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Summary and Analysis and full Student notes including studies of the major characters
Summary and Analysis and full Student notes including studies of the major characters
These notes were recommended for A-Level French teachers in the BBC 84th Active Language Teachers' Newsletter
(Please click on one of the 18 titles listed below to access notes on a selected topic)
1)
SUMMARY OF THE BOOK WITH COMMENTARY
A detailed summary of the book in English, with commentary. Quotations from the book are given in French
2) The life and character of Voltaire
It is important to read about Voltaire's life in order to understand how he came to form his opinions which are the basis of this livre philosophique.
In the autocratic society of 18th century France, he lived and worked with his liberty and even his life under constant threat.
(3) Identifying the literary genre to which the book belongs.
In order to understand the nature of the book that we are reading, it is useful to look at a book of similar genre in English literature.
Both "Gulliver's Travels" and "Candide" are tales that entertain with the novelty of the story, but both have deeper ideas for those who look.
PHILOSOPHICAL OPTIMISM
(As this is a long section, I have divided the notes on Philosophical Optimism into four parts - essays 4-7 )
4) Optimistic Philosophy in the eighteenth century
The theories and the theorists and the disciples of Optimistic Philosophy in the 18th century.
Right - Leibnitz - the leading philosopher of the 18th century Optimists.
5) Direct references to Philosophical Optimism in the book
There is no doubt about the target of this satirical book when we see on its pages direct reference to the theories of Optimistic Philosophy and see its actual terminology used
6) Voltaire's hostility to Philosophical Optimism
The reasons why Voltaire personally rejected Optimistic Philosophy, intellectually and emotionally.
7) Voltaire's evidence against Philosophical Optimism
The cumulative evidence that Voltaire builds up to show that Optimistic Philosophy in no way reflected the reality of the lives they were living
The massive destruction and loss of life in the Lisbon earthquake see picture above. was the final straw in Voltaire's rejection of the ideas of the Optimist philosophers of the 18th century
The Characters in “Candide”. We discuss the characters in topics 8 - 15
8) Are the characters merely puppets?
A discussion of this charge which is often levelled against Voltaire.
The over-trustful hero of the book.
Right- One of Candide's experiences - when he starred in an auto-da-fe, where he was burnt over a slow fire at a religious ceremony in front of a vast congregation - including Cunegonde
Candide's teacher who is a fanatical advocate of Philosophical Optimism, no matter what life throws at him.
She takes the role that a romantic young heroine should have played --but Cunegonde plays it somewhat differently.
(Picture right) Candide is expelled with kicks up the backside from the castle of the Baron after the daughter of the latter, Cunegonde, had invited Candide to join her in illicit biological experiments
12) The character of the German Jesuit Baron
The three words in the above description are three major reasons why Voltaire was unsympathetic to him.
13) The character of the old woman
A lady of impressive background and life experiences
Candide's loyal and resourceful servant
The Manichaean
(As Voltaire is attacking optimism, we ask the question whether this makes for a gloomy, pessimistic book? Topics 16- 18 are relevant to this question)
16) Is "Candide" a totally pessimistic book?
17) What is Candide's final philosophy of life?
18) Voltaire's literary style (This topic is relevant to the question of pessimism also because the style serves to dispel any gloomy tone)
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1) SUMMARY OF THE BOOK WITH COMMENTARY
2) The life and character of Voltaire
It is important to read about Voltaire's life in order to understand how he came to form his opinons which are the basis of this livre philosophique
(3) Identifying the literary genre to which the book belongs.
In order to understand the book that we are reading, it is useful to look at a book of similar genre in English literature.
PHILOSOPHICAL OPTIMISM
(As these are long notes, I have divided the notes on Philosophical Optimism into four sections - essays 4-7 )
4) Optimistic Philosophy in the eighteenth century
5) Direct references to Philosophical Optimism in the book
6) Voltaire's hostility to Philosophical Optimism
7) Voltaire's evidence against Philosophical Optimism
(If Voltaire is attacking optimism, we ask the question whether this makes for a gloomy, pessimistic book? Topics 8- 10 are relevant to this question)
8) Is "Candide" a totally pessimistic book?
9) What is Candide's final philosophy of life?
10) Voltaire's literary style (This topic is relevant to the question of pessimism also because the style serves to dispel any gloomy tone)
(Finally we discuss the characters in topics 11- 18)
11) Are the characters merely puppets?
14) The character of Cunegonde
15) The character of the German Jesuit Baron
16) The character of the old woman
(Picture right) Candide is expelled from the Baron's castle with kicks up the backside after Cunegonde had invited him to join her in secret scientific experiments.
(Picture below) The massive destruction and loss of life in the Lisbon earthquake was the final straw in Voltaire's rejection of the ideas of the Optimist philosophers of the 18th century.
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