You will be keeping a philosophical journal as you read The Stranger by
Albert Camus. You may get a special notebook or use notebook paper and
staple the entries together. Each entry should be at least a half a page
of standard size notebook paper; if you use a smaller notebook, adjust
accordingly. Write each entry on a separate page. There will be
15 entries, including three separate entries over one weekend. Journal
entries will be posted on the board each day. The entire list is as
follows:
1. In existentialism, each person gives subjective meaning to his or her own life through his or her own actions and decisions. Thus, existentialists place great emphasis on individual freedom. In The Guest, the Arab chooses prison over freedom. Freedom can be liberating or frightening. Can it be isolating to be completely free?
2. In The Guest, Daru doesn't want to take sides. He thinks he
can escape responsibility by letting the Arab decide his fate. Can you
really avoid making decisions in life? When is not making a decision a
decision in itself? Give examples.
3.Read chapter two of The Stranger. On pg. 21, Meursault says, "I
don't like Sundays." Compare how you feel on a Friday afternoon with
how you feel on a Sunday afternoon. Is there a difference? What is it?
4.On pg. 21, Meursault says, "I cut out an advertisement for Kruschen
Salts and stuck it in an old notebook where I put things from the papers
that interest me." Cut out pictures, ads, articles that interest you
from a newspaper or magazine and paste them on a separate page in your
journal.
5. Read chapter three of The Stranger. On pages 27-28, Salamano
says, "He's always there." Comment on the love/hate relationship in your
life. (sibling, computer, etc.)
6. On page 39, Meursault realizes the sound he hears is Salamano crying.
If you heard someone crying (neighbor, friend, stranger), what would
you do?
7. Read chapters four and five of The Stranger. Choose one of the following journal entries:
Have you ever been disappointed in a goal? What did you do? Give up or try again?
Does adversity make you stronger?
Is marriage a serious thing? What does marriage mean to you?
What is your impression of Paris? Do you want to visit there?
What is your impression of old age?
What is your best physical quality? What if you lost it?
8, 9, and 10: Read chapter six of The Stranger. Keep a diary for
the weekend. You must have at least an entry for Friday afternoon,
Saturday and Sunday. (see weekend entries file in the box for complete
instructions.)
11. Read part II, chapter 2. "There are some things I've never liked
talking about." (pg. 72) What are the things you don't like talking
about? Why? If nothing, why are you able to talk about everything?
12. Read part II, chapter 3. "It was just chance." (pg. 95) Comment on the role chance has played in your life.
13. Read part II, chapter 4. "My fate was being decided without anyone
so much as asking my opinion." (pg.98) Have you ever felt this way?
Explain.
14. Read part II, chapter 5. "Maman used to say you can always find
something to be happy about." (pg. 113) How do you find things to be
happy about? What makes you happy?
15. Read Albert Camus's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech. "Each generation
feels called upon to reform the world." (handout pg. 526) Does this
observation apply to your generation? Why or why not?