English A1
Quick Time™a nd a
TIFF ( Unco mpre ssed ) dec ompr esso r
ar e nee ded to see this pictur e.
The Outsider by Albert Camus
QuickT ime ™an d a
TIFF ( Uncomp res sed) deco mpre ssor
ar e need ed to see this pictur e.
Chapters One, Two and Three
Find quotations to support the following:
1. Meursault is neither happy nor unhappy.
2. Meursault focuses on the practical details of the funeral.
3. Meursault shows little emotion for the death of his mother.
4. Camus varies sentence structure for effect.
5. Meursault does not see his mother’s death as part of a larger
existence.
6. Meursault focuses on the physical not the emotional.
7. Meursault is amoral.
8. Raymond is immoral.
Ms N Glisson – Dulwich Shanghai
English A1
Chapter 4
1. Find a quotation to show how Mersualt fails to alter what he says
to conform to society/s expectations.
2. What does Camus say about society’s attitude towards violence?
What violence is condoned and which is deplored?
3. Visit webiste:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/asguru/generalstudies/culture/02
morality/index.shtml
Go through the 14 pages by pressing the yellow arrows and
completing the activities. (listen to the sound effects – they’re
great!)
4. Also work through the ethics unit:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/asguru/generalstudies/society/31e
thics/index.shtml
Chapter 5
5. Find a quotation to which shows Meursault’s view that one
person’s life is equal to another person’s life.
6. How does Camus’s description of the decaying dog support the
absurdist idea that human life inevitably ends in death?
7. How does Salamano stop himself feeling guilty?
8. How does Salamano’s view of the future differ to Meursault’s in
view of their recent losses?
Ms N Glisson – Dulwich Shanghai
English A1
Chapter 6
9. What does Meursault focus on at the beginning of the chapter?
10. What does Camus say about the police (authority) in chapter 6?
11. How does Camus build up tension through the use of setting?
12. On page 55, how does Camus use language to create setting?
13. Make a list of words associated with death and violence in the
middle paragraph on page 57.
14. How does Camus use contrasts in this chapter?
15. How does Camus use language to show a lack of motive and the
meaningless on the killing?
16. Was the reader expecting this murder? Why did Camus do this?
17. How does this chapter present the philosophy of absurdism?
Ms N Glisson – Dulwich Shanghai
English A1
Part Two Chapters One and Two
Find evidence from the novel so far to support the following themes:
the irrationality of the universe
the meaningless of life
QuickTi me™ and a
T IFF (Uncom pressed) decom pressor
are needed to see t his pict ure.
the importance of the physical world
QuickT ime ™an d a
TIFF ( Uncomp res sed) deco mpre ssor
ar e need ed to see this pictur e.
Ms N Glisson – Dulwich Shanghai
English A1
Part Two Chapters 3, 4 and 5
Chapter 3
1. How does Camus use setting to express how Meursault feels at the start of this
chapter?
2. Find a quotation to show that Meursault cannot distinguish between humour and
crime.
3. Find five positive words on pages 82-84.
4. Do you believe that Meursault is enjoying the court scene? Why?
5. “for the first time I relaized that I was guilty” What do you think he feels guilty
about?
6. The authorities and society generally make Meursault appear far worse than he is:
how is this achieved?
Chapter 4
7. Find a quotation which shows little distinction between guilty and not guilty.
8. The prosecutor compares Meursault to another type of criminal. What type of
person is he compared to and do you believe this is fair?
9. “Meursault’s failure to interpret or find meaning in his life has left him vulnerable
to others who will impose meaning for him”. To what extent do you agree with
this statement? Use evidence to support your opinion.
Chapter 5
10. Select three quotations from this chapter you consider significant.
11. How does Meursault gain victory over society? How has he shown that the trial
and conviction were a waste of time?
12. Do you believe Meursault to be happier or less happy at the end of the novel?
Ms N Glisson – Dulwich Shanghai