Comparative Analysis: The Stranger and The Battle of Algiers

This assignment offers a comprehensive analysis of Albert Camus' novel, 'The Stranger,' and Gillo Pontecorvo's film, 'The Battle of Algiers.' The analysis of 'The Stranger' delves into themes of existentialism, absurdism, Meursault's detachment, and the impact of his actions. It discusses the novel's context, including Camus' philosophical underpinnings and the historical backdrop. The analysis of 'The Battle of Algiers' examines its portrayal of terrorism, colonialism, and the Algerian War of Independence. It explores the film's techniques, historical accuracy, and controversial depiction of the conflict. The assignment also includes comparisons between the two works, highlighting their distinct approaches to themes of violence, political conflict, and individual experiences within larger societal struggles. This analysis is a valuable resource for students studying literature, history, and film, providing insights into the complexities of these works and their enduring relevance.

Running head: THE STRANGER AND THE BATTLE ALGIERS
The Stranger And The Battle Of Algiers
Name of the Student:
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Author note:

1THE STRANGER AND THE BATTLE ALGIERS
THE STRANGER
Answers
1.
 Albert Camus
 France
 Written in French language
 1941 and published in 1942
2. In excerpt 1, Maman dies in order to attend the funeral.
3. It refers to the philosophical movement that is emphasizes the freedom,
existence and choice of an individual.
4. In literature, absurdism is focuses on the situation or character that does
not has any meaningful purpose in life.
5. 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. 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.

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7. 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. Musa
9. 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.
 French-speaking
 The literature that is written in French language
11. Pied noir means black foot. Yes, Camus was a pied noir.
12.
 Raymond is a local pimp and the neighbor of Mersault.
 Arab was the brother of Raymond’s mistress.
13. Mersault shoots Arab for flashing the rays of the sun in his eyes by the
blade of the knife.
14. 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.

3THE STRANGER AND THE BATTLE ALGIERS
BATTLE OF ALGIERS
1. It teaches the readers about the terrorism, especially about how
campaigns of affective terrorist and the anti-terrorist can be mounted.
2.
 Lost In Translation by Sofia Coppola
 Rather hate and violence, Lost in Translation is a story of friendship,
love, comedy and drama.
3. Their plot
4. The Algerian in the first scene is shaking in pain. The French paras have
just finished torturing him.
5.
 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 terrorist bombing techniques were used by the FLN for the first time.
7.
 Use of torture,
 Attacks on police,
 Check-points and curfew were put
8. They were non-professional actors
9. Jean Martin

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10. 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. Yes the film is an accurate within broad limits.
12. Yes, the French tortured the Algerians
13. 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. 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. French won the battle but they lost the war in 1962
16. The authoritarian regime.
17. 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. Gillo Pontecorvo and Franco Solinas. They were from Italy.
19. Algerians. The film justifies its support of the terrorist murder of FLN
over the French torture through rewriting the history.

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20. 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.