AP Lit Essay Help "The Stranger" by Albert Camus

Question

I have my AP lit final next week, and to prepare I have been going through previous AP prompts to try and formulate responses or general ideas. I figure if I can do most of the past ones I could do whatever my teacher writes for us next week. However, I am having problems with one. I am thinking I would address The Stranger, but not really sure what to do with it. Any guidance would help. Here is the 1973 prompt I am thinking of:

An effective literary work does not merely stop or cease; it concludes. In the view of some critics, a work that does not
provide the pleasure of significant closure has terminated with an artistic fault. A satisfactory ending is not, however, always conclusive
in every sense; significant closure may require the reader to abide with or adjust to ambiguity and uncertainty. In an essay,
discuss the ending of a novel or play of acknowledged literary merit. Explain precisely how and why the ending appropriately
or inappropriately concludes the work. Do not merely summarize the plot.

 

And for reference here is the list I am going through to study: http://mseffie.com/AP/Open_Questions.pdf

Answer 1

The first thing I would look at is the sentence, "An effective literary work does not merely stop or cease; it concludes." When you are coming at this from the perspective of analyzing, "The Stranger" think about how that sentence fits with the ending of the story. How did the ending make you feel? Did you feel like it just ended or did it wrap up all the questions you had about Meursault, his thoughts, his beliefs, and his eventual breakdown of rage after a lifetime of apathy? Did his death feel like it left a lot unanswered or were you satisfied?

After considering the first part of the prompt and writing down the answers to the above questions, then move on to the next part. "A satisfactory ending is not, however, always conclusive

in every sense; significant closure may require the reader to abide with or adjust to ambiguity and uncertainty."

Consider your answers to the questions I asked. Then ask yourself if you felt like it did not conclude satisfactorily, are you required to abide with or adjust your level of ambiguity to be satisfied. Do you need to make your own extrapolations about the work in order to come to that satisfactory ending and was that the authors intent when writing it?

This should put you on a good road to building your essay. I hope it helps and feel free to reach out to me and schedule tutoring should you need more assistance.