”...WE MUST CULTIVATE OUR GARDEN.”

AP4 LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION

SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENTThis summer you have the distinct privilege of reading the famous satire Candide, by Voltaire. Click here for a link to a free onlineversion of the text. There are versions available for the Kindle that will work with an iPad or other e-reader, or you can just read it onyour computer. You may also check out the book from a local public library or purchase one at a used book store. If you decide topurchase a separate text, please be sure to obtain the same version; there are different translations out there.

Candide is the most popular of Voltaire’s works. It addresses the belief embodied by Pangloss that “All is for the best in this best of allpossible worlds.” In his story, Voltaire addresses issues of science, philosophy, religion, government, ethics, romance, and the natureof good and evil. We rarely get to read comedies or satires in a school setting, so enjoy the experience.

A Word to the Wise: Take Notes as You ReadThe best way to prepare for the Summer Reading assessment is to not only read carefully, but also to take ample notes as you read. Aleisurely read through the book will probably not serve you well enough for the analytical nature of the assessment. In addition tocollecting quotations that develop the themes of the novel, you should also make note of the comic devices and subgenres employed.You should be ready for the assessment on the first day of class.

A Note on Vocabulary:You will no doubt encounter words that are new to you as you make your way through Candide. Rather than providing a setvocabulary list, we have opted to acclimate you to the protocol for AP4: When you encounter a new word while reading, it becomespart of your personal vocabulary list. You’ll need to look it up, make appropriate notes, and review until the word is your own.

A Quick and Dirty Overview of Comedy:SatireSatire exists for one reason only: to ridicule a subject, usually some social institution or human weakness, with the intention to inspirereform. In making the reader laugh at the stupidity and hypocrisy of society, the satirist hopes to push his public to make an effort to"fix things." Thus, despite his frustration with human foibles and failings, the satirist continues to believe that man can, if he hassufficient will, create a better world. A satirist, since he believes in the possibility of reform, cannot therefore be totally pessimistic.

Comic Devices (Just a few)BLACK HUMOR VIA TONE: This is nothing more than an extreme version of humor. Adopting a neutral or even upbeat tone (attitude of

narrator to subject matter), the author describes without emotion situations that are obviously atrocious, as if they were perfectly

normal. The reader's horrified reaction is much stronger than it would be if the narrator expressed indignation or disgust.

DOUBLE ENTENDRE:A statement that is deliberately ambiguous, one of whose possible meanings is risque or suggestive of some

impropriety.

EUPHEMISM:A device in which indirectness replaces directness of statement, usually in an effort to avoid offensiveness.

HYPERBOLE (EXAGGERATION): A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion or create a comic effect. While

hyperbole does not express the literal truth, it is often used in the service of truth to capture a sense of intensity or to emphasize the

essential nature of something.

INCONGRUITY: Comedy required that there exist an established set of cultural, human, and societal norms against which incongruities

may be found. Three aspects of incongruity include literalization (ex. “give me a hand”), reversal (irony), and exaggeration

(hyperbole).

IRONY: A contrast or discrepancy between expectation and reality—between what is said and what is really meant, between what is

expected and what really happens, or between what appears to be true and what really is true.

Verbal Irony: when a writer or speaker says one thing but really means something quite different—often the opposite of

what he or she has said.

Situational Irony: when what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate.

Dramatic Irony: when the audience knows something that a character in the play or story doesn’t.

LITOTES (UNDERSTATEMENT): A figure of speech that consists of saying less than what is really meant, or saying something with less force

than is appropriate. Charlie Chaplin's mustache may be described as an understatement in this sense just as his shoes are an

exaggeration.

MALAPROPISM: The French term mal-a-propos means inappropriate or out of place. It is the misuse of vernacular or using one word for

another due to ignorance. For example: mixing up words such as electrocution for elocution, irritation for irrigation, etc.

PUN: A play on the multiple meanings of a word, or on two words that sound alike but have different meanings.

“THE COMEDY LADDER”Overview of the Different Types of Comedy

(adapted from http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap04_preap_13_strat_e_35969.pdf)

Few comedies are one purely distinct form or another, but rather they include a blend of types. Some mix farce with low comedy and

then lurch toward comedy of ideas and back toward comedy of manners. Some television shows and films rely primarily on one type

of comedy, but use the others to a lesser degree. Here are some rough categories that can sometimes help focus discussion.

COMEDY OF IDEAS—Laughing at the Implication of Ideas (High Comedy)

On this level of comedy, the characters argue about important issues like war, gender, marriage, religion, class, and government.

The various characters represent different approaches to these issues, pitting their wits (or lack of them) against the wits of those

who view reality differently. Satire focuses on the foolish ideas behind an issue and ridicules the thinking and approach to the debate.

Satire is a type of comedy of ideas: it is often irreverent and challenges the conventional thinking on issues. M*A*S*H, Monty Python,

George Bernard Shaw’s plays and, occasionally, The Simpsons explore serious ideas humorously.

COMEDY OF MANNERS—Laughing at Words (High Comedy)

Sometimes defined as “the amorous intrigues of the aristocratic classes,” this form of comedy emphasizes the mechanisms of

language and reduces life and its problems to verbal repartee. Clever insults, put-downs, puns, paradoxes, and epigrams are all types

of witticism this comedy uses. Comedy of manners does not hesitate to sacrifice a character’s sensitivity to the cause of witty

dialogue. Television programs like Cheers, Frasier, and Will and Grace have upper-class characters who fall in and out of love while

other characters comment wryly on the action. Often there are three different groups of characters: the true wits, who know

themselves; the would-be wits, who trade barbed insults but are not insightful characters, and the witless, who are unaware of, and

unfazed by, the true meaning of the lives around them. In Frasier, for example, the father and Daphne are the true wits, Frasier and

his brother are the would-be wits, and the mirthless radio station manager is witless.

FARCE—Laughing at SituationsThe devices that drive the plot identify this form of comedy: mistaken identities, coincidences, and mistimings. The characters

become puppets of fate, controlled by action over which they seem to have little control. In farce, characters interested in each other

must often struggle to be together as others contrive to keep them apart. There are always coincidence, doublings, or obstacles—such

as twins, busybody parents, unhappy engagements, and marriages that happen at just the wrong time. Money and class figure

prominently in the action. Maid in Manhattan, Twins, Austin Powers, and Big Business are farcical films, while Seinfeld, Golden Girls,

and That ‘70s Show are typical televisions farces.

LOW COMEDY—Laughing at People

At the bottom of the comedy ladder the laughter is longest and loudest over the dirty joke or dirty gesture. At this depth, comedy

finds the lowest common denominator: the body. Typically, this is the rung of humor in which bodily functions remind us we are “a

little less than the angels.” Physical mishaps, pratfalls, slapstick, and loud collisions are the obvious elements. Here too are the long

noses, crossed eyes and dwarfs. Most of us remember The Three Stooges—add sexual antics to that mix and you have adult low

comedy. Beavis and Butthead, Dumb and Dumber, Cyrano de Bergerac, Roxanne, Young Frankenstein—the examples here are endless.

Candide Reading Guide: Philosophical TermsPHILOSOPHICAL OPTIMISM— This is a school of philosophy that believes that everything that happens in the world has some point and, in

the end, everything happens for the best. For example, in the event of a disaster, the “good end” of what seems to be a tragedy may

not be apparent at the moment, but there is good that will come out of the disaster.

THE PROBLEM OF EVIL— The presence of evil in this world is something philosophers, theologians, and average people have long

grappled with. Philosophers pose this question: “If God is all good and all knowing, how can He allow such terrible, evil things to

happen in a world that He has created?”

DIVINE PROVIDENCE— Allied with the belief in Philosophical Optimism was a religious notion that there is a divine will that guides our

fate; that is, everything that happens to us is God’s will. Related to the question of Divine Providence is the question of Free Will. If

our lives are ordained by God, are we responsible for choosing good or evil in our lives? Do we have any control over our lives, or are

we simply pawns of fate?

CAUSE AND EFFECT— This idea is used by philosophers to prove the existence of God. They argue that for every effect there must have

been a cause; in tracing this back we eventually reach the “uncaused cause”: God.

SUFFICIENT REASON— In Leibnitz’s philosophy, the sufficient reason is that which justifies the existence of things. Like the uncaused

cause, the ultimate sufficient reason is God.

Questions for Study and Closer ReadingTHE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ARE PROVIDED TO ENRICH YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE BOOK. WHILE IT IS HIGHLY

RECOMMENDED THAT YOU USE THEM TO FOSTER YOUR DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TEXT, THESE QUESTIONS

ARE A TOOL, NOT A REQUIREMENT.

Chapter 11. As in most satires, the proper names in this story frequently convey a meaning. What do you think the name Baron

Thunder-ten-Tronckh is meant to suggest?

2. List and briefly identify the major characters introduced in this chapter.

3. Although Voltaire was French, he sets his story in Germany with a German family among its central characters. Why

Germany?

4. Why does the narrator tell us that the Baron’s castle had “not only a gate, but windows”?

5. In the fourth paragraph, Voltaire gets to a principal target of his satire: philosophy. What is his technique in this instance?

6. In the fifth paragraph how does Voltaire make the following basic tenet of philosophical optimism look silly: “…that things

cannot be otherwise than as they are; for all being created for an end, all is necessarily for the best end”?

7. Why is Candide driven off from the castle at the end of Chapter 1?

Note how often and where philosophical terms are used (even in the description of Cunegonde’s observation of Pangloss and the

maid). Note, also, how in this best-of-all possible world things often go wrong.

Chapter 21. What happens to the innocent Candide in this chapter?

2. How is Candide so easily tricked?

3. This chapter is a satire on both the brutality of army training in general and the brutality of the Prussian Army in

particular (the boys in blue). But it also satirizes what philosophical question?

4. In this chapter, how free is Candide to choose his punishment?

Chapter 31. The first paragraph contrasts the glory and spectacle of marching armies to the realistic result of armed conflict. Through

what phrase does Voltaire remind his reader of the absurdity of philosophical optimism in the context of war?

2. What point is Voltaire making when he shows “the Arabian heroes” behaving as badly as the Bulgarian heroes have?

3. If Voltaire believes war is evil, why does he not he just say that?

4. What aspect of the preacher and his wife is Voltaire satirizing?

5. How does Candide feel about Pangloss’ philosophical teaching by the end of this chapter?

Chapter 41. The sickly beggar we meet at the end of Chapter 3 turns out to be Pangloss. What does Pangloss say caused his illness?

2. What does Pangloss say has happened to Cunegonde and her family?

3. Why do you suppose the phrase “cause and effect” has been used in this chapter and in others?

4. How does Pangloss argue that the spread of a sexually transmitted disease has happened for the best in this best-of-all-possible

worlds?

5. What does James’ function in the story seem to be?

Chapter 51. As in Chapter 3, Voltaire again raises “the problem of evil.” What is the terrible evil that happens in this chapter, and how is

it different from the evil we see in Chapter 3?

2. What is Pangloss’ reaction to the disaster?

3. What happens when the very ill Candide begs Pangloss to give him oil and water? What is Voltaire’s point with this?

4. What happens to James in this chapter, and what is the sad irony in his fate?

Chapter 6Note: An auto-da-fé (act of faith) is a public ceremony held by the Inquisition in which heretics are tried, condemned, and executed

by being burned at the stake. After the Lisbon earthquake of 1756, an auto-da-fé is held in order to ward off further earthquakes.

1. At the end of Chapter 5, the man in black gives a nod. Although in Chapter 5, we do not know what that nod signifies, who do

we learn the man is, and what happens as a result of his nod?

2. The church’s charges against Pangloss reflect one of Voltaire’s criticisms of the church. Specifically, what is Voltaire

criticizing?

3. What other criticisms are implicit in the burnings of the heretics?

4. As Voltaire presents it in the opening paragraph, an auto-da-fé is an act of superstition, not faith. Explain how an auto-da-fé

can be viewed as an act of primitive superstition?

5. What upsets Candide the most about what has happened, and what important question does this raise in Candide’s mind?

Chapter 71. It has been said that in this chapter Voltaire satirizes the conventions found in the adventure-romances of his time. What do

you suppose some of those contentions are?

2. Candide asks Cunegonde, “Then you have not been ravished? Then they did not rip open your belly as Doctor Pangloss

informed me?” What is her response? How would you characterize her answer?

Chapter 81. In the third-to-last paragraph, Cunegonde concludes that Pangloss has most cruelly deceived her. Why does she arrive at

this conclusion?

2. Cunegonde tells us that she has been invited to the auto-da-fé by the Grand Inquisitor and has “a very good seat.” (Pg. 18) At

first, this makes her sound like an insensitive monster, but what does she add that convinces us that she is not?

3. How does the second-to-last paragraph point out that she is a most practical person?

4. Cunegonde tells Candide that she has withstood the sexual advances of the Bulgarian captain, Don Issachar, and the Grand

Inquisitor. If this is true, do you suppose her motive for turning them down is one of keeping intact her virtue, or is it for a

practical reason she turns them down?

Chapter 91. What aspects of the adventure-romance novel are parodied in this chapter?

2. Why does Voltaire take the time to mention what happens to the two bodies when the authorities arrive?

3. When Cunegonde asks how her gentle Candide could kill two men, what is his response? Does this mark a change in him?

Chapter 101. What is humorous in the second paragraph?

2. Why is an army being raised to go to South America, and why is Candide made a captain in this army?

3. In Chapter 5, Voltaire attacks religion’s intolerance and philosophical issues. What aspect of the church does he attack in this

chapter?

4. Candide has given up hope that the Old World (Europe) is the best-of-all possible worlds, but he has hope that the New World

may be so. What is Cunegonde’s response to this?

5. Cunegonde seems to be truly overjoyed to find Candide again, and she tells him that she loves him with all her heart. Yet, at

the opening of this chapter as she laments the loss of the jewels, she says, “What shall I do? Where shall I find Inquisitors or

Jews who will give me more?” What is your opinion of Cunegonde? Does she really love Candide?

Chapter 111. The old woman tells us, “all Italy composed sonnets in my praise, though not one of them was passable.” (Pg. 24) In this line

and in comments in the first paragraph, what is Voltaire making fun of?

2. What makes the last sentence a surprise?

3. The Old Woman says a number of times that she is surprised by the terrible things the Corsairs do, but she has since learned

such actions are standard practice in all civilized nations. What does this say about evil and civilized nations?

4. In the last sentence of the next-to-last paragraph, how does the Old Woman conclude the list of terrible things she sees? What

may we infer about Voltaire’s view of religion from that?

5. What makes the last sentence in this chapter so absurd?

Chapter 121. The Old Woman, deceived by the man she trusts, is sold into slavery and has many sordid adventures, including having one

buttock cut off, yet she concludes, “but still I loved life.” How does Voltaire wish us to take this line?

2. In what way might the Old Woman’s journey foreshadow Cunegonde’s journey?

Chapter 131. What character is satirized in this chapter? For what and in what way is he mocked?

2. After the Governor declares his love for Cunegonde and asks her to marry him, what is her response? What strikes us as

humorous about her response?

3. What advice does the Old Woman give Cunegonde and Candide? Would you have given them the same advice?

Chapter 14Note: The Fathers are Jesuit priests who are very militant. As missionaries in South America, they have much temporal power and

fight against Spain. The Jesuits in Europe are confessors to the same Kings and also have much power.

1. What is Cacambo’s role in the narrative? What kind of person is he?

2. Who does the chief Jesuit turn out to be?

Chapter 15Note: Some readers believe that Voltaire is implying that Father Didrie has an unusual attraction for the young baron. That fact

that in later editions the author changes the name of Father Didrie to Father Crost, a personal enemy of Voltaire’s, supports this

belief.

1. In what respect has the Baron not changed at all?

2. What does Candide see as the only solution to the problem caused by his quick temper? What is Cacambo’s solution? How

would you characterize the difference?

Chapter 171. Candide and the cynical Cacambo are astonished by the kindness, politeness, and generosity of the people in El Dorado. In the

last paragraph what do Candide and Cacambo conclude about human nature? What do they conclude about the country of

El Dorado? What does Candide conclude about Westphalia?

2. Some critics use the next-to-last line in this chapter to say that Voltaire is setting El Dorado up as an “ideal” country.

Explain how they could arrive at that conclusion.

3. After reading the last line, however, how can one argue that Voltaire is not setting El Dorado up as an “ideal country”?

Chapter 18Note: In literature, Utopias are perfect societies where men live in harmony with each other and nature.

1. Who are the Incas? According to the old man, what happens to the Incas and why? What does the old man’s story suggest?

2. What in this chapter suggests that Voltaire is not against religion itself but against the excesses found in religions?

3. Why does the old man find some of Candide and Cacambo’s questions about religion incredible?

4. Candide and Cacambo ask, “What! have you no monks who teach, who dispute, who govern, who cabal, and who burn people

that are not of their opinion?” What is the answer?

5. Find another example of satire in this chapter.

6. Why do the visitors decide to leave El Dorado?

Chapter 191. After having doubted Pangloss’ philosophy in earlier chapters, what finally causes Candide to denounce it?

2. What news of Cunegonde does Candide get that depresses him?

3. Although he is now a wiser, more worldly man, how is Candide cheated once again?

Chapter 201. What does Candide’s new advisor, Martin the Manichaean, believe? How does he arrive at this belief?

2. Does it appear that Martin represents Voltaire’s view?

Chapter 211. In this chapter, at what targets does Voltaire take aim?

2. To what purpose does Martin compare hawks and men? What does Candide say is the difference between hawks and men?

Chapter 221. In addition to a number of individuals with whom he wishes to settle some scores, who or what else does Voltaire satirize in

this chapter?

2. In comparing El Dorado to Europe, what is Candide’s conclusion?

3. What is the purpose in having someone pretend to be Cunegonde? Who is behind that?

Chapter 23Note: In England, an admiral is shot in the manner described in this chapter and for the same reason. Voltaire, always a crusader for

the underdog, had worked for a year to prevent the execution of the admiral but has failed.

1. This chapter seems to be tacked on. For what two reasons does Voltaire appear to include it?

Chapter 241. In this chapter, what two predictions does Martin make?

2. The pattern we had seen with the Old Woman we now see repeated with Paquette and perhaps, even Cunegond. What is

Voltaire saying about the position of women in this society?

3. Although, like the others, this monk is not a model of morality, Voltaire shows us another side of Friar Giroflée. For what

reason does Voltaire seem to have some pity for the Friar?

Chapter 251. Although Martin shares many of the opinions of Pococurante, how does Martin respond when Candide says of Pococurante,

“This is the happiest of mortals?”

2. Although Pococurante seems to mouth some of Voltaire’s opinions about some writers, how do we know that Voltaire sees

much wrong in Pococurante?

3. About what one thing is Candide still very happy and optimistic?

4. One thing that Voltaire seems to admire in Pococurante is that Pococurante thinks for himself. Voltaire tells us that Candide

has never been taught to think for himself. What is a related quality Voltaire seems to admire about England?

Chapter 261. What news does the returning Cacambo give Candide about Cunegonde?

2. What fact of life do the six deposed kings represent?

Chapter 271. Martin says that there are millions of people on earth who are unhappier than the deposed kings. He seems to suggest that

human misery is universal. Do you suppose Voltaire shares this view?

2. What additional news does Candide receive about Cunegonde’s appearance, and what is his response?

3. After Candide ransoms the Baron and Pangloss, how do their reactions show that neither one has changed much?

Chapter 281. While Candide’s faith in optimism is shaken whenever he is in danger, how steadfast is Pangloss’ faith in optimism when

things are not good for him? What does his faith or lack of faith reflect?

2. What is absurd about the topic that Pangloss and the Baron have continually disputed while galley slaves? What does this

dispute always result in?

Chapter 291. In Chapter 15, Candide is very polite and defers to the Baron; nevertheless, when the Baron slaps him, Candide becomes

angry and stabs him. What is Candide’s response in this chapter when the Baron refuses to consider Candide’s offer of

marriage? What kind of change does this make in Candide?

Chapter 301. By the end of this chapter how does the narrator tell us Pangloss has changed in regard to optimism?

2. What is Candide’s response when the Old Woman asks, “Which is worse…to go through all the miseries we have undergone,

or to stay here and have nothing to do?” (Pg. 85) What does this say at this point about their life on the farm?

3. When Pangloss questions the wise Dervish about the horrible evil in the world, how does the Dervish respond?

4. Why does the Dervish slam the door in Pangloss’ face?

5. In the slamming of the door, what point is Voltaire making about philosophy?

6. What is the secret of life that Candide learns from the old man at his farm? What phrase does Candide use to encapsulate this

philosophy?

7. Some people argue that the phrase “cultivate our garden” means that instead of philosophizing, we should all work to make

our own little garden (or our little corner of the world) a better place than it is. What is your opinion on the meaning of the

phrase?