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How Does Elie Wiesel Use Of Figurative Language In Night

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“His eyes would suddenly go blank leaving two gaping wounds, two wells of terror” (Wiesel 75), is a rousing example of the horror Elie Wiesel portrays in Night by using imagery. Elie uses layers of figurative language to help facilitate the meaning of the text beyond its literal interpretation and enhances the reader's experience. Not only does his use of figurative language produce vivid imagery to draw in readers it also accurately portrays his primary account of the dismay he experienced during the holocaust. Night is filled with wonderfully descriptive figurative language to elevate the effect and take the reader on Wiesel’s painfully haunting and incomprehensible journey. Likewise, in the novel Night Elie portrays his firsthand account …show more content…

A simile is a form of figurative language that uses the word “like” or “as” to make a comparison. An effective simile can tell a lot about a character or scenario. Early on in Wiesel’s book he describes Moishe as “Physically, he was awkward as a clown. His waiflike shyness made people smile” (3). Directly comparing Moishe to a clown gives the reader a vivid description of someone who acts playfully and isn’t taken seriously. His “waiflike” physicality also helps convey his awkward characteristics. Wiesel uses this literary device to allow the readers to experience the characters in his novel and interpret them rather than telling them. When Wiesel states “They think I am mad,” he whispered, and tears, like drops of wax, flowed from his eyes” (7). He is comparing Moishe’s tears to burning wax which is painful and you can feel Moishe’s pain from the shock that no one takes him seriously as he tries in vain to warn every one of their impending danger. The reader can’t help but sympathize and feel his personal turmoil which is conveyed in this simile. The truth of what was coming was too unbelievable and unfortunately treated like a joke and ignored. No one was prepared to believe the truth could be that horrific. To date it is still hard to comprehend what happened in those camps and the truth is heartbreaking. Due to the remarkable similes Wiesel used in his novel, Night, was able to enhance the image of the characters we had in our mind and improve our understanding of

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