Journal 6: The stranger

1. Word Choice

• Analysis: Camus uses very uncomplicated and plain words.
  
• Question: Why does Camus chose not to explain things with elaborate, elegant sentences?
  

2. Sentences

• Analysis: Camus tends to write statements and flat out the way things are.
• Question: Why doesn't Camus change his syntax very often?

3. Images

• Analysis: Camus always describes scenes by sight and touch but hardly uses any of the other senses.
• Question: Why does Camus rely on only a few senses to describe images or setting?

4. Symbols

• Analysis: Camus uses symbols such as the sun and Meursault's hunger.
• Question: Why does Camus use the sun as a negative thing for Meursault when it is supposed to be positive?

5. Figures of Speech

• Analysis: Camus rarely shows deliberate metaphors and similies but shows irony when Meursault, who doesn't care about anything and doesn't take part in anything, becomes an "important" murderer, 
  
• Question: Why doesn't Camus create more obvious and deep metaphors?

6. Rhetorical Device:

• Analysis: The narration and the dialogue of Meursault are very parallel and express the same emotions and feelings, of one who doesn't care about anything.
• Question: Why doesn't the narrator show more emotion and feeling than the dialogue?

7. Patterns

• Analysis: A motif is Meursault's constant want for sexual intercourse with any woman. 
• Question: Why does Camus chose to make the reader uncomfortable

8. Narrators

• Analysis: The narrator is in first person objective; I
• Question: Why does Camus chose to make the narrator so boring and plain?

9. Structure:

• Analysis: The pace is consistent and not too fast or slow
• Question: Why does Camus start at the point where Meursault's mother has just dies instead of letting the reader get to know the mother a bit more?

THESIS STATEMENTS

1. Camus choses to only use statements in The Stranger, because the style highlights the attitude of Meursault, portrays Meursault as a man without many curiosities, and allows the reader to see very clearly into the narrator.

2. Camus choses to use a first person objective because the character of Meursault can be understood more clearly, Camus wishes to completely make the book about Meursault and his thoughts, and to allow the reader to know all that is taking place in Meursault's mind.

3. Camus choses to use nonemotional words with Meursault because his character does not show emotion, Camus portrays Meursault as uninterested in life, and to show existentialism through Meursault's character. 2. Camus keeps Meursault's speech simple and concise because he wants to emphasize that Meursault's thoughts and actions are simple and concise, Meursault does not have much to say, and Camus is showing Meursault's character through his speech.

4. Camus chooses seemingly non-important words for Meursault's thoughts because Meursault does not care about life, believes that very few things are important, and Meursault not only acts like nothing is important but he also thinks like nothing is important.

5. Camus uses simple words over elegant and refined words because in order to describe Meursault and what he is thinking and doing Camus must use simple words.

6. Camus mentions Maman funeral throughout the story because Meursault feels guilty about not feeling emotions for her, so he continues to bring up his mother so that he doesn't feel as badly.

7. Camus uses the image of light as being harsh and unbearable because light is normally an image of good and warmth, but Meursault is not an average man and what would normally be pleasant he finds it unbearable.

8. Camus choses to accent how repetitive Meursault's life is because when Meursault commits murder, the change in Meursault's life continues to go on almost the same whereas normal people's lives would drastically change.

9. Camus describes time as going slower while Meursault is in jail because at last Camus wants to emphasize that now Meursault has to think back into his "emotional" years in order to pass the time.

Journal 5: The Stranger

Journal 5: 

My philosophy completely dominates my opinion of the book. I enjoy reading the book because I think the character of Meursault is interesting but I find him very annoying also. I am a firm believer in God (I'm a Greek Orthodox Christian) and therefore believe very much in the importance of my life and those around me. I believe and have faith in things which affect my morals and the way I live my life. Meursault's "I don't care"  attitude bothers me a lot and because of what I believe, my opinion of books and the connections I make with characters in books is  strongly influenced. Meursalt's philosophy of going with the flow and not caring about things and mine strongly clash. He would rather please someone who is completely immoral than displease him because he doesn't care. Even if I liked someone, I would never support his immoral actions.

Motif of Sun and Hunger

Journal 4:

Motifs: Sun and Hunger

Sun: "The sun was shining almost directly overhead onto the sand, and the glare on the water was unbearable" (Camus, 52). The sun shows its intensity most because he's alone and notices it more.

Sun: "Once out in the street, because I was so tired and also because we hadn't opened the blinds, the day, already bright with sun, hit me like a slap in the face" (Camus, 47). The sun is almost a symbol of reality and when Meursault is exposed to it he cannot handle the intensity

Sun: "The whole time there was nothing but he sun and the silence, with the low gurgling from the spring and the three notes" (Camus, 55). Meursault ignores everything else but the sun, silence and soft noises. This could be his way of gaining solitude while still being with other people.

Hunger: "He asked me if things were 'all right now.' I told him yes they were and said I was hungry" (Camus, 26). Meursault's character shines through this quote when he replies to a question about his diseased mother through hunger. He doesn't care about what happened so much in the past versus what is happening in the present.

Hunger: "For some reason I thought of Maman... I wasn't hungry, and went to bed without dinner" (Camus, 39). Meursault's emotions are shown through his physical feelings like hunger.

Journal 3: The Stranger

Journal 3:

ORTHODEISM

Philosophy: God is the creator of the universe and as part of his creation we are called to live according to his commandments, teachings and examples.

Principals:

• We are made in His image - Developed in the Old Testament of the Bible, and it is important because if we are made in His image we should strive to be more like Him.
• Humility is essential to growing in our faith in God - Jesus exemplifies humility throughout the Bible, and it is important because a selfless attitude aids in loving living according to God. 
• A relationship with Christ benefits your faith in Christ - Jesus stresses this throughout the Bible, and it is important because if one grows in their relationship with Him, He can help them to live eternally with Him in heaven.
• Self-respect goes hand in hand with respect for others - We are made in God's image, and this is important because when we learn to respect ourselves we grow in respect for others, as well as God who made us.
• Only God knows when we will die or if we will go to heaven - If we trust in God, and strive to do His will, then we pray that He will accept us in His heavenly Kingdom.
• God has made each of us special and different and holds a place for us in heaven - God tells us in the Bible that He holds a place for us and we must follow his commandments to be reunited with him in heaven.
• God gives everyone free will - Throughout the Bible God gives us free will, and  this is important because if we have free will then we ultimately chose Him. He does not force anyone to be with Him forever in heaven.

Journal 2: The Stranger

Journal 1: 

Meursault's actions consisted of going to the beach and flirting with Marie Cardona the day after he got back, and having sex with her that night. On Sunday Meursault slept in and made breakfast for himself. He then sat and watched people, while he smoked cigarettes, on the streets all day until the day passed and he made dinner for himself and went to bed. Meursaults activities seem unimpressive and pointless. He does not mourn after his mother or even seem to notice she has died. He does nothing productive or useful at all. As he describes what he has done that day, he shows very little or no emotion at all. He describes things with the bare minimum so that the reader understands the situation and nothing else. 

Camus creates this protagonist because he is so different from the average person. He is detached from life and very unemotional. This difference affects the reader and intrigues he/she to find out more about the character. Camus is writing about a very "average Joe" character which is so unlike anything most protagonists.

Journal 1: The Stranger

Journal 1: The two translations are different because of the way in which the narrator portrays "himself" through his voice. In the second translation the narrator expresses himself as flippant and almost full of himself. The narrator only cares about what his boss and the lady at the restaurant thinks. He doesn't express any feelings about his mother at all. In the first translation the narrator expresses his thoughts with a more formal approach. He speaks about his mother with a sense of respect instead of love. Because of these differences the reader can chose to connect with one more than the other. The different ways that the narrator expresses his feelings on what he is doing about his mother dying in the different translations gives the reader a better idea of who the character is. He doesn't seem to mind that his mother just died.

Feb. 17 Journal 19 and 20

Journal:

The structure of the book ties in the plot very well. Hurston introduces the reader to Tea Cake in the first chapters of the book and he is not mentioned until at least halfway through the book. The beginning's descriptions of Janie and the town set the tone for the entire book. The reader is immediately drawn into the story as the town judges Janie her first steps back in town. Janie becomes this unknown character with an unknown past and the entire book slowly unfolds her story using all the symbols and motifs mentioned in the first few chapters. The end of the book closes using the same symbols and motifs as in the beginning of the book. This structure allows the reader to clearly understand the novel because it flows and consistently refers back to the beginning of the book.

Feb. 16 Journal 16-17, 18

Journal 16 & 17:

Mrs. Turner's relationship with her husband reveals her character. She is a strong willed person who takes charge of situations. Her husband would rather sit back and deal with his wife, letting her do all that she intends to do. Their relationship causes Mrs. Turner to become even more adamant and headstrong than she already is because of her husband's submissive nature. Janie and Tea Cake on the other hand have a completely different relationship. Tea Cake is the man of the house and the head of the household. He beats his wife to show his authority and power, but as a couple their love is more complete and stable than Mrs. Turner and her husband's relationship. Janie loves her husband and her love shines through even when she cannot always have her say. Mrs. Turner has the power in her family like many other couples on the muck and what she says overrides her husbands wishes. Sop-de-Bottom and his wife are in the same position. His wife would fight back if he ever beat her unlike Tea Cake and Janie.

Journal 18:

The title, Their Eyes Are Watching God, reveals a significant amount about the characters in the book. The characters believe in God but do not understand His motives or what He has planned. They live in fear of Him and respect Him more than love Him. They only think of God when they need Him. The significance of the title demonstrates the characters relationship with each other is centered around their relationship and view of God. Hurston shows the reader how relationship between the characters in the book is a reflection of their relationship with God. The blacks have an underlying fear for each other as well as the white men like they fear God. 

Journal Chapters: 13-14

Literary Technique 1: Metaphor

Evidence: pg. 131  "Pianos living three lifetimes in one."

Why: Hurston choses to use this passage of personification to connect the intensity of the fun that Janie and Tea Cake were having to Janie's life. A piano is an instrument that can change the mood of an entire setting through the music. "Living three lifetimes in one" is a metaphor to Janie's different experiences with men. Her first husband, Logan, was dull and lacked the passion that Janie yearned for. Her life with him was a life full of nothingness. The piano played the tune of a dull and dreary melody. Janie left Logan for Joe who at first swept her off her feet, but instead placed her in a fancy white house and molded her into the position of a  stuck-up mayor's wife. She submissively lived her life for him changing the "piano mood" to loneliness. Then when Tea Cake sauntered into her life, she realized that she could live life the way she wanted to and the piano played all three tunes into one adventurous, joyful tune. 

Literary Technique 2: Symbol

Evidence: pg. 134 "The men held big arguments here like they used to on the store porch."

Why: This reference to the porch symbolizes the similarities to Janie's old home and her new one. Hurston makes it very clear to the reader that the porch symbolizes home and the only consistent thing in Janie's life. Every since she was a small girl, the porch has been a place of comfort and rest. Hurston again mentions the porch as Janie is getting settled into her new way of life. The comfort and rest is coming back to Janie.

Literary Technique 3: Characterization

Evidence: 136 "Janie learned what it felt like to be jealous."

Why: Janie is characterized as a strong, peaceful, determined woman but this new description, jealous, is used to describe the change and newness in her. Hurston reveals through this passage the change in Janie. Janie knows what it feels to really care for someone (Tea Cake) and this love brings about her jealousy. Because of her newly found confidence she discovers jealousy which shows her change as a character.

Chapter 11-12 Journal

Janie has completely changed in chapters 11 and 12. The motivation behind this is the freedom that she is left with after her husband, Jodie, dies. When Janie and Jodie were married, Janie did not have the freedom to do anything that pleased her. She had to do whatever Jodie wanted her to do and she did it out of love, obedience and a desire to keep the peace. After Jodie died, Janie realizes that wants to begin living her life the way SHE wants to live it. She forgets anything anyone ever told her and does what she wants to do for a change. Janie changes in multiple ways because of this. She begins to find who she is as a person which causes her to expand her activities and to live with more confidence. She realizes her dislikes and likes, and her passions and hobbies. She also changes the way she views herself. She begins to notice her outer qualities. She begins to dress herself up and try new things with her hair. She changes her mindset from pleasing others to pleasing herself.

Rewritten Zora Neale Hurston paragraph

So Laura started to feel pain. Pain, that frightening being with sharp nails and a quick tongue who lived in the shadows. The all-consuming one who waits on the porch like a thorn waiting to pierce the flesh of the victim. What need has Pain for a cure, and what remedies can stand in his way? He watches his puny prey from beneath the porch that is hidden by the world. Waits patient and lurking for many hours with his breath deep and concentrated, waiting for the victim to bid him come. Been waiting by before one could die or why was a lie. She was sure to find a scale from his back, lying by her porch any day now. She was afraid and nervous too. Poor Tom! He should not be left by hisself to handle it alone. She suggested Sergius go to him, but Tom said No. These friends gave sho good advice for what they have fixed before, but didn't know how to fix something like this. He'd be alright once the man with the bag found what had been his problem. He wasn't going to die at all. That was what he thought. But Sergius told her something else, so she knew. And then if he hadn't, the next morning she was sure to find out, for neighbors  began to crowd around the yard in the flowers and on top of the newly painted porch. People who would not have been seen in sight around the house now came in. Just sat on the porch and waited. Fear, that silent beast, had enclosed the porch.

Literary Terms:

1. pg 26 - Figurative Language

"Long before the year was up, Janie noticed that her husband had stopped talking in rhymes to her."

As Janie and Logan's marriage progressed, Janie notices the change in tone from her husband. Logan no longer speaks soothingly of love and affection towards Janie (rhymes) but instead he begins to ask her to do work. The love that Logan has for Janie is no longer expressed because Janie refuses to allow him into her heart. Her dreams of love and passion still posses her and hinder any possible thought of learning to love the man to whom she is now bound to.

2. pg. 26 - Characterization 

"But springtime reached her in there so she moved everything to a place in the yard where she could see the road. The noon sun filtered through the leaves of the fine oak tree were she sat and made lacy patterns on the ground." 

Zora Neale Hurston uses the description of Janie's surrounding to show the beauty of the world in which Janie lives in and how Janie wants to see the road amidst it all. Hurston depicts Janie as free spirited in this scene, out in nature and able to see the road where adventure could come around any corner. Janie is thinking beyond what her new life has given her. She yearns for something more beautiful and different.

3. pg. 27 - Imagery 

"Logan held his wad of tobacco real still in his jaw like a thermometer of his feelings while he studied Janie's face and waited for her to say something."

This depiction of holding the tobacco as still as a thermometer portrays Logan's uneasiness about what he is asking his wife, Janie, to do. He is not only intimidated by her but is hesitant about his present actions and stands stiff as he waits for her response, like one getting their temperature checked. Logan loves her and care about her opinions, even if she does not return the same affection.

4. pg 31 - Metaphor

"The sun from ambush was threatening the world with red daggers, but the shadows were gray and solid-looking around the barn."

This metaphor takes place right after Janie threatens to leave Logan. As Janie goes out into the world the next morning, the "threatening daggers" represent the pain from Logan and what his words the night before meant to her. She feels as if she is nothing but a lonely shadow against the barn. Hurston shows how much Logan's words meant to her whether they would hold fast in her heart or not.

5. pg 32 - Epiphany

"What was she losing so much time for? A sudden newness and change came over her."

Janie suddenly realizes how time was not worth wasting. She knew what she had to do and she knew how to do it. Janie couldn't live a life of protection and certainty. She wanted passion, love and to be treated "lak a lady". Janie wanted change, and she knew she would never be content until she did something about it.

Journal 1:

The narration differs from the dialect in that the dialect portrays the way the African Americans spoke at this place and time and the narration portrays the average American dialect with no regional accents. The effect that this distinction has on the book is that the reader can better relate to the characters in the story through the African American dialect. The reader can also more fully understand the setting of the story which draws the reader into the book. The absence  of a specific dialect in the narration provides a distinction between the two depicted cultures and gives a sense of how the author choses to portray herself.

Journal 2:

The setting affects the text in a significant way. The setting portrays the atmosphere in which the characters live in and also depicts who they are. Because of the African American dialect, the reader can come to a conclusion about the types of different characters, where they might live and what kind of background they have. The setting describes the place in which the characters live as a tight community, full of gossipers and friends. The people are interested in every new change that occurs in the community proving that not very much happens in the town. Where they live (setting) accounts for the specific dialect as well.