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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In what way is a modern worker similar to Sisyphus?

2. What embodies 'a drama of the intelligence', according to Camus?

3. How does Camus see Sisyphus vis-a-vis his fate?

4. What is the prime interest of everyday man?

5. What does Camus see as the one truly serious philosophical problem?

Short Essay Questions

1. What, for humanity, are the consequences of living in a world stripped of illusion?

2. What were Sisyphus's sins against the gods, for which he was punished?

3. What is absurd man and how can he deal with his predicament?

4. How did Sisyphus attempt to test his wife's love?

5. What does Camus say is tiresome about the human heart (p. 115 of the Penguin edition)?

6. In an absurd universe, are all actions permitted?

7. According to Camus, what must we take into consideration when reading the works of Franz Kafka?

8. In what ways is Sisyphus a rebel?

9. How does Camus describe the Church's treatment of heretics?

10. What important feature of Dostoevsky's work does Camus explore in the section entitled 'Kirilov'?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the idea that Camus' essay Summer in Algiers is a celebration of youth in North Africa. You will need to consider if this is so, or if the statement goes too far. Are Camus' comments and assessments positive? Are they biased? Are they balanced? What yardstick does Camus apply when making his observations?

Essay Topic 2

Why do you think Camus has chosen what he terms 'extreme examples' in his essay on Absurd Creation? Consider the function that anecdotes and examples perform in explanation, citing more than one context. Do Camus' examples make it easier to follow his argument? Are the examples appropriate or might others have been used? Suggest one alternative and justify your choice.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the role and responsibility of the artist in the modern world. Has anything in the context changed since Camus' death fifty years ago? How politically aware and involved should the artist allow himself or herself to be? What intellectual and physical dangers might be faced by the politically involved artist and should this matter?

(see the answer keys)

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