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The Outsider : Key info

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The Outsider is a notable literary work by Albert Camus. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Outsider.

Key info

Key Facts

  • Full Title: The Outsider (British English) / The Stranger (American English)
  • Original Title: L’Étranger (French)
  • Author: Albert Camus (1913–1960)
  • Title of the Author: French-Algerian Novelist, Essayist, Philosopher of Absurdism
  • Source: Inspired by Camus’ philosophy of the Absurd, his experience of growing up in colonial Algeria, and reflections on alienation, morality, and the indifference of the universe.
  • Written Time: 1940–1941 (During World War II, in France)
  • First Published: 1942 (by Éditions Gallimard, Paris, France)
  • Publisher: Éditions Gallimard (First edition in French)
  • Genre: Philosophical Novel / Modernist Fiction / Absurdist Literature / Existentialist Novel
  • Form: Novel, divided into 2 Parts (Part I – Meursault’s life before the murder; Part II – trial and execution).
  • Structure: Linear narrative with simple, direct prose; blends realism with philosophical symbolism; divided between events of life and events of judgment.
  • Tone: Detached, matter-of-fact, ironic, existential, bleak yet lucid.
  • Point of View: First-person (narrated by Meursault, the protagonist).
  • Significance: Landmark of modern philosophy and literature. It dramatizes Camus’ theory of the Absurd, the tension between humanity’s search for meaning and the silent indifference of the universe.
  • Language: French
  • Famous Line: “Mother died today. Or, maybe, yesterday; I can’t be sure.” (One of the most famous opening lines in world literature)
  • Setting:
  • Time Setting: Early 1940s (colonial French Algeria, contemporary to Camus’ own life).
  • Place Setting: Algiers, Algeria. Mainly Meursault’s apartment, the seashore, and the courthouse.

 

Key Notes 

  • Original Title – L’Étranger: The original French title of the novel is L’Étranger, which means “The Stranger” or “The Outsider.” Albert Camus wrote it during 1940–1941, and it was first published in 1942 by Éditions Gallimard in France.
  • The Outsider / The Stranger – Significance of the Title: “Stranger” or “Outsider” refers to a person who is detached or alienated from society. The protagonist Meursault is cut off from social norms, values, and emotions. He shows no grief even at his mother’s death. To society, he appears as an outsider.
  • Character of Meursault: Meursault is an ordinary office worker, but his lifestyle is strikingly detached. He is indifferent toward his lover Marie, his friend Raymond, and even his own mother’s death. In the eyes of society, this indifference makes him more guilty than his actual crime.
  • Absurd Philosophy: This novel reflects Camus’s philosophy of “Absurdism.” Life has no ultimate meaning, yet man must continue to live and create his own meaning. By accepting death and realizing life’s meaninglessness, Meursault discovers a kind of peace.