The Stranger - Albert Camus Texts and Context The Stranger - Albert Camus

Learning Objective To understand the role that context has in the creation of a text and the understanding of a text To gain background information on Albert Camus and his novel “The Stranger”

Key Concept Context – the circumstances that surround a given text and help to specify its meaning

Context Contexts – it’s important to consider context as a plural because of the wide variety of forces that affect the text and the reader Examples Historical context Political context Life and times of the author Culture and values of the reader

Questions for Exploring Context What is the time and place of the text’s production? What historical events may have influenced the ideas in the work? What are the political or economic issues of the times? What cultural issues may have influenced, challenged, or inspired the author? What is the cultural and educational background of the author? What views on writing or culture has the author expressed? What are the values and aesthetic concerns of the culture of the author?

Engage with the text! What questions about Albert Camus and “The Stranger” would you like answered so that you can better understand the text? Write your questions down in a specific page in your notebook. Reserve this page just for questions about Camus and “The Stranger”.

Albert Camus : Background Information Born on November 7, 1913 in French Colonial Algeria Father was killed in WWI…lived in poverty. Attended the University of Algiers but had to drop out because of TB. The poverty and illness Camus experienced as a youth greatly influenced his writing.

WWII During WWII, Camus went to Paris and became a leading writer for the anti- German resistance movement. While in wartime Paris, Camus developed his philosophy of the absurd. Camus’ philosophy: life has no rational or redeeming meaning.

Theory of the Absurd The experience of World War II led many other intellectuals to similar conclusions. Hitler’s Nazi regime and the unprecedented slaughter of innocents Where was God? Why did God allow this to happen? Existence seemed without purpose or meaning Religious beliefs questioned Faith in God’s existence replaced by acceptance of a meaningless world No heaven, no hell, no higher power, no life after death, no eternal soul Only the physical world, only existence

Existentialism No higher power, no soul You are responsible for your own choices Choices determine essence, not a higher power

The Stranger Camus’ first novel Published in 1942 Full Title- The Stranger or L’ etranger. Translated from French Time and place written: Early 1940’s, France Setting (Time):Slightly before World War II Place: Algeria

Contd. A brilliantly crafted story An illustration of Camus’ absurdist world view The novel tells a story of a young man named Meursault. In this book Camus’ absurdist philosophy implies that moral orders have no rational or natural basis.

Camus The Myth of Sisyphus his famous philosophical essay and The Stranger helped establish Camus’ reputation as an important and brilliant literary figure He produced a lot of literary works including The Plague (1947) and in recognition of his contribution to French and World Literature, Camus was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1957. Tragically, he died three years later in an automobile accident.

Camus In Your Journal What is one thing you have learned about Camus that you think is important to understanding him as a person and author?