l'ingenu Flashcards
What is the main plot of Voltaire’s ‘L’Ingénu’?
The story follows a young Huron named L’Ingénu who is introduced to French society and faces various challenges due to his innocence and naivety.
In which historical context is ‘L’Ingénu’ set?
The novel is set in the early 18th century during the Enlightenment period in France.
True or False: L’Ingénu is a critique of the French aristocracy.
True
What does L’Ingénu’s character represent in the novel?
He represents the ‘noble savage’ and critiques the corruption and hypocrisy of civilized society.
Fill in the blank: L’Ingénu was raised in __________ before coming to France.
the Americas
What role does religion play in ‘L’Ingénu’?
Religion is portrayed as a source of hypocrisy and moral conflict throughout the novel.
How does L’Ingénu respond to the French legal system?
He is bewildered and often frustrated by its complexity and injustice.
Multiple choice: Which philosophical movement influenced Voltaire’s writing in ‘L’Ingénu’?
Enlightenment
What is the significance of L’Ingénu’s name?
His name signifies his innocence and lack of guile, highlighting his status as an outsider.
True or False: L’Ingénu falls in love with a noblewoman.
True
What does the ending of ‘L’Ingénu’ suggest about society?
It suggests that society is flawed and that true understanding and virtue are often lost in the complexities of civilization.
Fill in the blank: The character of L’Ingénu challenges the __________ of French society.
social norms
How does Voltaire use satire in ‘L’Ingénu’?
He uses satire to criticize social customs, religious institutions, and the legal system.
What event causes L’Ingénu to be imprisoned?
He is imprisoned due to a misunderstanding of his intentions and actions in France.
Multiple choice: Which theme is NOT explored in ‘L’Ingénu’?
Romanticism
What does L’Ingénu learn about love and relationships in the story?
He learns that love in French society is often complicated by social status and expectations.
True or False: L’Ingénu returns to his native land at the end of the novel.
False
What is the significance of L’Ingénu’s interactions with the Jesuits?
They highlight the conflict between indigenous beliefs and European religious practices.
Fill in the blank: ‘L’Ingénu’ critiques the __________ of the Catholic Church.
hypocrisy
What does Voltaire suggest about human nature through L’Ingénu’s experiences?
He suggests that human nature is often corrupted by society and its institutions.
How does L’Ingénu perceive the concept of honor in French society?
He finds it to be arbitrary and often hypocritical.
Multiple choice: Who is the main antagonist in ‘L’Ingénu’?
The societal norms and institutions
What literary technique does Voltaire employ in ‘L’Ingénu’ to convey his messages?
Irony
True or False: L’Ingénu embraces the values of French society without question.
False
What aspect of French society does L’Ingénu find most perplexing?
The complexity and contradictions within social customs and laws.
Fill in the blank: The story of ‘L’Ingénu’ is a __________ of the Enlightenment ideals.
reflection
How does L’Ingénu’s perspective on life differ from that of the French characters?
He views life with simplicity and honesty, contrasting with the deceit and complexity of French society.
What critique does Voltaire make about the justice system in ‘L’Ingénu’?
He critiques it as being arbitrary and unjust, favoring the powerful over the innocent.
Multiple choice: What does L’Ingénu ultimately seek?
Understanding and acceptance
How does L’Ingénu’s innocence serve as a narrative device?
It allows Voltaire to expose the absurdities and contradictions of society.
True or False: L’Ingénu’s journey is solely a physical one.
False
What does the character of L’Ingénu symbolize in the context of colonialism?
He symbolizes the clash between indigenous cultures and European colonial attitudes.
Fill in the blank: L’Ingénu’s naivety allows him to see the __________ of society.
flaws
What is the role of women in ‘L’Ingénu’?
Women are portrayed as constrained by societal expectations and often victims of the patriarchal system.
Multiple choice: Which character serves as a foil to L’Ingénu?
The French aristocrats
How does Voltaire address the theme of religious tolerance in ‘L’Ingénu’?
He advocates for tolerance by showcasing the absurdity of religious conflicts.
True or False: L’Ingénu is ultimately accepted by French society.
False
What does L’Ingénu’s experience with love reveal about societal norms?
It reveals that love is often transactional and influenced by social class.
Fill in the blank: L’Ingénu often reflects the ideals of __________ philosophy.
Enlightenment
What is the significance of the title ‘L’Ingénu’?
It emphasizes the theme of innocence and the critique of societal corruption.
How does L’Ingénu’s character challenge Enlightenment ideals?
He embodies the struggle to reconcile innocence with the complexities of human society.
Multiple choice: Which of the following best describes L’Ingénu’s worldview?
Idealistic
True or False: The ending of ‘L’Ingénu’ is optimistic.
False
What does L’Ingénu’s journey symbolize in relation to the Enlightenment?
It symbolizes the quest for knowledge and understanding in a flawed world.
Fill in the blank: Voltaire uses L’Ingénu to critique __________ society.
French
How does L’Ingénu’s perspective lead to his alienation?
His innocence and honesty clash with the deceitful nature of those around him.
Multiple choice: What is one of the main themes of ‘L’Ingénu’?
The critique of social hypocrisy
True or False: L’Ingénu is a straightforward hero in the story.
False
What lesson does L’Ingénu learn by the end of the novel?
He learns about the complexity of human nature and societal expectations.
Fill in the blank: The character of L’Ingénu highlights the conflict between __________ and civilization.
nature
How does Voltaire portray the French clergy in ‘L’Ingénu’?
He portrays them as corrupt and self-serving, undermining true spirituality.
Multiple choice: What narrative style does Voltaire employ in ‘L’Ingénu’?
Satirical
True or False: L’Ingénu successfully navigates through French society without conflict.
False
What does L’Ingénu’s trial represent in the context of the novel?
It represents the absurdities of the legal system and societal injustice.
Fill in the blank: L’Ingénu’s perspective is often contrasted with that of __________.
the French elite
How does L’Ingénu’s journey reflect Enlightenment values?
It emphasizes reason, individualism, and the critique of traditional authority.
Multiple choice: What aspect of society does L’Ingénu challenge the most?
Social class
True or False: The character of L’Ingénu is static throughout the novel.
False
What does L’Ingénu’s failure to fit into society illustrate?
It illustrates the limitations of societal norms and the struggle for authenticity.
Fill in the blank: L’Ingénu’s experiences lead him to question the validity of __________.
social conventions
How does Voltaire use humor in ‘L’Ingénu’?
He uses humor to highlight the absurdities of human behavior and societal norms.
Multiple choice: What is a key element of L’Ingénu’s character?
Innocence
True or False: L’Ingénu finds happiness in French society.
False
What does the relationship between L’Ingénu and the French nobility reveal?
It reveals the tensions between different social classes and the absurdity of aristocratic privilege.
Fill in the blank: Voltaire critiques the __________ of the French monarchy through L’Ingénu’s story.
absolutism
How does L’Ingénu’s perspective challenge traditional views on morality?
He challenges the idea that morality is dictated by societal norms rather than individual conscience.
style
conte romanesque
la composition general
un roman d’apprentisage
le roman sentimental
St Dunstan
Irish
Saint
set sail from Ireland for the coast
of France
blessed the little mountain he arrived into when landing in France by ship
Founded the “Priory of the Mountain”
Where did st Dunstan arrive in France?
St Malo bay.
Abbé de Kerkabon
old
excellent churchman
beloved, respected
the only clergyman in the district who did not have to be carried to bed after dining with his colleagues.
- he could handle is alcohol
decent knowledge of theology
well read
- St Augustine books
- Rabelais books
Mademoiselle de Kerkabon
Abbé’s sister
45-years-old
still hot
wanted to marry, but never found a husband
good-natured woman,
warm-hearted,
fond of pleasure,
spiritually-minded.
Took quite an interest to Huron and his skin
the frigate Swallow in 1669
Kerkabon brother died after arriving in Canada
apparently murdered (eaten) by Iroqois
Huron
landed from an English Boat from the Bay of Rance tide
- respectful
- He was bareheaded and
barelegged, with only sandals on his feet, while his head was adorned with long hair in plaits. A short doublet added grace to a figure which was at once martial and gentle in bearing. In one hand he carried a small bottle of Barbados water, and in the other a kind of purse in which were a goblet and some first-rate ship’s biscuits.
Excellent French
Charmer
His plan: He was full of curiosity, and wanted
to see what the coast of France was like: that was why he had come, and he was then going back again.
bombarded by peoples questions, but said “‘Gentlemen, in my country we speak one at a time; how can I answer you when you prevent me from hearing what you say?’ “ AURA
“The Child of Nature”,’
Taken by the English after they were vanquishing his lands, he was told he may return to his family or to England after such an honourable fight
Learned French from a Frenchman his tribe beat when he was quite young, and then became quite connected with
bro only had one former lover, that got eaten by a bear, so he killed the bear and wore its skin
had to stop his lover’s family from canabalism after another tribe stole a rabbit from hunt
bro’s respectfully did not want to get baptized
Huron gave them a locket of the dead brother and sister in law… oh shit
for some reason, the Kerkabons think that their nephew… oh shit he is the nephew
ok, now he’s getting baptized
BRO MEMORIZED THE BIBLE
bro rushed to surgeons to get circumcised, but was told its no longer necessary
bro agreed to confessions, but as it states in the bible “Confess your sins one to another’”, he forced the monk to confess equally back to him in return
wanted to get baptized in a river, because it says nowhere in the bible that people have gotten baptized anywhere else
bro argued with everyone but Mademoiselle de St Yves
Babtism name: HERCULES
Abbé de St Yves
Mademoiselle de St Yves
Low Breton girl
Very well brought up
pretty
Obsessed with Huron
Was the WOMAN Huron listened to, especially with the baptism thing,
willingly raped so her loved can get out
rejected the diamond earings, told her stupid friend to keep them “you have brought me my death”
Her soul is destroying herself, she gave herself fever of death
Magistrate
IDIOT
bro really wanted his son to end up with YVES girl
Monsizur Gorpon
cell mate in IN THE BASTILLE
already there for two years
hermit
‘I am what is called a Jansenist; I knew Arnaud and Nicole. We were persecuted by the Jesuits. We believe that the Pope is only a bishop like any other; and that is why Father de La Chaise obtained an order from the King, who is his penitent, to have me deprived of man’s most precious possession, liberty, without so much as a trial.’
illuminism fuck up
‘Truth shines with its own light, and you cannot illuminate
the mind by flames from the stake.’
The numskulls declared that this statement was a heresy,
or at any rate smelled of heresy, and that the contrary axiom
was Catholic, universal, and Greek:
‘You can only illuminate the mind by flames from the
stake, and the truth cannot shine with its own light.’
This was the way these ‘budge doctors’ condemned many
of the captain’s sayings, and pronounced an edict against
him,
‘What on earth is this?’ cried the Child of Nature. ‘Such
creatures as these pronouncing edicts |’
a Huron should convert a
Jansenist.
For twenty years I was a Huron;
they are called savages because they take revenge on their
enemies, but at least they have never oppressed their friends.
Jansenist and Molinist
movements
The Jansenist and Molinist movements were two opposing theological schools of thought within Catholicism that clashed particularly during the Enlightenment era in Europe. Their debate revolved around the nature of grace, free will, and predestination.
Jansenism
Rooted in the teachings of Cornelius Jansen, a 17th-century theologian, Jansenism emphasized predestination, human depravity, and the necessity of divine grace for salvation.
It was heavily influenced by St. Augustine’s ideas on original sin and grace, arguing that only God’s grace could lead to salvation, and human free will played little to no role.
The movement was opposed to Jesuit teachings and seen as a Catholic version of Calvinism.
It gained traction in France, particularly with the Port-Royal Abbey, but was repeatedly condemned by the Catholic Church, especially by Pope Innocent X in 1653 and later by Louis XIV, who sought to suppress it.
Jansenists were often anti-absolutist, critical of the monarchy and Church hierarchy, aligning with broader Enlightenment critiques of authority.
Molinism
Developed by Luis de Molina, a Spanish Jesuit theologian, Molinism sought to reconcile human free will with divine grace.
It introduced the concept of “middle knowledge” (scientia media)—the idea that God knows all possible outcomes of human choices before they are made, allowing both divine foreknowledge and human freedom to coexist.
It was defended by the Jesuits, who saw it as a way to refute Protestant ideas of predestination while maintaining Catholic doctrine.
The Jesuits, as proponents of Molinism, were influential in education, missions, and political affairs, often clashing with Jansenists.
Molinism was more aligned with Enlightenment ideas about reason, progress, and human agency, whereas Jansenism was more austere and deterministic.
Impact During the Enlightenment
The Jansenist-Molinist conflict was not just theological but had political and cultural ramifications.
Jansenists often opposed absolutist rule, making them influential in early revolutionary thought in France.
Molinists, particularly the Jesuits, were deeply involved in European courts and missions, which made them targets of Enlightenment critiques of clerical power, ultimately leading to the suppression of the Jesuits in 1773.
The debate influenced Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau, who criticized both sides but were particularly hostile to the Jesuits.
M. de Saint-Pouange
the bastard that rapes her
I would have killed him personally
cour
Environnement politique et social de la noblesse.
Ordre religieux critiqué par Voltaire dans le livre.
Jésuites
Bon sauvage
Personnage idéalisé, curieux et philosophe.
