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.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Stranger Journal 6 (categories of analysis)
Word Choice: The words Camus uses are not very powerful when explaining certain events. There also seems to be a lack of dialect in Mersault. Most words seem to take a literal interpretation and Camus makes Mersault show no emotion when he speaks and thinks.
Why does Camus use simple words with little meaning when he describes Mersault?
Sentences: The sentences Camus uses are very short and concise when he writes about Mersault. Camus occasionally writes a long sentence.
Why does Camus use short sentences for Mersault and long sentences for other characters?
Images: In the book only a few images are ever mentioned more than once; a few being the ocean, the cigarettes, the sun, and Marie.
Why does Camus show how little Mersault is affected by the images around him except a select few? (the sun and ocean)
Symbols: The story uses some obvious symbols in the story such as the sky, the sun, and the ocean.
What is Camus trying to tell us with the constant use of the sun through out the story?
Figures of Speech: The sun seems to influence Mersault in a very unique and strong way through out the story.
Why does Camus make the sun's affect unique to Mersault?
Rhetorical Devices: Mersault is very dry and unemotional compared to the other characters in the book.
Why does Camus show this difference in emotion between Mersault and the other characters?
Patterns: Mersault is always going out to swim. He also constantly mentions the sun as a negative thing.
What is Camus trying to tell us with the negative effect of the sun on Mersault?
Narrators: The narrator of the book is the main character Mersault. (first person)
Why does Camus choose Mersault as the narrator of the book?
Structure: The book seems to jump from place to place, talking about the focal points in Mersault's life.
What is Camus trying to tell us with the unusual pace of the book?
Why does Camus use simple words with little meaning when he describes Mersault?
Sentences: The sentences Camus uses are very short and concise when he writes about Mersault. Camus occasionally writes a long sentence.
Why does Camus use short sentences for Mersault and long sentences for other characters?
Images: In the book only a few images are ever mentioned more than once; a few being the ocean, the cigarettes, the sun, and Marie.
Why does Camus show how little Mersault is affected by the images around him except a select few? (the sun and ocean)
Symbols: The story uses some obvious symbols in the story such as the sky, the sun, and the ocean.
What is Camus trying to tell us with the constant use of the sun through out the story?
Figures of Speech: The sun seems to influence Mersault in a very unique and strong way through out the story.
Why does Camus make the sun's affect unique to Mersault?
Rhetorical Devices: Mersault is very dry and unemotional compared to the other characters in the book.
Why does Camus show this difference in emotion between Mersault and the other characters?
Patterns: Mersault is always going out to swim. He also constantly mentions the sun as a negative thing.
What is Camus trying to tell us with the negative effect of the sun on Mersault?
Narrators: The narrator of the book is the main character Mersault. (first person)
Why does Camus choose Mersault as the narrator of the book?
Structure: The book seems to jump from place to place, talking about the focal points in Mersault's life.
What is Camus trying to tell us with the unusual pace of the book?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Stranger Journal 5 (applying your philosophy)
My personal philosophy affects how I view my life and definitely alters my views on a book opposed to someone Else's ideas. What I may consider acceptable someone may think the polar opposite of. My philosophy may setup certain expectations I have for a book and how I will understand the book; ultimately whether I like or dislike the book. My philosophy will also affect the way I view the author and how I will analyze the book. If a character in the book follows parts of my philosophy I may like them more, that is not to say I will dislike someone who doesn't follow my ideals. I guess how I read the book reflects my own thoughts and ideas on the subject at hand.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Stranger Journal 4 (tracking a certain word)
The sun and the sky is what I will be following through out The Stranger.
The sun seems to be viewed as a negative thing in Mersault's life. It seems to affect Mersault more when their is more tension in the book.
"[...] the truck was bumping around on the uneven cobblestones of the quay in a cloud of dust and sun" (26). Camus is connecting the dust and the sun together.
"She lay down right next to me and the combined warmth from her body and from the sun made me doze off" (51). The sun doesn't make Mersault think clearly. His girlfriend seems to have the same affect on him.
"The sun was shining almost directly overhead onto the sand, and the glare on the water was unbearable" (52). Mersault can't stand the sunlight anymore.
"But the whole beach, throbbing in the sun, was pressing on my back" (58). The sun seems to disorient Mersault and it causes him to act differently.
"Despite the blinds, the sun filtered through in places and the air was already stifling" (83). The sun is creating this acrid situation for Mersualt.
Meanwhile, the sun was getting low outside and it wasn't as hot anymore" (105). The sun going down represents the cooling down of Mersault's life.
The sky seems to play a less active role in the story compared to the sun. The sky just seems to reflect what is happening in the story.
"Above the rooftops the sky had taken on a reddish glow, and with evening coming on the streets came to life" (23). The red sky is being related to the activity on the streets below.
"Soon after that, the sky grew dark and I thought we were in for a summer storm" (22). This sentence could foreshadow a storm. The storm could be Mersault killing a man.
"She didn't say anything so I left it there. I had the whole sky in my eyes and it was blue and gold" (20). Mersault seems to be content when he is with Marie and the blue and gold sky reflect this idea.
"It seemed to me as if the sky split open from one end to the other to rain down fire" (59). The sky here is being described very violently and this mirrors what Mersault just did.
"I was assailed by memories of a life that wasn't mine anymore, but one in which I'd found the simplest and most lasting joys: the smells of summer, the part of town I loved, a certain evening sky, Marie's dresses and the way she laughed" (104). Camus describes how Mersault misses all these things while he is in prison.
The sun seems to be viewed as a negative thing in Mersault's life. It seems to affect Mersault more when their is more tension in the book.
"[...] the truck was bumping around on the uneven cobblestones of the quay in a cloud of dust and sun" (26). Camus is connecting the dust and the sun together.
"She lay down right next to me and the combined warmth from her body and from the sun made me doze off" (51). The sun doesn't make Mersault think clearly. His girlfriend seems to have the same affect on him.
"The sun was shining almost directly overhead onto the sand, and the glare on the water was unbearable" (52). Mersault can't stand the sunlight anymore.
"But the whole beach, throbbing in the sun, was pressing on my back" (58). The sun seems to disorient Mersault and it causes him to act differently.
"Despite the blinds, the sun filtered through in places and the air was already stifling" (83). The sun is creating this acrid situation for Mersualt.
Meanwhile, the sun was getting low outside and it wasn't as hot anymore" (105). The sun going down represents the cooling down of Mersault's life.
The sky seems to play a less active role in the story compared to the sun. The sky just seems to reflect what is happening in the story.
"Above the rooftops the sky had taken on a reddish glow, and with evening coming on the streets came to life" (23). The red sky is being related to the activity on the streets below.
"Soon after that, the sky grew dark and I thought we were in for a summer storm" (22). This sentence could foreshadow a storm. The storm could be Mersault killing a man.
"She didn't say anything so I left it there. I had the whole sky in my eyes and it was blue and gold" (20). Mersault seems to be content when he is with Marie and the blue and gold sky reflect this idea.
"It seemed to me as if the sky split open from one end to the other to rain down fire" (59). The sky here is being described very violently and this mirrors what Mersault just did.
"I was assailed by memories of a life that wasn't mine anymore, but one in which I'd found the simplest and most lasting joys: the smells of summer, the part of town I loved, a certain evening sky, Marie's dresses and the way she laughed" (104). Camus describes how Mersault misses all these things while he is in prison.
The Stranger Journal 3 (personal philosophy)
Hoboism
- Material possessions do not define a person. A person's actions and reactions define them as a human being. I noticed this through observation.
- People are not born into a certain life. They must experience things to figure out how to label themselves. I observed this when I saw people change their lifestyle to fit their own needs.
- Happiness is not permanent. A person always tries to find a new way to recieve happiness. People in general are never satisfied forever.
- Happiness and self-fullfillment must be generated from within the person. People are not born happy. I find that people who find happiness experience life more.
- Life should not be rushed. To fully understand hoboism one should enjoy life experiences at a leisurely pace.
- Reasoning is key to developing ones life. If you do not view things in life with reason you will never fully grasp any idea. A general idea that, you need to view life with a more logical outlook.
- One must find change within before finding help from others. A person must realize change in themselves before others can assist. I noticed that you can't change if you don't start with yourself.
The Stranger Journal 2 (Meursault)
In chapter one Meursault goes to visit the retirement home where his mother died. While there he attends her funeral. Once he returns he goes to the beach where he starts a relationship he has left off on. He takes Marie to his house where she spends the night with him. The next day he sits outside for the whole day and describes all the people that pass by. It seems pretty strange how Meursault is going about his life. It doesn't seem like he has any goals; he just does what he wants when the opportunity comes along the way. This creates a very unique character. Camus may have created a character like this so to help setup the story and develop a character for something later to happen in the book. This character also feeds the existentialism idea because Meursault doesn't seem to have an objective, he just aimlessly wanders around in his life.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Stranger Journal 1 (comparing the intro)
There are many differences between the two versions of The Stranger starting on the first page. One version seems more personable because the character uses the word "Maman" instead of "Mother". This could indicate a setting or dialect in the story. One version uses kilometers and the other version uses miles, this could just be for the place the book was being translated. If you were to read kilometers in America the book may seem more foreign to you though. One version the character says "boss" instead of "employer"; one version is less formal than the other. Another difference is the use of the word "sir". One version leaves it out, this might setup the tone as less formal and more casual than the other.
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