Final Exam
I. Summaries/Analysis
The Guest by Albert Camus
o Daru, an unassuming French schoolteacher, is tasked with escorting an Arab prisoner to
the police headquarters. He becomes uncomfortable with his task and secretly hopes
the prisoner will escape. After a fretful night, Daru gives the prisoner supplies and the
choice to either turn himself in or flee to safety. The man chooses prison. After returning
home, Daru receives a threatening message from the Arab resistance, who swear
revenge against him for turning their comrade over to the police.
Death and the King’s Horseman by Wole Soyinka
o Elesin, the horseman of the recently deceased king, is meant to kill himself in order to
follow his monarch into the afterlife. However, Elesin postpones his death by requesting
a night of pleasure with a beautiful woman, and later by allowing the white district
officer to imprison him to prevent his suicide. Elesin's son, Olunde, returns to the village
and shamed by his father's actions, kills himself in hopes of fulfilling his father's duty.
Upon seeing his son's body, Elesin commits suicide out of shame and guilt.
Death Constant Beyond Love by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
o Senator Sanchez finds out he has exactly six months and 11 days left to live. Despite his
fate, he decides it is important to continue his political duties. He travels to Rosal de
Virrey to give a re-election speech and in the process makes promises to the voters he
has no way to fulfill. Afterwards, Senator Sanchez runs into a man named Nelson Farina
and his daughter, Laura. Seeing that the senator is attracted to Laura, Nelson offers to
let him have sex with her if he takes care of some legal troubles he is experiencing. The
senator agrees, but before he can sleep with Laura, he dies in bed with her, causing a
scandal and disgracing his family.
In Camera by Nawal el Saadawi
o This story depicts Leila Al-Fargani’s courtroom trial. As a female in a male dominated
world, she is constantly describing her experience to that of an animal. This
demonstrates the low value society places women as well as how little Leila feels of
herself. She is on trial for “acting out” against the president by referring to him as
stupid. However, it was Leila who was abused, raped, and mentally destroyed. Yet,
society sees her as the criminal and not the victim.
I. Summaries/Analysis
The Guest by Albert Camus
o Daru, an unassuming French schoolteacher, is tasked with escorting an Arab prisoner to
the police headquarters. He becomes uncomfortable with his task and secretly hopes
the prisoner will escape. After a fretful night, Daru gives the prisoner supplies and the
choice to either turn himself in or flee to safety. The man chooses prison. After returning
home, Daru receives a threatening message from the Arab resistance, who swear
revenge against him for turning their comrade over to the police.
Death and the King’s Horseman by Wole Soyinka
o Elesin, the horseman of the recently deceased king, is meant to kill himself in order to
follow his monarch into the afterlife. However, Elesin postpones his death by requesting
a night of pleasure with a beautiful woman, and later by allowing the white district
officer to imprison him to prevent his suicide. Elesin's son, Olunde, returns to the village
and shamed by his father's actions, kills himself in hopes of fulfilling his father's duty.
Upon seeing his son's body, Elesin commits suicide out of shame and guilt.
Death Constant Beyond Love by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
o Senator Sanchez finds out he has exactly six months and 11 days left to live. Despite his
fate, he decides it is important to continue his political duties. He travels to Rosal de
Virrey to give a re-election speech and in the process makes promises to the voters he
has no way to fulfill. Afterwards, Senator Sanchez runs into a man named Nelson Farina
and his daughter, Laura. Seeing that the senator is attracted to Laura, Nelson offers to
let him have sex with her if he takes care of some legal troubles he is experiencing. The
senator agrees, but before he can sleep with Laura, he dies in bed with her, causing a
scandal and disgracing his family.
In Camera by Nawal el Saadawi
o This story depicts Leila Al-Fargani’s courtroom trial. As a female in a male dominated
world, she is constantly describing her experience to that of an animal. This
demonstrates the low value society places women as well as how little Leila feels of
herself. She is on trial for “acting out” against the president by referring to him as
stupid. However, it was Leila who was abused, raped, and mentally destroyed. Yet,
society sees her as the criminal and not the victim.
