What fundamental philosophical claim does existentialist literature make about human freedom?
AHumans are determined by forces beyond their control
BFreedom is an illusion; all choices are predetermined
CHumans are fundamentally free and must create meaning through their choices
DFreedom and responsibility are separate concepts
Existentialist literature emphasizes radical human freedom: individuals are not determined by essence, nature, or fate. They must choose and create meaning, and they are responsible for those choices.
Question 2 Multiple Choice
How does existentialist literature use narrative to explore philosophical ideas?
AIt avoids philosophy in favor of pure entertainment
BIt uses characters and situations to dramatize freedom, responsibility, and absurdity
CIt presents philosophical ideas as abstract lectures
DIt rejects all philosophical inquiry
Existentialist writers understood that narrative could enact philosophical ideas—characters facing choices, confronting meaninglessness, creating values dramatize existential philosophy in action.
Question 3 True / False
Existentialist literature rejects the idea that humans must grapple with meaning and responsibility in an indifferent universe.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: False
This is central to existentialist thought and literature: humans must confront the absence of ultimate meaning and create value through their free choices.
Question 4 True / False
Existentialist writers believed that literature could adequately address fundamental philosophical questions about meaning and freedom.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: True
Existentialist literature asserted that narrative and drama were powerful vehicles for exploring philosophy, not separate from or inferior to abstract thought.
Question 5 Short Answer
Explain how existentialist rejection of determinism creates both freedom and responsibility in their literature.
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer:
If humans were determined by circumstances, we could blame external forces for our choices. Existentialism rejects this escape: humans are fundamentally free, which means we cannot blame circumstances for who we are or what we do. This freedom is simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying. It's exhilarating because it means humans are not trapped by fate or nature. It's terrifying because it means full responsibility: we create ourselves through our choices. Existentialist literature dramatizes this combination: characters face situations where they must choose without ultimate guidance, knowing they are responsible for their choices and their meaning. This creates the emotional intensity of existentialist narrative—characters cannot escape through claiming they had no choice or that circumstances determined them. They must choose and live with the consequences.