Responses to the Questions

1. Word Choice: Camus makes Mersault use no emotional words to help create the character he is; a very blank person. The effects of Mersault's emotionless state helps develop the existentialist idea and helps create a unique story.

2. Sentence: Camus has Mersault use short sentences and others use long sentences to create a contrast between Mersault and everyone else. This also creates the effect that Mersault is detached, alone, and unique to the story.

3. Images: Only the sun and sea affect Mersault because they are both impersonal like himself. Mersault is affected by these things because he can relate to them, and they both seem detached from everyday activity much like himself.

4. Symbol: The sun is used to create a negative effect on Mersault, the sun is constantly interacting with him and this bothers him. It bothers Mersault because it is acting the polar opposite of himself.

5. Figures of Speech: Camus is trying to compare Mersault to the other characters in the book. Mersault and the others differ greatly because of Mersaults detached state of mind, this helps build on the existentialist idea.

6. Rhetorical Devices: Short statements are used at the beginning of every chapter to create a general understanding and connection between the last chapter and the new chapter. It also creates a sense of continuity and gives some insight on what will happen.

7. Patterns: Camus spends so much time on his prison life to illustrate how it was like for Mersault. Since Mersault doesn't care about his life so much he doesn't seem to mind the cell and this builds into the existentialist idea.

8. Narrators: Mersault isn't affected by the magistrate because Mersault is indifferent about people in his mind. Mersault doesn't hold anyone above anyone else unless he mentions their physical appearance.

9. Structure: Camus made the pace of The Stranger varied to reflect Mersault's life and how he doesn't really care about the days. Mersault does what ever he wants whenever he wants.