Tension In Night By Elie Wiesel

After reading the first 32 pages of the memoir, Night, I noticed what makes this work There were two key notable factors that made this memoir excel. The most obvious yet effective one is his incredible utilization of tension. To explain, Elie purposely created tension throughout every page by leaving out important details. This causes the reader to wonder before he reveals the information. For example, he writes, “One day, as I was about to enter the synagogue, I saw Moishe the Beadle sitting on a bench near the entrance”(Wiesel 6). Elie starts the sentence, by introducing the who, where, and when, but not telling what. This creates tension and when he finishes the sentence the reader is shot with shock and further tension as we wonder what Moishe is there for. This keeps the story

This event made me wonder if the news was good or bad similar to the group’s thoughts. This creates tension and Elie doesn’t say anything about the news until the next paragraph as he increases the intensity of this situation by giving details. To explain, in the next paragraph, he talks about the environment and the thoughts of the other Jews. He describes, “B u t one glance at my father’s face left no doubt.”(Weisel 13). This phrase tells the reader that the news was bad but we still continue to ponder what the news is. His ability to use tension throughout the story adds a special element of intensity yet has a spark of curiosity that keeps the reader immersed. Lee 2 In addition to his utilization of tension, Elie uses intense figurative language to elevate the story. To explain, Elie uses many different types of figurative language to enhance his writing. It can help emphasize specific ideas that he wants the reader to think about. For example, he uses imagery to depict scenes vividly. An example could be when he writes “Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith