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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. Camus mentions the parliament of birds in which literary source?

2. In which month has the writer returned to Algiers?

3. Where did the writer spend his evenings?

4. What do Arabs sell for five sous?

5. Of what does the color of the ruined city's columns remind the writer?

Short Essay Questions

1. From information in Camus' text, what do we understand Tipasa to be?

2. In what respects does Camus state that Algiers is capable of gratifying every human wish?

3. In what way is Camus' comments about Algerian youth tempered by sadness?

4. Why do you think Camus calls nudists 'those Protestants of the flesh'?

5. What factor does Camus claim separates him from some sections of the leftist movement?

6. Comment on the force of the phrase 'indulge in a swim' rather than 'go for a swim'.

7. What, according to Camus, is paradoxical about the crowded city of Oran, and crowded cities in general?

8. Does Camus see himself as a romantic?

9. What problems does Camus see in modern philosophy?

10. Of what is Camus speaking when he criticizes 'idealism of the worst kind' (p.188 of the Penguin edition)?

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

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.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay that deals thoughtfully with the following:

In an absurd world, is not philosophy itself absurd? If life has no meaning, why have learned people--over many centuries from Ancient Greece to the present--devoted so much time to discussing it? Might they not have been better occupied?

In other words, you will be demonstrating that philosophy is a necessary activity for mature humanity.

(see the answer keys)

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