1. The Stranger Discussion

2. Journal #21- Open ended Prompt practice
Use your Literary Report Cards. 12 minutes. Start now.
(2015) In literary works, cruelty often functions as a crucial motivation or a major social or political factor. Select a novel, play, or epic poem in which acts of cruelty are important to the theme. Then write a well-developed essay analyzing how cruelty functions in the work as a whole and what the cruelty reveals about the perpetrator and/or victim.
1. Thesis:
Theme:
Quote 1:
Quote 2:
2. Thesis:

3. Journal # 22- Open ended prompt practice #2
2014. It has often been said that what we value can be determined only by what we sacrifice. Consider how this statement applies to a character from a novel or play. Select a character that has deliberately sacrificed, surrendered, or forfeited something in a way that highlights that character’s values. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how the particular sacrifice illuminates the character’s values and provides a deeper understanding of the meaning of the work as a whole.
1. Thesis:
Theme:
Quote 1:
Quote 2:
2. Thesis:

4. Journal # 23 open ended prompt practice #3
2011. In a novel by William Styron, a father tells his son that life “is a search for justice.”
Choose a character from a novel or play who responds in some significant way to justice or injustice. Then write a well-developed essay in which you analyze the character’s understanding of justice, the degree to which the character’s search for justice is successful, and the significance of this search for the work as a whole.
1. Thesis:
Theme:
Quote 1:
Quote 2:
2. Thesis:

5. Journal #24- open ended prompt practice #4
2007. In many works of literature, past events can affect, positively or negatively, the present activities, attitudes, or values of a character. Choose a novel or play in which a character must contend with some aspect of the past, either personal or societal. Then write an essay in which you show how the character’s relationship to the past contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.
1. Thesis:
Theme:
Quote 1:
Quote 2:
2. Thesis:

6. Symbols, motifs
the sun/light- the one thing he cannot tolerate its ensnaring force, he responds impulsively, as an animal
the vigil, the funeral, beach, Arab, courtroom
the heat- the indifference of the universe on humanity, our comfort, our peace of mind
the funeral- the Arab incident- the prosecutor
the glare- the importance of physical experiences over mental. We base decisions on our experience of an impression
- the glare of the knife, the people at the funeral, the bodies he watches below his apt.
the crucifix- Religion on its surface level, the afterlife- this is what Meursault rejects
salamano’s dog- the lost, the dead, the abused-
his Mother, Salamano’s wife

7. Part 2- Consider elements of Part 1
The prosecutor seeks to punish Meursault because he fears he is an “abyss threatening to swallow up society.” Back to the theme- is he an example or a warning to people? Other trials?
Meursault is on trial less for his act of murder and more because he does not behave in a socially appropriate manner.
What is the prosecutor attempting to prove?
Meursault is a sensing person. Fixates on sensory details. He “feels” everything.
At the vigil- p. 9-10
Killing the Arab, beach- Was it an impulse? Did he know it was wrong? He took the gun.
Why are these details emphasized?
Light, heat… Sensory disorder? Irritation provoked an irrational snap?
He had a choice- p. 56, p. 57
Time stood still with the passing of the gun p. 56 sun glinted off it
The light from the blade cut his forehead p. 59

8. Maman- does he love her?
The novel opens with the famous lines “Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know.” What does this reveal about Meursault?
Is he indifferent to this mother? To death? To everything?
He is not an existentialist until the end of the novel.
P.89- p. 4 Did he want to see his mother?
P. 77, 122- empathizing
Was he emotional at the vigil?
P. 18 imagery at the casket
emotionally and physically exhausted
Sensory preoccupation

9. Does Meursault value life?
He is incapable of being repulsed by cruelty,
Raymond
Salamano
The novel ends with a meditation on the meaning of life
“this life is the only one that means anything!”
Is it too late?
Meursault creates meaning through his indifference, making him an existentialist
The magistrate questions Meursault’s belief in God. “He said it was impossible; all men believed in God, even those who turn their backs on him. That was his belief, and if he were ever to doubt it, his life would become meaningless. ‘Do you want my life to be meaningless?’ he shouted. As far as I could see, it didn’t have anything to do with me.”
Man’s meaning is not connected to external affirmation.
Should he have remorse for taking a life?
“For the third time I’ve refused to see the chaplain. I don’t have anything to say to him; I don’t feel like talking, and I’ll be seeing him soon enough as it is. All I care about right now is escaping the machinery of justice, seeing if there’s a way of out the inevitable.” What does this metaphor highlight?

10. Part 2 Meursault ‘s faults: he doesn’t think, he’s impulsive
he doesn’t reflect on his behavior, shows no remorse
he doesn’t “feel” emotions, apparently
he has no sense of right and wrong
he lacks ambition and purpose.
BUT as an existentialist, however he responds is not a fault because that's how we create meaning in our lives.
Meursault becomes existentialist in that he believes each person chooses his or her own fate through their choices.
He never spent time comparing himself- all men are the same
The only possible certainty is uncertainty, which death will surmount
Meursault states that “all others would be condemned one day” ; people may choose how they will live, but none can escape death. It’s our unique experience. (loses its significance)
Why is the chaplain described as having “eyes. . .full of tears” having watched Meursault wrestle with mankind’s sense of “privilege”? What is his value? How are we are all “condemned”?

11. Marie The prosecutor labels the relationship a “liaison”
Gives it an illicit nature, yet another “emptiness”
Does he really love her? Does the timing matter?
If it is not love, is it wrong? Is it his most valuable relationship?
Marriage proposal
or was it?
Buber- “I-Thou”: we are relationship, no action, agenda

12. Is Meursault the absurd hero?
Humans have three ways of resolving the dilemma:
Suicide
- Camus said no, as death only adds to the absurdity of the Universe; it does not solve the riddle.
Religious belief in a transcendent reality, commonly called “the leap of faith”.
Camus said no; this is “philosophical Suicide” because it requires the individual to reject his or her personal ability to seek out meaning rationally.
Acceptance of the Absurd- Meursault

13. Is he Sisyphus? Is Meursault happy?
Camus means for one to infer that Meursault dies happy and free!
“The Myth of Sisyphus” : he now has meaning.
He achieved it through acceptance and revolt.

14. Accepting the Absurd
One must accept and even embrace the Absurd and continue to live in spite of it; life can be given meaning through its struggle against the Absurd and meaninglessness
Life is not useless or without purpose even though the universe lacks logic.
Meaning in life comes from a person’s ability to affect his/her own destiny.
Human existence is defined by our relationships with each other, not an absurd and illogical universe.
The pursuit of meaning in the universe is not possible, since there isn’t any innate meaning, but the pursuit may add meaning to the personal life

15. Sartre “Freedom is what you do with what has been done to you.”
This philosopher actually coined the term “existentialism” in the 1940s.
“There are no eternal truths because there is no eternal mind to think them.”

16. Frankl Victor Frankl claims that we can find meaning by DOING:
What are you doing? How do you treat others?
How are you responding to your hardship?
“… freedom is restricted. It is not freedom from conditions, but it is freedom to take a stand toward the conditions.” What are we free to do?
Man’s search for meaning is ever changing- not the same for anyone, or even for that person for each day, situation…
Like Camus, Frankl believes man may not focus on a universal meaning of life, there is not one. Meaning corresponds with moments, situations, people… Because of this, there is no commonality even amongst our own situations, much less person to person.
The existential vacuum is from a state of boredom. HE DIFFERS.
What are you doing? If you do nothing, you are in this vacuum.

17. Frankl cont. “Despair is suffering without meaning.”
Suffering ceases to exist when suffering is provided meaning.
( Concentration camps)
What is the philosophy of logotherapy?
belief that human nature is motivated by the search for a life purpose
the pursuit of that meaning for one's life

18. Buber Develops the idea of “I-Thou” relationships
the value is in the relationship with another, there is no agenda, action… this is the meaning.

19. “The Myth of Sisyphus”
Existentialism’s general “sensibility” relies on the randomness of life. One might have never been born, or been born in a different place, different time, as a different person, or possibly not at all.
Existentialism philosophers challenge the idea that human existence is tied up in thinking/rationality. Man searches for meaning, though that meaning will vary from person to person. We must live our lives to the fullest, to live with passion. It’s not about freedom. To choose life, it’s what you do with it.
Camus ends “The Myth of Sisyphus” with : “One must imagine Sisyphus happy.” We know this is true for Meursault...
“He, too, concludes that all is well.” “I am happy.”
“His fate belongs to him. His rock is a thing.” greet cries of hate
Considering Sisyphus, Camus claims that the greatest tragedy of the absurd hero is that the hero is conscious of his torture. He accepts it. His scorn of the gods and his passion for life brought on this situation. He accepts it, as does Meursault.