The Stranger - Blog # 2

Please read Part II, Ch. 3 & 4 and respond to the prompts below.  Use quotes when stipulated.
1.  What is the role of the sun on page 82? Use a quote as support.

2.  What does the following quote say about humanity.  "They were all looking at me: I realized that they were the jury.  But I can't say what distinguished one from another" (83).

3.  How does one see social conventions on page 84?

4.  What mattered more to Mersault?  The details of the trial or the trial itself?  What does this say about his manner of thinking?

5.  What evidence did the prosecution have against Mersault?  Use a quote as support.  In your opinion, was this sufficient to convict him of murder?

6.  In your opinion, is Mersault's treatment of his mother relevant to his murder case?

7.  Give one example of how one sees Mersault adapt to his surroundings.  Use a quote as support.

8.  Mersault realizes for the first time that he "was guilty" (90).  Does this differ from him thinking: "I am guilty"?

The Stranger - Blog # 1

Please read Part I and respond to the prompts below.  2-4 sentences should suffice; use a quote when stipulated.


1.  Does Salamano's grief over his dog impact Mersault?

2.  Pretend you are a Feminist critic.  There are abundant examples of misogyny; please cite 3 examples.

3.  Why do you think Mersault doesn't care if he is married or not?

4.  Mersault, while not looking for an excuse, partially blames the murder on the environment.  What does this say about the way Camus deals with the environment?  Is it positive? Negative? Neutral?  Use a quote as support.

5.  When Mersault commits the murder, he shatters "the harmony of the day, the exceptional beach where [he'd] been happy" (58).  Does this imply that he regrets his crime?

6.  Describe the lifestyle in Tangiers.  Does it seem appealing?  Think of the environment, the city and the beach.  How about the weather?  Use one quote as support.

7.  Cite three things Mersault is indifferent towards.

8.  "Ambition is futile".  Would Mersault agree or disagree?

Due: Sunday, 4.29

Blog # 4 - All Quiet on the Western Fron

Please respond to the following prompts in complete sentences.  Use quotes when stipulated.
Due: Monday, 4.9 (Before Class)


1.  Paul gets angry at the nuns for praying.  This may seem like a small affair, but what are the larger implications of this scene?

2.  What does having a "shoot license" mean? Use a quote as support.

3.  What happens once you've been taken to the dead room?

4.  Where do they tell Paul they are taking him?  How does he know it's a trick?

5.  What kind of medical experiments are they doing on the soldiers? Use a quote as support.

6.  How does the new arrival attempt to kill himself?

7.  Explain the following quotes;

"A man cannot realize that above such shattered bodies there are still human faces in which life goes its daily round" (263).

"I see how peoples are set against one another, and in silence, unknowingly, foolishly, obediently, innocently slay one another" (263).

8.  Why does Detering take the cherry branches and what is his end?

9.  Cite one good example of how Germany is losing the war.  There are many to choose from.

10.  Using a quote as support, how many countries is Germany fighting against at this point in the novel?

11.  How does Kat save Paul's life?

12.  The boots, are we see, are prophetic and foretell the future.  Explain how this is true.

13.  One word, describe this book.  You cannot use a word that another student has already used.

Thanks for all your hard work with this novel!  Looking forward to enjoying the film...bring snacks.