Question

Using Night by Elie Wiesel, identify and explain at least one fact and one opinion that support the following theme: “In life-threatening circumstances, the instinct to survive overcomes everything else.”

Answer 1

From the given statement "In life-threatening circumstances, the instinct to survive overcomes everything else." in the "Night" by Elie Wiesel it is human instinct to think of ways for him or her to survive. The body will dictate its own and acts on its own if all else fail.

Answer 2

In Night by Elie Wiesel, there are many facts and opinions that support the theme that in life-threatening circumstances, the instinct to survive overcomes everything else.

One fact that supports this theme is the following excerpt: “The Kapos were beating us again, but I no longer felt the pain.” This is a fact because describing the actions or behavior of individuals (“The Kapos were beating us again. . .”) is a tool that authors of memoirs use to include facts. This excerpt reflects the theme because Wiesel is not reacting to the pain in a way that he would have normally had he not been in a concentration camp. Because he will likely continue to face this type of extreme pain, his body is reacting to the pain in a way that will help Wiesel to survive, more or less, intact. One opinion that supports this theme is the following excerpt: “Our senses were numbed, everything was fading into a fog. We no longer clung to anything.” This is an opinion because author commentary and depictions of the author’s thoughts are tools that authors of memoirs use to include opinions. This excerpt reflects the theme because it presents the senses of everyone in the camp as being “numbed,” a way to help the mind deal with extreme circumstances.