Perfume: Idea Tracker

Group member names: Andrea Yao and May Mon Thein

Instructions: You will be using this document to track the development of a motif, theme, or symbol throughout the text. It will inform
your work in class discussions and help prepare you for oral assessments.

1. Create one copy of the document. (File/Make a Copy)

2. Share it with your group members and jhanthorn@student.midpac.edu
3. Fill it out as you read. Each group member must contribute.
4. You will get feedback on your work (formative) and will submit the final document as a summative grade. Also prepare to
share your ideas with the rest of the class in upcoming discussions/presentations.

Choice elements - choose one from each column

Motif/Theme/Idea Global issue

Vocab Poverty
Scent Hunger
Insects/Tick Population
Social Status Pollution
Power/control Environment
Creativity vs. fitting in Crime
Choice issue (with
approval)

Idea Tracker: Vocab

Idea Quote/Passage Page # Analysis
Type some of the quote here but use ellipses to condense. What choice did the author make? What is the effect? What
question would I like to discuss as a group?
loire at ”He circled the city in a giant arc, came upon the 116 Châteauneuf is a commune in the Loire department
châteauneuf loire at châteauneu, and crossed it at Sully” in central France.

aperitif ”Sometimes, if this repulsive aperitif did not quite 124 An alcoholic drink taken before a meal to stimulate
get him into stride.” the appetite. Drinks that are aperitifs: champagne,
gin, vermouth, etc.

façon de ”...there were no real things at all in Grenouille’s 125 A turn of phrase or rhetorical formula, especially one
parler innermost universe, only the odors of things. that is not to be taken literally, but rather as employed
(Which is why the façon the parler speaks of that for convenience of expression only.
universe as a landscape…)

Bourgeois ”Such a diet, although totally unaccepted by 121 Of or characteristic of the middle class, typically with
bourgeois standards.” reference to its perceived materialistic values or
conventional attitudes.
- In this case, Süskind uses the term bourgeois,
specifically, to illustrate the contrast between
such a lifestyle and Grenouille’s as shown by
his diet.

Carmine “...a little smile played about his carmine lips, as if
signaling to him that he did not find him totally
unattractive.”
145 Definition: A vivid crimson color.
- Note the more flowery vocabulary in this part.
As opposed to simply saying “red”, the
detailed language Süskind uses to describe
Grenouille here seems to reflect the elaborate
ruse that Grenouille is putting on to fool the
people that have taken him in.

ambergris ”but rather a totally conventional one of musk, 151 ambergris: grey amber is a solid, waxy, flammable
and civet ambergris, a tiny bit of civet….” substance of a dull grey or blackish color produced in
the digestive system of sperm whales.
Civet: civet musk is produced by both sxes of
Viverridae species. Civet is a small, lean, mostly
nocturnal mammal.
contrivance ”Thanks to his own genius, with a minimum of
contrivance he had imitated the odor of human
beings….”
fluidum ”...in his soon to be published treatise on the theory
letale of fluidum letale.”
fluidum vitale ”...and replace it in the shortest possible time with
purest fluidum vitale—“
timorous ”And as his odor reached them, even the faces of
the timorous frightened, and hypersensitive
should…”
infallible ”He squatted there for a quarter of an hour. His
memory was infallible, and he knew precisely how
this spot had smelled seven years…”
élan ”He had barely concluded his work with the
milk-yielding udder flower when he threw himself
with great élan into unflagging research for a grand
treatise on the relationship…”
unflagging ”He had barely concluded his work with the
milk-yielding udder flower when he threw himself
151 Definition: The use of skill to bring something about
or create something. A device, especially in literary or
artistic composition, which gives a sense of
artificiality.
156 - The Marquis has a theory of fluidum vitale and
fluidum letale, based on the premise that the
earth emits a lethal gas which all creatures try
to get away from by growing. Grenouille, in his
wild state, fits exactly what a man
contaminated by fluidum letale supposedly
looks like.
157 - His pet project is the idea of fluidum vitale, or
the idea that the earth contains poisonous
gases that can do damage, while places and
items that are "earth-removed" (places with
high elevation, or birds) are healing.
159 Definition: showing or suffering from nervousness,
fear, or a lack of confidence.
137 Definition: incapable of making mistakes or being
wrong
139 Definition: energy, style, and enthusiasm
French to english: momentum, moment, impulse,
burst
139 Definition: tireless, persistent
 with great élan into unflagging research for a grand
treatise on the relationship…”
jonquils ”A mild haze lay like a glass bell over the fields. 166
Apricot and almond trees were in bloom, and the
warm air was infused with the scent of jonquils.”
sieve ”Now and then the soup got too thick, and they had 175
to pour it quickly through a sieve, freeing it of
macerated cadavers to make room for fresh
mushrooms.”
macerated ”Now and then the soup got too thick, and they had 175
to pour it quickly through a sieve, freeing it of
macerated cadavers to make room for fresh
mushrooms.”
acquiescent ” Self-effacing and as acquiescent as a slave, he 178
did every menial chore Druot assigned him.”
essence ”And with malicious,delight, he discovered that the 179
absolue pomades he made were incomparably finer, that his
essence absolue was several percent purer than
those that he produced together with Druot.”
adjuvants ”As the adjuvants, as bass, tenor, and soprano, as 193
zenith and as fixative, musk and civet, attar of
roses or neroli were inappropriate—that was
certain.”
Definition: a widely cultivated narcissus with clusters
of small fragrant yellow flowers and cylindrical leaves,
native to southern Europe and northeastern Africa.
Definition: a utensil consisting of a wire or plastic
mesh held in a frame, used for straining solids from
liquids, for separating coarser from finer particles, or
for reducing soft solids to a pulp.
Definition: (especially with reference to food) soften
or become softened by soaking in a liquid. Cause to
grow thinner or waste away, especially by fasting.
Definition: ready to accept something without protest,
or to do what someone else wants.
French to English: an absolute essence
Definition: a substance which enhances the body's
immune response to an antigen.
Adjuvants may be added to a vaccine to boost the
immune response to produce more antibodies and
longer-lasting immunity, thus minimizing the dose of
antigen needed.
latifundia ”He possessed latifundia not only in the area of
Grasse, where he planted oranges, oil, wheat, and
hemp, but also near Vence and over toward
Antibes, where he leased out his farms.”
Provost ”The man standing there was the same one whom
they had seen just a few days before at the window
of the provost court on the church square and
whom…”
Maître ”Dominique Druot, maître parfumeur in the rue de
Parfumeur la Louve, since, after all, it was in his cabin that the
clothes and hair of all the victims had been found.”
Global Issue: Crime
200 Also known as “Latifundium”: a very extensive parcel
or privately owned land.
Definition: a large landed estate or ranch in ancient
Rome or more recently in Spain or Latin America,
typically worked by slaves.
236 Definition: the head of a chapter in a cathedral. The
chief magistrate (a civil officer/judge) of a French or
other European town.
247 French to English: a master perfumer.
* Most important/relevant parts of quotes are underlined.
Quote
“If his name...has been forgotten today, it is
certainly not because Grenouille fell short
of those more famous blackguards when it
came to arrogance, misanthropy,
immorality, or more succinctly, to
wickedness, but because his gifts and his
sole ambition were restricted to a domain
that leaves no traces in history…”
“Until now he had thought that it was the
world in general he wanted to squirm away
from. But it was not the world, it was the
people in it.”
“He had thought this story up, since it
seemed to him more believable than the
truth; and so it was, for similar attacks by
robbers occurred not infrequently…”
Page # Analysis
How does this quote show or address the global issue?
3 This is reminiscent of a pattern by which many crimes today go unnoticed.
In Perfume, Grenouille cheated and murdered people with nothing in mind
but his own personal gain. The narrator states in this quote that the reason
his name is not known despite the fact is because he dealt with something
which isn’t permanent. Similarly, just because people lack awareness of
the various acts of evil/cruelty being committed, it doesn’t mean they don’t
exist or should be disregarded. In a more modern-day context, just
because such crimes don’t make it onto the news or aren’t witnessed by
many, it doesn’t mean they aren’t affecting people and making a mark in
their own way. However, they might not be as talked about because traces
of them or the people involved virtually vanish. Essentially, the explanation
of Grenouille’s reputation in this quote mirrors a phenomenon relating to
the global issue of crime in the real world.
116 This moment describing Grenouille’s realization foreshadows the
development of an attitude that bolsters his lack of empathy. Grenouille’s
disgust for people, coupled with his self-imposed isolation, lead him to
continue murdering and cheating innocent individuals without real remorse.
He does not possess much sympathy for those that his actions affect. This
cause-and-effect can be observed in those who commit crimes of similar
caliber in the real world. Generally, people become unable to see why they
are wrong/should stop when they distance themselves from others whether
physically or in their minds. They begin to think of other human beings as
separate from and unequal to them which leads them to lose their sense of
humanity.
138-139 In this instance, Grenouille tells a lie in order to give himself an advantage
for survival. By chance, he gets lucky as his story aligns with a regular
occurrence in the region–robbery. The fact that robbery was said to be
quite prevalent in the area portrays a society where such crime is common.

“...Grenouille himself found that the
gentleman in the mirror, this odorless
figure dressed and made up like a man,
was not all that bad–once his costume had
been perfected–might have an effect on
the word outside that he, Grenouille, would
never have expected of himself.”
“...as he formed his plans to rule
humankind. There was no mad flashings of
the eye, no lunatic grimace passed over
his face. He was not out of his mind, which
was so clear and buoyant that he asked
himself why he wanted to do it at all...He
looked quite innocent, like any happy
person.”
“And he said to himself that he wanted to
do it because he was evil…”
“And yet another cheerful grin crossed his
face. How miserable this God smelled”
This could be social commentary or serve to provide insight into eighteenth
century France. But perhaps more important is Grenouille’s lie. Throughout
his stay in Montpellier, Grenouille lies repeatedly, both for upkeep of his
image and to work towards his hidden agenda. This shows how crimes are
not just one and done. Individual acts of crime overlap and build off of
surrounding conflicts, making it a global issue that has a significant impact
on society and people’s lives.
145 - Grenouille learns that he can pass for normal, save for his lack of
scent. He also understands that he can exist in society without
raising questions as his appearance once did.
- Many people who commit crimes often hide themselves whether it’s
a mask or a physical disguise so they wouldn't get caught. Although
a scentless man seems very unrealistic in the real world, Grenouille
realizes this is one of the better tactics he can use to kill someone
and steal their scent.
155 This description of Grenouille’s outward appearance contrasted with his
intentions mirrors a popular misconception of crime and the people who
commit crimes. There’s the stereotypical image of someone who seems
disturbed or noticeably angry/vengeful looking. However, it seems that
those who hide in plain sight are the ones that get away with the most. Like
Grenouille, they are unsuspected because they pass as regular people
with families and jobs and functional lives. Grenouille demonstrates how
some of the people who commit crimes go undetected which contributes to
the many instances of violent crime around the world.
People who commit crimes for no reason at all feel no remorse and lack
empathy. Grenouille sets himself or just as superior as God. He’s also
labeled as an evil man and knows he has the skills to manipulate power for
himself, therefore, it seems that he possesses narcissistic characteristics.
This shows there are many people in real life who suffer from behavioral
issues which result from violating an illegal act.
”...and no sooner had he climbed the dais
than the aura of his scent began to radiate
powerfully from him. He saw —literally saw
with his own eyes!—how it captured the
spectators sitting closest, was transmitted
to those farther back, and finally reached
the last rows and the gallery. And
whomever it captured—and Grenouille’s
heart leaped for joy within him—was visibly
changed.”
”In May of that same year, the naked body
of a fifteen-year-old girl was found in a
rose field, halfway between Grasse and
the hamlet of Opio east of town. She had
been killed by a heavy blow to the back of
the head.”
”He pushed up in the casement, slipped
into the room, and laid down his cloth.
Then he turned to the bed. The dominant
scent came from her hair, for she was lying
on her stomach with her head pressed into
the pillow framed by the crook of her arm
158 Sociopathic tendencies and antisocial behaviors were two specific traits
Grenouille possesses. He doesn’t care about other people but himself. He
also suffered from childhood trauma, hence why his innocence was lost at
a young age.
194 The extent of Grenouille’s actions finally come into shocking clarity here.
One could argue that he had lived quite a law-abiding life up to the first
murder of the girl from the rue des Marais. He had been a character that
was merely existing, albeit with a predisposition for cruelty and darkness.
However, that was a pivotal moment in his life in which he discovers that
he can use force to take what he desires–even at the cost of another
human being’s life. Süskind seems to include this scene where another
related crime takes place because the murders are an essential aspect of
Grenouille’s character arc. But on a deeper level, it shows how one action,
good or bad, could snowball into a series of events that leave lasting
impacts on a global scale. Subsequently, this scene demonstrates that
crime is never contained within the individual who commits it; its effects
can be devastating and far-reaching.
216 This murder is easy (readers), practically speaking, for Grenouille. We see
how little regard he has for Laure or her body in his rough handling of her,
indicating again how little he thinks of people apart from their scents.
Grenouille is also known for murdering young virgin women which also
explores another sub-topic: femicide.
 —presenting the back of her head in an
almost ideal position for the blow by the
club.”
“...‘Day of Liberation,’ as people were
calling the murderer’s execution day. It all
disgusted him. The sudden eruption of
renewed fear among the populace had
disgusted him, their feverish joy of
anticipation disgusted him...He had not
participated in the presentation of the
culprit and his victims in the cathedral
square, nor in the trial, nor in the obscene
procession of sensation seekers…”
”They tore away his clothes, his hair, his
skin from his body, they plucked him, they
drove their claws and teeth into his
flesh,they attacked him like hyenas.”
“When the cannibals found their way back
together after disposing of their meal, no
one said a word.”
(Discussion) Questions Pertaining to Motif of Crime:
1. What characteristics/personality traits or ways of thinking/beliefs in individuals (like the character Grenouille) lead them to
commit crimes?
Femicide: the killing of a woman or girl, in particular by a man and on
account of her gender. In this case, Grenouille enjoys obtaining women’s
scents because it is far stronger and delightful (especially
virgins/pubescent).
231 This quotation was notable as it served to illustrate the culture or customs
surrounding crime and punishment. Richis, the father of the victim, is
disgusted by the community’s herd mentality so to speak. They seemed to
want to draw out the process and treat it almost as a source of
entertainment as opposed to simply bringing justice to a young girl’s death.
This could be social commentary that Süskind weaves into the storyline, as
public executions or humiliating punishments weren’t unusual for many
countries in 18th century Europe. Consequently, the scene also gives
insight into societal norms and common attitudes pertaining to crime in that
time period.
254-255 The crowds awaken by passion and physically possess the object of their
desire which is Grenouille because he used one drop of his perfume in
Grasse. They destroyed the perfume by consuming Grenouille, therefore it
can’t be used by anyone else.
Homicidal Cannibalism: In some countries, there are no laws against
human consumption. Although, there is a difference between the practice
of killing a human for food and eating flesh who was already deceased
(necro-cannibalism). *This can also be seen as a crime against humanity.
Possible Answers/Topics: Lack of empathy, isolation, personal ambition, strong desires
2. How do environments and the people in them contribute to crime (the prevalence of crime, whether people are punished for
committing crimes, etc.)?
Possible Answers/Topics: differences between France at that time and the present day, enforcement of laws, societal response to
crime
3. Is evilness/penchant for crime an intrinsic quality or learned behavior/something that is built over time? Whatever your opinion
is, what are some examples from the reading that supports it?
Possible Answers/Topics: Süskind’s description of baby Grenouille as innately evil/greedy/selfish, Grenouille acquiring a “taste of
freedom” when he leaves Baldini

(Discussion) Questions Pertaining to Vocab/Words

1. Süskind’s language is mostly colloquial throughout the book thus far. Why does he sometimes use more formal words, words
in French, or words that the average reader wouldn’t generally know the meaning of?
Possible Answers/Topics: Authenticity because the story takes place in France, drawing attention to certain descriptions or events
2. What words/language do Süskind use to underscore the shift in Grenouille’s mindset from merely surviving to actually
obtaining something he wants?
Possible Answers/Topics: Grenouille talking about opportunity and realizing he can use his surroundings to his advantage, the
metaphor of the tick that “finally rouses”
3. How does Süskind’s word choice contribute to the audience’s engagement and overall understanding of events throughout
the book?
Possible Answers/Topics: Engaging/dynamic verbs and adjectives to even out the long sentences
4. How does the language and words used to describe Grenouille reveal to the audience that he is being dishonest or putting on
an act throughout Part 2?
Possible Answers/Topics: Word choice and language (when he his getting cleaned up at Montpellier) suggest a dissociation from
self, “masquerade”, “the figure”, the feigned fainting spell

Final Check Pg 215-255

(Discussion) Questions Pertaining to the Motif of Crime

1. What literary techniques do Süskind use to humanize Grenouille and essentially contrast the cruelty shown by his
 crimes?
Possible Answers/Topics: Recurring mentions of his desire to be acknowledged/admired (which is a rather common desire in
humans), evidence of being mistreated/neglected as a child.
2. What effect does Süskind achieve by making murder a central theme throughout the book?
Possible Answers/Topics: Underscore Grenouille’s twisted sense of morals, contrasting between life and death, draw readers into the
story as they might be curious about Grenouille’s motives.
3. What elements of the tone contribute to the concept of crime in Perfume?
Possible Answers/Topics: Rather impersonal yet somber diction when describing murders, language is very matter-of-fact, word
choice suggests that perhaps such events were inevitable.

(Discussion) Questions Pertaining to Vocab/Words

1. How does the vocab used throughout the reading elevate the description of setting?
Possible Answers/Topics: Makes a more vivid and immersive scene that becomes more real to the reader, makes the descriptions
more dynamic, allows reader to paint a full picture of the setting in a given scene.
2. By using juxtaposing or contrasting vocabulary in his imagery, how does Süskind develop the plot of the story?
Possible Answers/Topics: Places emphasis on certain parts that are more striking/important, draws attention to details that are crucial
to the reader’s understanding of the plot.
3. What influence does vocabulary have the overall tone in Perfume?
Possible Answers/Topics: Serves to create tones that fit each part of the story (jubilant in some instances, sometimes more ominous,
etc.), use of highly descriptive adjectives in some scenes.