
Never shall I forget the small faces of the children whose bodies I saw transformed into smoke under a silent sky.
Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever.
Never shall I forget the nocturnal silence that deprived me for all eternity of the desire to live.
Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes.
Never shall I forget those things, even were I condemned to live as long as God Himself.
Never.
Analytical Commentary Lesson Plan From Quote to Commentary
Lesson Plan • Night Section 3
30 MIN
Objective
Students will analyze textual evidence from Elie Wiesel's Night and develop meaningful, multi-sentence commentary connecting evidence to themes and author's purpose.
Preparation
Review Section 3 Reading passages.
Ensure slide deck is ready for presentation.
Print Commentary Activity sheets.
Identify 2-3 extra quotes for potential extension.
Materials
• Projector/Whiteboard
• Night Section 3 Reading
• Commentary Slide Deck
• Warm Up Handout
• Teacher Script
• Commentary Activity Sheet
Lesson Procedure
5m
Warm-Up: What's the Point?
Students respond to: "Why do we use quotes? What is their purpose?" Lead into the concept that evidence requires explanation.
5m
The Evidence-Commentary Connection
Use Slides 1-3. Define evidence (the "what") and commentary (the "why/how"). Contrast weak vs. strong examples.
10m
Teacher Modeling: Making Evidence Speak
Modeling Quote: "Never shall I forget that night..."
Think-aloud the process of connecting imagery ("seven times sealed") to irreversible trauma and author's purpose.
7m
Guided Practice: Commentary Construction
Practice Quote: "I became A-7713. From then on, I had no other name."
Collaboratively brainstorm initial thoughts. Focus on dehumanization and identity.
3m
Wrap-Up: Key Takeaways
Review main points. Solicit one new learning from students. Assign Activity Sheet as extension/homework.
Instructional Approach
"Teacher modeling, guided practice, and independent application ensure students move from observation to articulation."
Analytical Commentary Slide Deck From Quote to
Commentary
Transforming simple evidence into powerful literary insights.
Night Section 3
What is Evidence?
The "What"
Direct words or phrases from the text that support your ideas. Think of it as proof.
"Eight words spoken quietly, indifferently, without emotion."
— Eliezer, Section 3
• It's like showing a photo to prove something happened.
• It is the foundation of your argument.
• You must include it to back up your claims.
What is Commentary?
The "Why" & "How"
Explains why the evidence matters and how it supports your bigger idea.
Answers the question:
"So What?"
Weak Commentary
This quote shows that the SS officer wasn't emotional.
Strong Commentary
This detached observation underscores the dehumanizing efficiency of the Nazi regime. It highlights the cold, mechanical nature of separation, emphasizing the sudden loss Eliezer experiences without any emotional recognition from his oppressors.
Teacher Modeling
The Evidence
"Never shall I forget that night... that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed."
Word Choice
"Seven times sealed" implies absolute finality; a tomb.
Theme
The shift from memory to permanent identity/trauma.
Purpose
The demographic between past life and irreversible suffering.
Guided Practice
Draft Commentary For:
"I became A-7713. From then on, I had no other name."
Dehumanization?
Symbolism?
Identity Loss?
Key Takeaways
1
Evidence is the proof. Commentary is the meaning.
2
Strong commentary answers "So what?" and connects to the bigger picture.
Make your analysis shine!
Analytical Commentary Warm Up Quick Write: What's the Point?
Analytical Commentary Warm-Up
Time: 5 Mins
Name
Date
Before we dive into our analysis of Section 3 of Night, take 2–3 minutes to respond to the following questions. There are no "wrong" answers—just share your current perspective on how we build arguments in writing.
1 When you write an essay or make an argument, why do you include quotes from a book or other source?
2 What do you think is the purpose of those quotes? What work are they doing in your writing?
"Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds." — Elie Wiesel
Analytical Commentary Script Teacher Instructional Script
From Quote to Commentary • Night Section 3
Part 1: Warm-Up & Hook (5 mins)
SAY: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Please take out your notebooks or a piece of scratch paper. On the screen, you'll see a quick warm-up activity. I'd like you to respond to these two questions for the next two or three minutes. Think about why we use quotes in our writing and what their purpose is. Go ahead and start now."
(Allow students to write for 2-3 minutes.)
SAY: "Alright, let's hear some of your thoughts. Who would like to share why they think we include quotes in our writing? What's their purpose?" (Call on a few students. Guide the discussion towards the idea that quotes provide proof or examples.)
SAY: "Excellent points! You're right, quotes are super important because they give us evidence. They show our readers exactly what the text says. But here's the thing: simply dropping a quote into your writing isn't enough. You have to explain why that quote matters, how it proves your point, and what it reveals about the bigger picture of the text. And that, my friends, is where commentary comes in."
Part 2: The Connection (5 mins)
(Display Slide 2: What is Evidence?)
SAY: "As you can see, evidence is straightforward. It's the 'what' – the direct words from the text. For example, in Night, Eliezer states, 'Eight words spoken quietly, indifferently, without emotion.' This is a quote, it's our evidence. It shows us what happened."
(Display Slide 3: What is Commentary?)
SAY: "Now, commentary is where your brainpower really comes in. It's the 'why' and 'how' – why is this quote significant? How does it connect to our understanding of the character, the themes, or the author's message? Strong commentary dives deeper. It answers the crucial question: So what? Why does this matter?"
Part 3: Teacher Modeling (10 mins)
(Display Slide 4: Modeling Example)
SAY: "Let's think out loud about how to develop strong commentary for this quote: 'Never shall I forget that night...'. First, what is Eliezer saying? He's saying he'll never forget that night, and that it changed his life permanently."
SAY: "But why is this important? The phrase 'one long night seven times sealed' makes me think of something closed off, irreversible, like a tomb. It suggests the absolute finality of his loss of innocence. Notice how my commentary moved beyond just saying, 'Eliezer was sad.' I talked about specific language and implied meaning."
Part 4: Guided Practice (7 mins)
(Display Slide 5: Guided Practice Quote)
SAY: "Using your activity sheet, or in your notebook, take a few minutes to write down your initial thoughts for this quote: 'I became A-7713. From then on, I had no other name.' Think about: What does this symbolize? How does it contribute to the theme of dehumanization?"
Deep Analysis Activity From Quote to Commentary
Practice Activity • Night Section 3
Name
Date
Instructions
For each piece of evidence (quote), write at least three to five sentences of meaningful commentary. Explain what the quote means beyond the surface, why it is significant, and how it connects to the overall message of Night.
Example Reference
Evidence: "Eight words spoken quietly, indifferently, without emotion. Eight simple, short words. Yet that was the moment when I left my mother."
Strong Commentary: This brief, detached observation underscores the dehumanizing efficiency of the Nazi regime, where life-altering decisions were made with chilling indifference. It highlights the cold, mechanical nature of the separation, emphasizing the sudden and irreversible loss Eliezer experiences without any emotional recognition from his oppressors. Wiesel's choice to focus on the 'eight words' rather than a dramatic struggle emphasizes the mundane horror of the event.
"With them, finally, our illusions."
"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?"
"My hand tightened its grip on my father. All I could think of was not to lose him. Not to remain alone."
"For the first time, I felt anger rising within me. Why should I sanctify His name? The Almighty... chose to be silent."
"We were walking slowly, as one follows a hearse, our own funeral procession."
