Candide Questions for Discussion

Chapter 1
1. What are some satirical techniques used in this chapter?
2. How is the humor achieved in the description of the characters? How do they get
their names?
3. What is philosophical optimism?
4. Comment on Pangloss' logic of cause and effect. Provide specific examples
5. Make a list of things that are being satirized in this chapter.
Chapter 2
6. Which aspects of army life are satirized in this chapter?
7. Find examples of how humor is achieved through exaggeration.
Chapter 3
8. Describe the ironic mood in the description of the battle scenes and the
celebrations afterwards. Who are the "good" guys and who are the "bad" guys in the
war between the Bulgars and the Abares?
9. What are some of the outcomes of the "heroism" of the Bulgars and the Abares?
Chapter 5
10. What are the justifications for natural disasters? Divine retribution?
11. How does Pangloss justify the earthquake?
Chapter 6
12. Who defines a heretic? Can you name any famous heretics?
13. How do you think society should deal with heretics in general?
14. What is Voltaire's quarrel with religion in this chapter?
Chapter 7
15. What religious belief is being satirized in the second paragraph of this chapter?
16. How is this chapter a parody of the romantic adventure story? Provide several
examples.
Chapter 8
17. What do you find strange in the way Cunegonde describes her treatment by the
Bulgars?
Chapter 11
18. Religious satire is expanded to includes Islam. Implication: no religion can restrain
man's wickedness. Do you agree or disagree: Can religion restrain man's wickedness?
Chapter 14
19. What is Cacambo's role? Compare him to Pangloss.
Chapter 15
20. Why is the young baron opposed to Candide's marrying his sister?
Chapter 17
21. This chapter is the turning point in Candide's rejection of optimism. Europe is not
the best of all possible worlds. After this visit, Candide will frequently compare the
rest of the world with Eldorado.
22. How are the people that Candide meets in Eldorado different from those in the
rest of the world?
23. What do you know about the actual myth of Eldorado? What is it supposed to
represent?
Chapter 18
24. What can you say about their religion?
25. What is their attitude toward prayer? Why do they not find it necessary? Why do
you think contemporary religious find prayer necessary?
Chapter 20
26. What are Martin's religious beliefs? How do they compare to the established
religion of the time?
27. What is Manichaeism?
28. Martin believes that God has abandoned the world to some evil spirit. How does
he come to this conclusion? Do you think he has a point?
29. How is Martin's philosophy different from Pangloss's? With whom do you think
Voltaire would agree?
Chapter 27
30. What is the first thing that Candide wants to know from Cacambo about his
Cunegonde? What does he learn about her? What is his attitude about it?
31. How does Candide react when he first sees Cunegonde? Do you think this is an
expected reaction? What's Cunegonde's reaction?
Chapter 30
32. Has Pangloss changed any? What is his attitude toward his philosophy now?
33. What does "cultivating his garden" imply when searching for happiness?
34. What is the source of happiness, according to the old man?
35. What must man do, according to the old man, to keep from evil, boredom, vice,
and poverty?
36. This chapter intends to provides an answer to the eternal question: How should
one lead one's life? What is the answer, do you think?