The Stranger by Albert Camus: Key Characters, Themes, and Plot
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30 Terms
Who wrote The Stranger?
Albert Camus
When was The Stranger published?
1942
Where does the novel take place?
Algeria (French colonial Algeria)
Who is the protagonist?
Meursault
How does the novel begin?
With Maman dead today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know.
How does Meursault react to his mother's death?
With emotional detachment and indifference.
What philosophical idea is central to the novel?
Absurdism
What is Absurdism?
The belief that life has no inherent meaning and humans search for meaning in a meaningless universe.
Who is Marie Cardona?
Meursault's girlfriend
How does Meursault respond when Marie asks if he loves her?
He says it doesn't mean anything but he probably doesn't.
Who is Raymond Sintès?
Meursault's neighbor involved in abuse and conflict with an Arab man.
Why does Meursault write a letter for Raymond?
To help him manipulate his mistress.
Who does Meursault kill?
An unnamed Arab man
Why does Meursault shoot the Arab?
He claims the sun and heat overwhelmed him; the act appears impulsive and meaningless.
How many times does Meursault shoot the man?
Five times (one shot, then four more after a pause)
What natural force is heavily emphasized during the murder scene?
The sun/heat
What does the sun symbolize?
Oppression, discomfort, and the overwhelming force of the physical world.
What is Meursault arrested and tried for?
Murder
What shocks the court more than the murder?
His lack of grief at his mother's funeral.
Why does the prosecutor argue Meursault is morally guilty?
Because he showed no emotion at his mother's death.
What religion does the chaplain represent?
Christianity
How does Meursault respond to the chaplain near the end?
He angrily rejects religion and the idea of God.
What realization does Meursault have at the end?
He accepts the absurdity of life and feels at peace with the universe.
What narrative point of view is the novel written in?
First-person
What literary movement is Camus associated with?
Existentialism / Absurdism
What is Meursault's job?
Clerk/office worker
Who is Salamano?
An old neighbor who abuses his dog but loves it.
What happens to Salamano's dog?
It runs away.
What is the significance of the title 'The Stranger'?
Meursault is a stranger to society's emotional expectations and to himself.
What major theme does the novel explore?
Society judges people more for emotional conformity than actual actions.