10 questions on plot, characters, and themes. Free to take, so you can see exactly what to review before class.
1. What is the first sign that something dangerous is happening in Oran?
2. Why do the city authorities resist declaring a plague for as long as possible?
3. What is Rieux's primary motivation for continuing to treat patients he knows he cannot save?
4. What change occurs in how the city handles death as the plague worsens?
5. Why does Rambert eventually decide to stay in Oran and join the sanitation squads?
6. What does Tarrou believe about the plague and human nature?
7. How does Father Paneloux's faith change over the course of the novel?
8. What does Cottard's behavior during and after the plague reveal about him?
9. What does Rieux's revelation that he is the narrator suggest about the novel's purpose?
10. What is the final message of the novel regarding the plague and human vigilance?
0 of 10 answered
How this guide is built
This guide is built from the original text to help you get oriented fast. It is designed for recall, paper planning, and getting unstuck, but it is still a paraphrased guide, not a substitute for the reading itself. Double-check anything important before you turn in formal work.
