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Paru en 1954, Bonjour tristesse (dont le titre est extrait d'un poème de Paul
Eluard) est le récit rétrospectif que fait Cécile, la jeune narratrice, de l'été
qu'elle a passé l'année précédente sur la Côte d'Azur. Ses vacances
débutent agréablement avec son père, veuf, et sa jeune maitresse. Ils
mènent la vie joyeuse et insouciante à laquelle ils sont accoutumés, quand
débarque Anne, intelligente et posée. Un drame, issu des tensions entre les
personnages, se noue alors lentement, mettant Cécile face à un cruel
dilemme.
examination questions
Françoise Sagan : Bonjour Tristesse
1. « Il est difficile d’avoir de la sympathie pour les personnages de Bonjour Tristesse. » Dans
quelle mesure êtes-vous d’accord avec ce jugement ? [40 marks]
Possible content
Aspects of the characters that stand in the way of the reader’s sympathy could include:
Raymond’s relationship with Elsa is superficial and shows a shallow side to his personality.
Raymond loves Cécile greatly but as a parent Raymond is weak and does not set
boundaries for his daughter.
The death of his former wife and a resulting flaw in his personality could be a probable
reason for his superficial relationship with Elsa.
Cécile’s behaviour is due in part to her father not setting boundaries for what is
acceptable.
Cécile’s failure at school is due in part to her father’s lack of concern for her studies.
Cécile’s immaturity and insecurity about Raymond’s relationship with Anne are the
reasons why she wants her to not be part of his life.
Anne attempts to bring stability and structure to the family life of Raymond and Cécile.
The absence of a strong female role model in Cécile’s life leads to a resentful attitude
towards Anne when she acts in a more maternal way.
, Cécile does not intend to kill Anne, but her death is a tragic consequence of Cécile’s
petulant and immature behaviour.
Elsa has a superficial relationship with Raymond.
Elsa conspires with Cécile and Cyril to oust Anne from Raymond’s life.
Even though Anne would create a more stable and meaningful relationship with Raymond,
she still attempts to destroy his relationship with Elsa.
2. Analysez comment la jalousie affecte les personnages de Bonjour Tristesse. [40 marks]
Extract from mark scheme Françoise Sagan: Bonjour tristesse
3. Analysez comment les rapports entre Cécile et son père sont affectés par les événements
qui se produisent dans le roman.
Possible content
There will need to be an outline of how things are before Anne Larsen appears at the villa.
How the relationship between Raymond and Cécile plays out especially in the light of the
presence of Elsa, Raymond’s much younger girlfriend. A general ‘live and let live’ attitude
but maybe with a commentary on the shock-effect of this relationship in the context of
when the novel was published. The carefree relationship between Cécile and Raymond gives
licence to the quite free relationship between Cécile and Cyril. The key événement that
affects things here is the arrival of Anne Larsen. What are the consequences of this event
and of Anne’s intervention in Cécile’s life? How does her presence influence the dynamic
between father and daughter? How does the dynamic change and what is the impact in
terms of the relationships between characters? What is the impact of the final event of the
novel - the death of Anne Larsen? There will doubtless be some speculation about the cause
of this death but this is not essential for this question.
4. «Les personnages dans Bonjour Tristesse ne sont ni bons ni mauvais.» Dans quelle mesure
êtes-vous d’accord avec ce jugement ?
Possible content
Cécile loves her father in spite of his flaws – she sees the good in him. Cécile’s behaviour is
due in part to her father not setting boundaries for what is acceptable. His liberal approach
to life enables her to enjoy a freedom within her life; there are no apparent restrictions.
Cécile’s immaturity and insecurity about her father’s relationship with Anne leads her to
attempt to destroy it, resulting in the tragic death of Anne. Elsa is hedonistic and is not
Paru en 1954, Bonjour tristesse (dont le titre est extrait d'un poème de Paul
Eluard) est le récit rétrospectif que fait Cécile, la jeune narratrice, de l'été
qu'elle a passé l'année précédente sur la Côte d'Azur. Ses vacances
débutent agréablement avec son père, veuf, et sa jeune maitresse. Ils
mènent la vie joyeuse et insouciante à laquelle ils sont accoutumés, quand
débarque Anne, intelligente et posée. Un drame, issu des tensions entre les
personnages, se noue alors lentement, mettant Cécile face à un cruel
dilemme.
examination questions
Françoise Sagan : Bonjour Tristesse
1. « Il est difficile d’avoir de la sympathie pour les personnages de Bonjour Tristesse. » Dans
quelle mesure êtes-vous d’accord avec ce jugement ? [40 marks]
Possible content
Aspects of the characters that stand in the way of the reader’s sympathy could include:
Raymond’s relationship with Elsa is superficial and shows a shallow side to his personality.
Raymond loves Cécile greatly but as a parent Raymond is weak and does not set
boundaries for his daughter.
The death of his former wife and a resulting flaw in his personality could be a probable
reason for his superficial relationship with Elsa.
Cécile’s behaviour is due in part to her father not setting boundaries for what is
acceptable.
Cécile’s failure at school is due in part to her father’s lack of concern for her studies.
Cécile’s immaturity and insecurity about Raymond’s relationship with Anne are the
reasons why she wants her to not be part of his life.
Anne attempts to bring stability and structure to the family life of Raymond and Cécile.
The absence of a strong female role model in Cécile’s life leads to a resentful attitude
towards Anne when she acts in a more maternal way.
, Cécile does not intend to kill Anne, but her death is a tragic consequence of Cécile’s
petulant and immature behaviour.
Elsa has a superficial relationship with Raymond.
Elsa conspires with Cécile and Cyril to oust Anne from Raymond’s life.
Even though Anne would create a more stable and meaningful relationship with Raymond,
she still attempts to destroy his relationship with Elsa.
2. Analysez comment la jalousie affecte les personnages de Bonjour Tristesse. [40 marks]
Extract from mark scheme Françoise Sagan: Bonjour tristesse
3. Analysez comment les rapports entre Cécile et son père sont affectés par les événements
qui se produisent dans le roman.
Possible content
There will need to be an outline of how things are before Anne Larsen appears at the villa.
How the relationship between Raymond and Cécile plays out especially in the light of the
presence of Elsa, Raymond’s much younger girlfriend. A general ‘live and let live’ attitude
but maybe with a commentary on the shock-effect of this relationship in the context of
when the novel was published. The carefree relationship between Cécile and Raymond gives
licence to the quite free relationship between Cécile and Cyril. The key événement that
affects things here is the arrival of Anne Larsen. What are the consequences of this event
and of Anne’s intervention in Cécile’s life? How does her presence influence the dynamic
between father and daughter? How does the dynamic change and what is the impact in
terms of the relationships between characters? What is the impact of the final event of the
novel - the death of Anne Larsen? There will doubtless be some speculation about the cause
of this death but this is not essential for this question.
4. «Les personnages dans Bonjour Tristesse ne sont ni bons ni mauvais.» Dans quelle mesure
êtes-vous d’accord avec ce jugement ?
Possible content
Cécile loves her father in spite of his flaws – she sees the good in him. Cécile’s behaviour is
due in part to her father not setting boundaries for what is acceptable. His liberal approach
to life enables her to enjoy a freedom within her life; there are no apparent restrictions.
Cécile’s immaturity and insecurity about her father’s relationship with Anne leads her to
attempt to destroy it, resulting in the tragic death of Anne. Elsa is hedonistic and is not
