Wiesel's crisis of faith, moving from a devout young student of the Kabbalah to someone who questions or rejects God's presence entirely, is one of the most frequently assigned essay topics for Night, and for good reason. It gives students a clear arc to trace while also opening up genuinely difficult philosophical territory that can produce some of the most personal and engaged writing in a unit.

Because this topic touches on real religious and philosophical questions, students sometimes bring their own beliefs into the essay in ways that can either strengthen or weaken the analysis depending on how it's handled. A student who uses their own perspective to illuminate the text's ambiguity writes a stronger essay than one who simply projects their own conclusions onto Wiesel's experience without evidence.

Grading fairly here means separating a student's personal beliefs from their analytical skill. An essay shouldn't be graded higher or lower based on whether the student agrees or disagrees with Wiesel's eventual stance, only on how well they support their reading of the text with evidence.

This distinction is worth stating explicitly to students before the essay is assigned, since it removes any anxiety about whether their own faith background will affect their grade.

Key Textual Moments for This Theme

Certain scenes anchor most essays on this topic, including Eliezer's early devotion and study with Moishe the Beadle, his questioning during the first night in the camp, and the moment he watches the hanging of a young boy and reflects on where God might be. Familiarity with these moments in advance makes grading significantly faster.

• Trace faith across at least two distinct points in the narrative, not just the beginning and end
• Distinguish between doubt and outright rejection of faith
• Use specific scenes involving prayer, ritual, or direct address to God
• Avoid conflating the author Wiesel with the narrator Eliezer without acknowledging the distinction
• Address complexity rather than reducing faith to a simple before-and-after

Grading With Sensitivity to the Subject Matter

This is a theme where teachers should be especially careful that feedback focuses on argument quality and evidence, not on the theological position a student takes. A note like "consider the counterargument here" works well; a note that implies a student's reading of faith is wrong on religious grounds does not belong in academic feedback.

Keeping this boundary clear protects both the integrity of the grading process and the trust students need to write honestly about a genuinely difficult subject.

Common Strengths and Weaknesses to Watch For

The strongest essays on this theme often acknowledge that Eliezer's relationship with faith doesn't resolve neatly by the book's end, which mirrors the text's own refusal of easy answers. Weaker essays tend to flatten the theme into a simple loss-of-faith narrative without engaging with the moments of continued questioning or ambivalence that run throughout.

Naming this specific gap in feedback, rather than a general comment about needing more depth, gives students a clear and actionable target for revision.