NAME ______PERIOD ______
The Stranger
Study Questions
Part 2: Chapter 5
- How is Meursault’s tone in this chapter different than in the previous ones?
- Why does Meursault – who slept 18 hours a day before the trial – now sleep so little?
- How do you explain Meursault’s wish for life and freedom if he believes that “everybody knows life isn’t worth living” (page 114)?
- What is Meursault’s main reason for not wanting to see the chaplain?
- The chaplain and Meursault view the murder of the Arab differently. Explain the difference.
- The chaplain – who offers ‘the stranger’ a way out of his isolation – is the biggest challenge so far to Meursault’s resolute honesty. Why?
- Do you think most prisoners on Death Row would take the chaplain up on his offer of forgiveness and eternal life? Explain your response.
- How do you interpret the last sentence of the novel: “I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate”?
- Ultimately, why do you think Meursault shot the Arab?
- At the end of the novel, Meursault refuses to change or pretend to change his religious beliefs. Do you think he is a hero for remaining steadfast in his beliefs – whether you agree with those beliefs or not? Explain your answer.
- What does Meursault love? Use quotes from the novel to support your answer.
The Stranger Dialectical Journal
Part 2: Chapter 5
Reference to the Text -In the space below, copy direct quotations, key words, details, and/or summaries from the text that stand out to you. Make sure to include the page number in parentheses. / Your Response or Interpretation -
Write a response to the quote. Your response should include these three parts:
1. Context - What’s happening at this point in the passage?
2. Analyze - What does the quote mean/symbolize within the story as a whole? What are the connections?
3. Significance - Why does it stand out to you? Your reaction. Make connections.
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Summary -Write a short summary of your observations above and explain the main idea or theme of the passage.