Comparative Analysis of The Stranger and Battle of Algiers Homework

This homework assignment provides detailed answers to a series of questions based on Albert Camus' novel, *The Stranger*, and Gillo Pontecorvo's film, *The Battle of Algiers*. The assignment delves into the themes of existentialism and absurdism within *The Stranger*, exploring the author's background, character analysis, and the novel's connection to French colonialism and the Algerian War. The answers also address the film, examining its screenplay format, historical accuracy, and the tactics employed by both the FLN and the French during the Algerian War of Independence. The student's responses cover key concepts such as Francophone literature, the meaning of pied noir, and the motivations behind the characters' actions, providing a comprehensive understanding of the literary and cinematic works. The analysis includes the student's personal reflections on the film and the impact of the historical context on the narratives.

THE STRANGER
HOMEWORK
Answer the following questions in full sentences. You may work together
for this exercise. Do not copy and paste—I will take points off for
plagiarism. Put the answers in your own words.
1. Who wrote The Stranger? Where was the author from? In
what language did he write this book? When was it written?
 Albert Camus
 France
 Written in French language
 1941 and published in 1942
2. What exactly is happening in Excerpt 1?
In excerpt 1, Maman dies in order to attend the funeral.
3. What is existentialism?
It refers to the philosophical movement that is emphasizes the freedom,
existence and choice of an individual.
4. What is absurdism?
In literature, absurdism is focuses on the situation or character that does
not has any meaningful purpose in life.
5. Is The Stranger an example of absurdism, existentialism, both,
or neither? Explain.
It is an example of both absurdism and existentialism. Tehere are
several xamples of absurdism in the novel, for example, relationship of
Meursault with his mother, his attitude to sleep and his ability of

obtaining happiness after killing the Arab. The Stranger embodies all the
six themes of existentialism including freedom, awareness of choices and
passion, contingency, individuality and reflection.
6. How does Mersault act at his mother’s funeral? What was your
feeling when reading this excerpt regarding his behavior?
Mersault was not at all concerned with the existence of his mother in
afterlife. He was not torn by the loss of his mother. His cold attitude and
least concerned with his mother’s death shows that he is emotionally
unconcerned about his mother and is a detached figure.
7. How is The Meursault Investigation by Kamel Daoud a
response to (or dialogue with) The Stranger? Explain.
The Meursault Investigation by Kamel Daoud is a response to The
Stranger as in this book Daoud reopens one of the most famous and
significant murder cases in the literary history i.e., of Arab and it gives a
voice to the victim of the Arab’s murder in The Stranger.
8. What is the name of “The Arab” in The Meursault
Investigation?
Musa
9. After Daoud received a death threat for The Meursault
Investigation, he said: "It was a fictional character in the novel
who said these things, not me. If we judge people on the basis of
characters in their books, we will be facing dark times in Algeria."
Do you think authors should be judge (and penalized?) for what
they write in their books? Why or why not?
Author’s should be judged for what they write in their books because
they write the things that is important to them or that is affecting them.
They cook their writing with their own vision and opinion.

10. What does Francophone mean? What is Francophone
literature?
French-speaking
The literature that is written in French language
11. What does pied noir mean? Was Camus a pied noir?
Pied noir means black foot. Yes, Camus was a pied noir.
12. In Excerpt 2, who is Raymond and who is the Arab (you might
have to look online for this)? How does he describe the “Arab”?
Raymond is a local pimp and the neighbor of Mersault.
Arab was the brother of Raymond’s mistress.
13. Why does Mersault shoot the Arab?
Mersault shoots Arab for flashing the rays of the sun in his eyes by the
blade of the knife.

12. Was Albert Camus in favor of colonialism in Algeria or against
it? What was his opinion on the Algerian war of Independence?
Explain in a short paragraph.
Albert Camus was against the colonialism in Algeria. He could not
imagine about the independent Algeria. He was always regarded as an
outsider. He was left highly isolated and was hated by the rights for his
condemnation of the Algerian government policies. He wanted an
independent Algeria where the French too could live independently but
the things were worse and that left him torn.
BATTLE OF ALGIERS
Answer the following questions in full sentences. You may work together
for this exercise. Do not copy and paste—I will take points off for
plagiarism. Put the answers in your own words.
1. Read the excerpt of the “screenplay.” What makes the form of
a screenplay different from other genres you have studied?
It teaches the readers about the terrorism, especially about how
campaigns of affective terrorist and the anti-terrorist can be mounted.
2. Choose your favorite movie and search online for its screenplay
(if you can’t find that one, choose another film). What film did you
pick? How does the screenplay you found differ in form from the
sample of the Battle of Algiers screenplay?

Lost In Translation by Sofia Coppola
Rather hate and violence, Lost in Translation is a story of friendship,
love, comedy and drama.
3. What surprises you the most about how movies are written (i.e.
the format of a screenplay)?
Their plot
4. In the first scene, why is the Algerian shaking? What has just
happened to him?
The Algerian in the first scene is shaking in pain. The French paras have
just finished torturing him.
5. Why does the scenes jump from 1957 to 1954? What do we call
this in literature?
The scenes jump from 1957 to 1954 to picturesque the lethal reactions of
the French colonist and the French military which continued for 3yeaars.
Reverse chronology
6. The Battle of Algiers was the premier political film of the 1960s
and revolutionized film. How did it change film? What new
techniques did it use?
The terrorist bombing techniques were used by the FLN for the first
time.

7. The first part of the film depicts the campaign for liberation
launched by the National Liberation Front (FLN, called "the
organization" in the film) against French colonial rule in 1956.
What are some of the tactics the FLN uses in the film to fight the
French?
 Use of torture,
 Attacks on police,
 Check-points and curfew were put
8. Were the Arab actors and actresses professional actors or not?
They were non-professional actors
9. Who is the only character portrayed by a professional actor?
Jean Martin
10. Describe the character of Ali La Pointe.
He is a petty criminal in the battle of Algiers. He is religiously and
politically radicalized in prison. He is a guerrilla leader of the FLN and
fought for the Algerian independence in the screenplay.

11. Is the film accurate? For example, is it an accurate account of
the battle against the French in Algiers?
Yes the film is an accurate within broad limits.
12. Did the French torture the Algerians?
Yes, the French tortured the Algerians
13. How did French colonialism in Algeria finally end?
It came to an end when the French government and the FLN
representatives signed Evian accords that called for immediate
negotiation and cease-fire regarding the power transfer to the Algerian
government.
14. At one point Mathieu challenges the hostile French reporters
with a question of his own: "Should France remain in Algeria? If
you answer 'yes,' you must accept all the necessary
consequences." What does he mean by that?
This statement of Mathieu has accompanied the tough stance of France.
During that time, France was at war and people had no trust upon the
government to fight the prevailing terrorism effectively. By saying this
statement, Mathieu alarmed the people that if they want France to
remain in Algeria, they must be ready to face the consequences of that.
15. Who ultimately won the Battle of Algiers in real life?
French won the battle but they lost the war in 1962

16. Who eventually took the place of France in Algeria? How was
their rule different?
The authoritarian regime.
17. Who are the good guys in the movies? And the bad guys?
What does this film make you think about wars of national
liberation and colonialism?
There are no good guys or bad guys in the movie. It omits different
historical details through focusing upon the FLN opposition to the French
as well as ignores the problems that were related to governing the
Algeria after independence.
18. Who wrote and directed the film? Where were they from?
Gillo Pontecorvo and Franco Solinas. They were from Italy.
19. Does the film take the side of the Algerians or the French?
Explain.
Algerians. The film justifies its support of the terrorist murder of FLN
over the French torture through rewriting the history.
20. Write a short paragraph about your own experience watching
the film. What were you thinking while watching it? Did you like

the film – why or why not? Did it change any of your ideas or
perspectives? Explain.
The movie portrayed a close look of the Algeria of that time in front of
me. It depicts the terror campaign that was launched by the FLN against
the French colonial rule. It was highly controversial from its very first
phase. I have found it to be a very valuable teaching tool. It provides an
important vehicle for the discussion of wars of national liberation,
colonialism, leftist politics and contemporary issues related to torture,
terrorism, and the American military interventions in Afghanistan and
Iraq.