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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. What comment does Camus make about the word 'sin'?

2. What is meant by 'obscurantism'?

3. Camus uses the word 'furtive' to describe _____________.

4. What did the writer do when the weather changed?

5. From examining the text, what do we learn about Salamis?

Short Essay Questions

1. Comment on the title of the essay 'Helen's Exile'.

2. What technique does Camus use to convey the impression that Tipasa is a peaceful and happy place?

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

4. What attitudes and feelings does Camus convey to the reader in the opening paragraphs of his essay 'Return to Tipasa'?

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

6. What is the overall impression the reader has of Oran and its people?

7. Of what does Camus accuse the Marxists in Section III of The Artist and his Time?

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

9. What is peculiar about the built environment of Oran, according to Camus?

10. To what do love, peace and beauty form the antidote?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

'It is possible to classify much of Camus' writing as 'prose poetry' because of its poetic qualities.' To what extent would you agree with this comment? Does his writing indeed possess poetic qualities? You will need to look at his use of imagery, figurative language, structure and level of language (diction). This might best be approached by analyzing one or two passages of your choice.

Essay Topic 2

'Philosophy is simultaneously important and unimportant.' Can you explain the apparent paradox in this statement? You should make close reference to Camus' absurdist beliefs as expounded in The Myth of Sisyphus. You might like to consider what other paradoxes appear in this work and discuss the possibility of these being resolved.

Essay Topic 3

Camus' work has within it much that is lyrical in its description of place. Choose a short passage from either his essay on Algiers, Oran or Tipasa and analyse its literary qualities. You will need to comment on word choice, sentence structure, use of imagery and symbolism in the passage. Look also for scenic and emotional contrasts.

(see the answer keys)

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