Chapter Summary Of Forgotten Fire By Adam Bagdasarian

Chapter One: I think it is interesting that Elie is so devoted to his religion, Judaism, at such a young age. As the chapter begins, Elie is 12 years old and already seeking experiences that are usually reserved for individuals over 30 years old. For example, he wants to find a master, someone to learn from, and he wishes to study mysticism. Then, the boy meets Moshe the Beadle. Moshe teaches him about his religion and about the importance of asking questions. I agree with what Moshe says about the importance of asking God questions and receiving answers, even though I am not jewish. I feel that the most interesting detail presented in this chapter is the fact that when the Germans first arrived in the city, they were kind to the Jews.

For example, he doubts God’s perfect justice for the first time. He also lies about his age, something that he didn’t want to do, and later he lies to his cousin, Stein, about the condition of his family. He would have never lied intentionally before his arrival at Auschwitz, but somehow the camp environment seems to call for these kinds of behaviors. This is similar to the experience of Vahan Kenderian in the book Forgotten Fire by Adam Bagdasarian. In this book, Vahan feels as though he has aged significantly from the time he leaves his home to the time that he leaves his mother and sisters. Another poignant moment in this chapter occurs when the inmates are put under the control of a young polish man that seems to value the lives of the inmates sincerely. After the man tells them to go to bed, Wiesel adds that the man’s words where the “first human words” (39) that the jews had heard while at the camp. This brings into perspective the fact that people in concentration camps were not treated as human. Instead, they were treated as a problem that needed to be taken care of. This can be said for all genocides: one group of people dehumanizes another group of

On page 108, Wiesel writes he was “tormented with hunger, [and] had eaten nothing for six days, except a bit of grass or some potato peelings found near the kitchens.” This statement shocked me because I do not even consider grass and potato peelings as foods; the fact that the men in the camp had been reduced such a level is shocking and disturbing. Animals, not people, eat grass and potato peelings. Another time food is mentioned in this short chapter is at the end when the camp is finally liberated. As the men rejoice in their freedom, their first act is “to throw [themselves] onto the provisions. [They] thought only of that. Not of revenge. Not of [their] families. Nothing but bread.” As much hatred as the jews had for the Nazis, they prefered to eat food then get revenge on their enemies. Lastly, after reading this book, I cannot help but wonder what Elie Wiesel’s life will be like after losing all of his family, all of his friends, and the life that he knew before the holocaust. Will he continue to practice Judaism? How will he cope with all of the destruction and tragedy that he has witnessed? I am interested to research his