Who Are They Now Lesson Plan Who Are They Now?
Lesson Plan: Character Trajectories in Night
Grade 8: ELA / History
Duration: 35 Minutes
Rationale
Understanding character trajectories allows students to delve into the psychological and emotional development of characters, enhancing their comprehension of literary themes and the impact of historical events on individuals. By tracking Eliezer and his father, students grasp the dehumanizing effects of the Holocaust on the human spirit.
Objective
Students will analyze the character trajectories of Eliezer and his father in "Night" (Sections 1-4) by identifying key events and analyzing shifts in their beliefs, values, and relationships.
Teacher Preparation
Review the Who Are They Now? Lesson Plan and all linked materials.
Prepare to project the Who Are They Now? Slide Deck .
Print copies of the Character Trajectory Warm Up (1 per student).
Print copies of the Character Trajectory Worksheet (1 per student).
Ensure access to student copies of 'Night' (Sections 1-4).
Approach
Direct instruction, guided analysis, and a collaborative activity.
Materials
Slide Deck Warm Up Worksheet Activity Guide Teacher Script
Instructional Sequence
5 MIN
WARM-UP
Initial Thoughts
Distribute the Character Trajectory Warm Up .
Instruct students to reflect on Eliezer and his father at the beginning of the book.
Facilitate a brief class discussion based on student responses.
5 MIN
INTRO
Defining Trajectories
Project the Slide Deck and use the Script to introduce character trajectories.
Focus on how characters change over time due to specific traumatic or transformative experiences.
Provide examples and clarify expectations for today's analysis.
10 MIN
GUIDED
Analyzing Eliezer's Path
Distribute the Character Trajectory Worksheet .
Lead the class in analyzing Eliezer’s trajectory up to Section 4.
Identify key events (ghetto, train, selection, Pipel) and discuss shifts in beliefs and faith.
Students record observations in the Eliezer section of the worksheet.
10 MIN
ACTIVITY
Collaborative Analysis: The Father
Divide students into small groups for the Character Trajectory Activity .
Groups map out the father's trajectory using their books and the worksheet.
Circulate to provide support and prompt deeper reflection on his changing demeanor.
Brief group share-out to close the session.
5 MIN
WRAP-UP
Reflecting on Change
Compare/contrast the two trajectories: How are their changes similar? How are they different?
Discuss the importance of tracking these changes for understanding the theme of dehumanization.
Collect worksheets for informal assessment.
Who Are They Now Slide Deck Who Are They Now?
Exploring Character Trajectories in "Night" (Sections 1-4)
Advanced 8th Grade Literature
What's a Character Trajectory?
It's the path of a character's change over time:
Who they are at the beginning (their status quo).
Major events or conflicts that affect them.
How their beliefs, values, or identity shift.
What they gain or lose by the end.
Why Does it Matter?
See how characters react to challenges
Understand deeper themes in the story
Connect with character experiences
Eliezer: The Beginning
Image/Mental Map: Sighet
Think about Eliezer in Section 1:
What were his beliefs and values ?
How was his relationship with his father ?
What was his faith like?
Eliezer: Key Events (Sections 1-4)
Let's review the journey so far...
1
Forced into the ghetto
2
The horrifying train journey
3
Separation and the 'selection'
4
Witnessing the hanging of the Pipel
Eliezer: How Has He Changed?
After these experiences...
Shifting Perspectives
What about his faith?
How has his identity changed?
Gains & Losses
What has he learned?
What has he lost forever?
Now, Your Turn: Father's Trajectory
In your groups, you will map out the trajectory of Eliezer's father :
What was he like at the beginning?
Which events impacted him most?
How did he change because of these events?
Reflect and Discuss
"How do Eliezer's and his father's trajectories compare? What do these changes reveal about the human spirit and the impact of extreme adversity?"
Character Trajectory Warm Up Character Trajectory Warm Up
Night: Sections 1-4
Name:
Date:
Think back to Eliezer and his father at the very beginning of "Night" (Section 1). In these early moments in Sighet, before the ghettos and transport, who were they?
1
Eliezer
Describe Eliezer as he is introduced in Section 1. What are his key characteristics, beliefs, or interests?
2
Eliezer's Father
Describe Eliezer's father as he is introduced in Section 1. What kind of person is he, and what is his role in the family and the community of Sighet?
"They think that I am mad," he whispered, and tears, like drops of wax, flowed from his eyes.
Character Trajectory Worksheet Character Trajectory Analysis
Tracing the Evolution of Eliezer & His Father (Sections 1-4)
Analysis Record
Name: ________________________
Eliezer Wiesel
Focus: Faith and Identity
1. The Beginning (Section 1)
Describe Eliezer's initial state: his beliefs, values, and his relationship with his father and faith.
2. Key Events (Sections 1-4)
Identify 3-4 significant events that profoundly impacted Eliezer. Briefly explain what happened.
A.
B.
C.
D.
3. Transformation / Shift (End of Section 4)
How has he changed? Note shifts in faith, identity, and perspective. Use textual evidence.
Eliezer's Father
Focus: Demeanor and Resilience
1. The Beginning (Section 1)
What kind of person was he in the community? What was his role within the family?
2. Key Events (Sections 1-4)
Identify 3-4 significant events that profoundly impacted the father.
A.
B.
C.
D.
3. Transformation / Shift (End of Section 4)
Describe shifts in his demeanor, role, or resilience. How has his relationship with Eliezer changed?
Character Trajectory Activity Guide Mapping the Father's Trajectory
Small Group Collaborative Analysis Activity
The Objective
Collaboratively analyze the character trajectory of Eliezer's father through the first four sections of Night . How has the man we met in Sighet been reshaped by the camps?
Materials Needed
Student copy of Night
Character Worksheet
Pen / Pencil
Textual Evidence
Group Tasks
1 Review the Beginning
Discuss the father's initial characteristics, his role in the family, and his standing in the community in Section 1.
2 Identify Key Events
Find 3-4 significant events that directly impacted him. Look for moments of decision or intense hardship.
3 Analyze Transformation
Discuss shifts in personality, demeanor, and his relationship with Eliezer. What has he learned or lost?
4 Complete Documentation
Ensure all group members have recorded findings in the "Eliezer's Father" section of their individual worksheets.
Discussion Prompts
Was Eliezer's father more or less resilient than you expected? Why?
How did his actions or reactions influence Eliezer during these early sections?
What specific lines or moments from the text reveal a permanent change in his character?
"The street was like a market-place that had suddenly been abandoned. Everything could be found there: open trunks, discarded clothes, papers, suitcases..."
Who Are They Now Script Document Teacher Facilitation Script
Lesson: Who Are They Now?
Total Time
35 Minutes
5 MIN
Warm-Up: Initial Thoughts
FACILITATION NOTES
"Good morning, everyone! Let's start by thinking back to the very beginning of 'Night.' Please take out your Character Trajectory Warm Up and spend the next few minutes describing Eliezer and his father as they appear in Section 1. What were their initial characteristics, beliefs, or roles in their community?"
Allow students time to write. Circulate and observe their initial recall.
"Now, let's share a few thoughts. Who would like to tell us about Eliezer at the start? And what about his father? What kind of man was he in Sighet?"
5 MIN
Introduction to Trajectories
FACILITATION NOTES
"Excellent! Today, we're going to explore how those initial descriptions change dramatically as we move through the first four sections of 'Night.' We're going to talk about something called Character Trajectories ."
ADVANCE SLIDE: "What's a Character Trajectory?"
"A character trajectory is essentially the path of how a character changes over time in a story. It's not just a list of events, but how those events shape them. Think of it like a journey. We look at who they were at the start, the major experiences that impact them, and how their thoughts, identity, relationships, or beliefs shift because of those experiences. By the end, we consider what they might have learned, or tragically, what they might have lost."
ADVANCE SLIDE: "Why Does it Matter?"
"Why is this important? Because understanding a character's trajectory helps us truly grasp the deeper meaning of a story. It helps us see the human impact of events, and in a book like 'Night,' it's crucial for understanding the profound effects of the Holocaust on individuals."
10 MIN
Guided Analysis: Eliezer
FACILITATION NOTES
"Let's start by focusing on Eliezer. Take out your Character Trajectory Worksheet . We'll work through Eliezer's side together first."
ADVANCE SLIDE: "Eliezer: The Beginning"
"As we just discussed in the warm-up, what were Eliezer's beliefs, values, and his relationship with his father like in Section 1? How would you describe his faith? Jot those initial thoughts down in the 'Beginning' box for Eliezer on your worksheet."
ADVANCE SLIDE: "Eliezer: Key Events"
"Now, let's look at some key events from Sections 1 through 4 that have profoundly impacted Eliezer. We have: being forced into the ghetto, the unbearable train journey, the terrifying selection, and witnessing the horrific hanging of the Pipel, which made him question God."
