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Annotation Bibliography For Camus’ The Stranger

Citation:
Cosper, Dale. "Albert Camus." Twentieth-Century French Dramatists. Ed. Mary Anne O'Neil.
Detroit: Gale, 2006. Dictionary of Literary Biography Vol. 321. Literature Resource Center.
Web. 13 Dec. 2010
Summary-Albert Camus was born Algeria on Nov 7 1913. He was a French Algeria novelist
essayist and dramatist. He got married twice and he had three sons. Albert Camus died in an
accident in1960.
Quotation-“Camus’s most important work of the postwar years was the novel La Peste (1947:
translated as The Plague, 1948) a thinly veiled allegory of the German occupation. The
fictional plague of Oran in Algeria reminded his France readers of the Nazi occupation,
recalling occupied Paris in particular. The novel was a huge success on both sides of the
Atlantic.”
Purpose - Albert Camus was a France-Algerian novelist, essayist, dramatist, and journalist whose
concept of absurdity and revolution made his writing among the most famous in postwar
literature. His 4 original plays written between 1955~1949, his moved away from social
realism and psychology to stage a philosophy of freedom, rebellion, and action against a
background of history and politics. The Stranger was a novel about humanity, love. It is a
impressive and meaningful novel. Albert Camus‘s father died in world war I. and he became
painfully about lost a father. By comparison, Meursault, when his mother died, he felt nothing.
So their actions are difference.

"Existentialism." International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Ed. William A. Darity,

Jr. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2008. 42-43. Gale World History In
Context. Web. 14 Dec. 2010.

Summary –“Existentialism” the proposition should understand in opposition to both rationalism

and empiricism. Both philosophies, existentialism argues, overlook the unique character of being
human, of being an “existent” thrown into a world without regimen meaning or significance.
Moreover, the human condition is such that it does not fit into even the most exhaustive system of
objective concepts. The tension between the ecstatic and the fearful is important to the way in
which existentialism approaches its main themes: intentionality meaning, and human freedom.

Quotation-“The result is not only a sense of absurdity—one that reveals the in authenticity of
everyday life (whether lived in a bourgeoisie manner or not)—but also a need for turning this
absurdity into a cause for engaging one’s own life head on. We must transcend the contingency of
our surroundings in order to become authentic beings. As Inez, one of the three main characters in
the play, says, “You are—your life, and nothing else.”

Purpose- In “The Stranger” Albert Camus described the protagonist, Meursault was the

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emotionless person. He did not trust someone. Not even God. The quote I chose to connect the
book “The Stranger” it is the last sentence, “You are—your life, and nothing else.” Meursault,
before death, he still felt clam and free. He believes his life make by his own way. He did not
believe the God. Because he knew the God may not help him.
"French Racism." Prejudice in the Modern World Reference Library. Vol. 4: Primary Sources.
Detroit: UXL, 2007. 3-11. Gale World History In Context. Web. 14 Dec. 2010.

Summary: 1939-1945, a million of immigrants moved into French. They built their own market.
Traditional food, and wore traditional clothing

Quotation: “However, since Northern Africa was only a short trip across the Mediterranean Sea,
workers, both Arab Muslims and black Africans, continued to pour illegally across France's
unguarded southern coastline.

Purpose- Following World War II (1939–45), laborers from Northern Africa journeyed to Western
Europe looking for jobs in construction, rebuilding the war-damaged cities. In 19 century. A
million immigrants legally entered France. France prided itself on its immigration policy based on
the promise of liberty, equality, and social acceptance. Immigrant people, they routinely called by
French. But they built mosques, Muslim for worship. They established their own market,
traditional food, and wore traditional clothing, including head coverings for women.
By 1974, France was experiencing difficult economic times. Connect to The Stranger; Camus
wrote the part of Meursault killed the Arab, which reflects to Camus’s feeling. He was mad on the
Muslim.

"France since 1945." Historic World Events. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale World History In Context.
Web. 14 Dec. 2010.

Summary- under Charles de Gaulle’ lead, Algeria gained independence on July 1962.

Quotation –“, some French army officers and units attempted to overthrow the government by
terrorism, which de Gaulle suppressed by temporarily assuming emergency powers. Peace
negotiations were successfully concluded with Algerian rebel leaders, and Algeria gained
independence on 1 July 1962”

Purpose- Charles de Gaulle resigned as head of the government early in 1946 over the issue of
executive powers, and in spite of his efforts the Fourth Republic, under a constitution that came
into effect in December 1946. After Algeria gained independence in 1962. But France has
continued to provide economic assistance, because its wants with most of the former colonies
have remained close.