Les Miserables Background Notes



Les Misérables Background Notes (Part I)

Definition of “misérables” – (1)

(2)

What’s in a Name?

Even the title of this book has symbolic significance. In Victor Hugo’s mind, the double meaning of “misérables” reflected social reality in ________ century France. There was often a thin line between desperate _________ and the life of a ___________.

Introduction to Les Miserables

This classic _________ epic was written and published by Victor Hugo in 1862. The novel paints a vivid picture of Paris after the __________________ and the controversial rule of Napoleon Bonaparte. Hugo presents the city as a _____________ of the world. He explores the challenges faced at every level of society during this time, especially the ______________ endured by the poor

Author’s Purpose

In explaining his epic novel, Les Miserables, Victor Hugo famously said,

“I condemn ________, I banish ________, I teach ________, I treat ________, I lighten the night, and I hate hatred That is what I am, and that is why I have written Les Miserables.

Facts on Victor Hugo

• Born Feb. 26 ________ (during Napoleon Bonaparte’s empire)

• Major leader in the French __________ movement of the 19th century

• Most famous for Les Miserables and his earlier Hunchback of Notre Dame

• He believed that art should show the ___________ as well as the _____________

• Hugo was a passionate political advocate during his day

French Politics in Les Miserables

Les Misérables is set in the time period between ________________, and explains the era in which France’s political structures shifted multiple times. Throughout the struggle between those in power, Hugo makes the point that the plight of the poor improved very little.

Historical Background - I need to know about: ________________ _______________

_______________ _______________

French Revolution

• The French Revolution (______________) was a period of political and social upheaval and radical change in the history of France, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute ___________ with privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change based on Enlightenment principles of citizenship and _______________ ________.

• These changes were accompanied by violent turmoil which included the ________________ of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, vast bloodshed and repression during the Reign of Terror, and the Napoleonic wars.

Reign of Terror

• A period of ____________ that occurred fifty months after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by conflict between rival political factions within the new French Republic.

• It was marked by mass executions of "enemies of the revolution." Estimates vary widely as to how many were killed, with numbers ranging from _______________. Most “enemies” were royalty, aristocrats, or loyal bourgeois.

• The ______________ ("National Razor") became the symbol of a string of executions.

Napoleonic Era

Several short-lived governments followed the revolution (including the Directory) which were intended as representative governments. Napoleon Bonaparte overthrows appointed leaders through a _____________ in _________. (Hugo born 1802).

Napoleonic Wars

• Most historians agree that the Napoleonic wars were a ____________ of the wars sparked by the French Revolution. They refer to the conflict between Napoleon’s French empire and various European alliances.

• French power rose quickly, conquering most of Europe, but ___________ rapidly after France's disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812.

• Napoleon's empire ultimately suffered complete military defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in _________. (This is when Les Miserables begins!)

Second Restoration / Bourbon Dynasty

• From _____________, the rule of France returned to the heir monarch – Louis XVII and then Charles X. During this time the French used a constitutional ____________ where the king governed alongside an elected _____________.

Revolution Continues

• By 1830, another Revolution occurred, pushing Charles X from the throne and replacing him with _______________ “the citizen king.”

• When Louis Phillipe dissatisfied the poor and working class staged a ___________ uprising in 1832 (referred to as the Barricades in the novel).

• Revolts and new republic continue to disrupt politics in France for several more decades. The country struggles to establish a government that truly ensures everyone’s right to “_________ and _________.” Hugo’s writing focuses on the workers and individuals who made great sacrifices to reform the country and build a democracy.

Les Misérables Background Notes (Part II)

Les Misérables: The Story

Hugo divided his story into ______ parts. He named each part after a major character.

The storyline of each major character develops separately but eventually ________ with the other characters.

Together, these characters represent the society of Paris in the early 1800s. Each character takes on a different _________ _________ or represents a social issue from this time period.

The Hero: ___________ ___________

Protagonist, __________ _________, begins the story as an impoverished ex-convict, newly released after serving ____________ years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. Through the course of the story, he defies the odds and rebuilds his life to become a respected man.

Social Issue: Poverty and the Poor

In the beginning of the novel, Jean Valjean represents the fate of many poor men in 19th century France. Despite endless revolts by the working class in that century, there was still a sharp divide between the rich and poor.

Social Issue: Criminals and Prisons

Jean Valjean’s character also offers a commentary on the _______ _______in 19th century France. Hugo saw that the French criminal justice system was corrupt and the prisons filled with poor men. At that time, over 80% of the prisoners in French prisons were male and the majority were in prison for the crime of _____________.

Until 1748, imprisonment meant being sentenced to be a galley slave in a ship where inmates were chained to benches to row. Based on Hugo’s own research, prisoners were frequently abused by guards, held in overcrowded cells, required to wear color-coded uniforms to indicate their crime, and were branded or tatooed with an identification number.

The Villain: ___________ ____________

Inspector __________ represents the _________ justice system of France during this time period. In the story, he works as a prison guard and later as a police chief. Javert serves as opposition to Jean Valjean’s character at every turn. Yet, he is a complex man who cannot be viewed as just another “bad guy.”

Social Issue: Abuse of Power

Class warfare between the rich and the poor was rampant in 19th century France, and government leaders often took advantage of this situation. Many police chiefs gained their position through ___________ while the public turned a blind-eye to their abuses.

The Damsel: ___________

________ represents the plight of women, especially poor women, in 19th century France. Because of limited opportunities for work, women without husbands or well-off families often ended up on the streets. After being jilted by her fiance, Fantine struggles to survive. She works in factories and later on the __________ __________.

Social Issue: Prostitution

In the 19th century, two different categories of prostitutes could be identified. The first category, ___________, were those lower-class women forced into prostitution due to poverty. This form of prostitution was illegal. The second category, ___________, were prostitutes for upper-class men in society. Becoming a courtesan was actually an accepted profession for some upper-class women who chose to remain unmarried.

The Children: ___________ and ____________

Cosette and Gavroche are both young children affected by the poverty of this society. Cosette is ____________ illegitimate daughter and Gavroche is an _______ who roams the streets of Paris.

Social Issue: Children in Poverty

Children were in a particularly bad situation in 19th century cities. They were often abandoned or became wards of the state due to poverty. They were sometimes sold into child labor or prostitution to make money for the family. Often they ended up on the streets.

The upper class believed that children of the poor inherited their parents’___________ ___________, so they didn’t want to take them in when they were abandoned.

The Lover: _________ ____________

Readers don’t meet _______ Pontmercy until the second half of the novel. This character offers an important glimpse into the lives of the ___________. By the 1830s, France has returned to rule under a monarchy. However, many young students and thinkers refused to give up on the fight for individual rights and democracy. Marius is one of the revolutionaries involved in the _______________ of 1832.

Social Issue: Class Warfare

Marius Pontmercy represents a member of the ________-______ who turns against his wealthy family to fight for social change. Marius’ grandfather was a _______ who supported the Monarchy of Louis XVI. He avoided being killed during the Reign of Terror, only to see his son fight in Napoleon’s army and his grandson (Marius) lead a student rebellion.

Political differences and class warfare turned many family members against each other during this time period. Victor Hugo probably modeled the character of Marius after ___________.

Les Misérables: Literary Elements

Les Misérables and Romanticism

Romanticism was an __________ and intellectual movement of the late 18th and early 19th century that put the individual at the center of the world and of art. Romanticism valued ________ and ___________ response to reality. It evolved partly as a reaction to the Enlightenment’s emphasis on ____________ and ____________.

Les Miserables is a Romantic work in both theme and form.

• In theme, the novel glorifies freedom of thought and spirit and makes a hero of the average individual.

• In form, the novel offers a __________, passionate writing style rather than classical restraint. Attention to detail and “__________” language are traits of Romantic literature.

Les Miserables: The Setting

The story begins in several rural villages, but eventually, most of the actions and the characters revolve around the center of ___________ itself.

Hugo explores the life of aristocrats, revolutionaries, and criminals in Paris. He explores the ____________ hierarchy of the city by dissecting the ___________ space of the city. We find the aristocrats high above in palaces and mansions while the sewers and catacombs of Paris become the stage for escaped convicts and revolutionaries.

The __________ itself is a ____________ of society!!

Les Miserables: Symbols and Archetypes

Beyond the city itself, many other objects will act as important symbols in the story. We will discuss the symbolism in detail as we begin reading.

Additionally, the character and situational archetypes we have discussed this year will also present themselves through the story. Watch for the hero’s journey cycle!

Les Miserables: Major Themes

Finally, and most importantly, be prepared to discuss these themes in relation to the story:

• Class Conflict and Revolution

• Justice and Injustice

• Human Rights

• Society’s Laws and God’s Laws

• Personal Change and Transformation

• The Power of _________

Happy Reading!!

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