View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What were the consequences of Sisyphus putting Death in chains?

2. What comment does Camus make about Greek tragedy?

3. Who is the protagonist in The Trial?

4. What temptation does Camus suggest is hardest to overcome?

5. What attitude can overcome all fate?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Nietzsche mean when he says 'Great problems are in the street'?

3. Why is the fame of a writer likely to endure and that of an actor not to do so?

4. How does Camus differ from many other commentators when considering the work of Kafka?

5. How does Camus view the novel as an artistic endeavor?

6. Why does Camus claim that there can be no experience of death?

7. In what ways is Sisyphus a rebel?

8. Why does Camus wonder if an absurd work of art is truly possible?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Viewing this collection of Albert Camus' essays as a whole, how would you assess their importance in relation to current attitudes to the meaning of life, non-violence and conservation. This essay is a high-order task. You will need to demonstrate your deep understanding of the work you have studied. In preparation, you should review and reflect upon the central issues dealt with in Camus' work and check that you thoroughly understand his continual reference to the myths and philosophy of Ancient Greece.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay in which you argue for or against Camus' proposition that Sisyphus was happy in the eternal performance of his useless task. You will need to consider the chain of events that resulted in Sisyphus's fate. It will also be necessary for you to discuss Camus position regarding the absurd and your own response to this. There are no right or wrong answers in philosophy, but you will be assessed on the strength and validity of your argument as well as your written expression and the proper construction of your essay.

Essay Topic 3

Compare the ways in which Kafka's and Dostoevsky's heroes illustrate the idea of The Absurd. In your essay, you will need to show that you understand Camus' rationale for using these heroes as exemplars of his thought. Mention the ways in which the heroes are similar in their attitudes to the world and their fates, and ways in which they are different. Refer only to what Camus says about them. Do not use the novels themselves as reference material.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,073 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample