Misanthrope Act 1

Question 1

Alceste - exaggeration but also honesty. He’d hang himself if he wasn’t sincere. (I)

Answer 1

Je m’irais, de regret, pendre tout à l’instant

Question 2

Alceste - describing how he wants to get angry and not listen (I)

Answer 2

Je veux me fâcher et ne veux point entendre

Question 3

Alceste on honesty and ‘homme d’honneur’ (I)

Answer 3

Je veux qu’on… on ne lâche aucun mot qui ne parte du cœur

Question 4

Alceste’s vanity (I)

Answer 4

Je veux qu’on me distingue

Question 5

Alceste says people always just express their feelings as… (society, honesty) (I)

Answer 5

Vains compliments

Question 6

Philinte’s opposition to Alceste, shows his conforming nature (raisonneur) but recognition of society’s imperfection (I)

Answer 6

Quand on est du monde, il faut bien qu’on le rende quelques dehors civils que l’usage demande

Question 7

Alceste’s vanity and hatred of society (I)

Answer 7

Que je serais fâché d’être sage à leurs yeux

Question 8

Alceste’s miasanthropy (I)

Answer 8

Je hais tous les hommes

Question 9

Philinte’s opposition to Alceste about human nature (I)

Answer 9

Faisons un peu grâce à la nature humaine

Question 10

Alceste to Oronte, friendship and that we should only say we’re friends when we mean it (I)

Answer 10

Profaner le nom que de vouloir le mettre à toute occasion

Question 11

Oronte wants Alceste’s truthfulness… (I)

Answer 11

C’est que je demande

Question 12

Oronte wants Alceste’s truthfulness… (I)

Answer 12

C’est que je demande

Question 13

Alceste not fully committing to the truth when dealing with Oronte - hypocrisy. Repetition three times for comedy. (I)

Answer 13

Je ne dis pas cela

Question 14

Finally Alceste tells Oronte what he thinks of the sonnet (I)

Answer 14

Il est bon à mettre au cabinet

Question 15

Comedy - Alceste short speech. Why funny?

Answer 15

Oui

Character comedy (grumpy Alceste), contrasts previous speeches that begin with non (long). Also, considering it’s written in verse.