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.