Plot Points
Where does Meursault travel at the start of the novel?
To his mother's funeral in Marengo
Who is Marie?
Mersault's love interest; she wants affection and commitment from him.
What element of nature causes Meursault discomfort at the funeral?
The sun and heat.
Who says, "Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know"?
Meursault (first line of the novel)
What is absurdism in simple terms?
Life has no inherent meaning; humans search for meaning, but the universe is indifferent.
What activity does Meursault do the day after the funeral?
He goes swimming, watches a movie, and spends the day with Marie.
Who is Raymond Sintés?
Meursault's neighbor. He is known for being violent and manipulative.
What does the sea represent for Mersault?
Pleasure, freedom, and escape from social obligations.
Who says, "you could get married if you wanted to"?
Meursault, speaking to Marie
How does Meursault show absurdist thinking at his mother’s funeral?
He doesn’t show expected emotions and focuses on physical discomfort instead.
What does Meursault help Raymond write?
A letter to humiliate Raymond's mistress.
What is Salamano's main relationship in Part I?
His abusive, yet dependent, relationship with his old dog
What does Salamano's dog symbolize?
The routines and dependence that defines human relationships
Who says, “if you go slowly, you risk getting sunstroke. But if you go too fast, you work up a sweat and then catch a chill inside the church.” She was right. There was no way out.
The nurse
What is Meursault’s attitude toward marriage with Marie?
He says he’ll marry her if she wants, but it doesn’t matter to him.
What daily routine do we see between Salamano and his dog?
He takes the dog for walks, beats it, and curses at it.
What is unusual about how Meursault answers Marie when she asks if he loves her?
He says, "No," but that it doesn't matter.
How does the oppressive heat function symbolically throughout Part I?
It represents the physical burden of existence and Meursault's distraction from meaning.
Who says, "A minute later she asked me if I loved her. I told her it didn’t mean anything but that I didn’t think so."
Meursault
Why does Meursault agree to be friends with Raymond?
He has no reason not to—he doesn’t care strongly either way.
Why does Raymond invite Meursault to the beach?
To relax with friends after the trouble with his mistress. This eventually leads to the trouble with the Arabs.
What character acts as a foil to Meursault and highlights human dependence on others
Salamano (and his attachment to his dog).
Why is the movie that Marie and Mersault watch after the funeral significant?
It contrasts the seriousness of death with Mersualt's indifference; he easily moves into pleasure.
Who says, "I said that people never change their lives, that in any case one life was as good as another and that I wasn’t dissatisfied with mine here at all."
Meursault
In what way does Meursault’s behavior challenge traditional morality in Part I?
He refuses to pretend to feel emotions he doesn’t have, rejecting social conventions about grief, love, and loyalty.