Edited by Eric Corre, Danh Thành Do-Hurinville and Huy Linh Dao
[Lingvisticæ Investigationes Supplementa 35] 2020
► pp. 75–94
In Camus’s novel L’Étranger, the almost systematic use of the passé composé (PC) may cause, in temporal subordinate clauses, an aspectuo-temporal conflict. This conflict occurs when the PC in the subordinate clause is forced, for narrative reasons, to refer to the past resultative phase of a situation. This article presents a detailed analysis of the various dimensions of this problem. It shows that its perception as a problem of wording may sometimes result in an inappropriate choice of tense. A hypothesis is formulated whereby this aspectual conflict is resolved by an extension of the lexical meaning of the verb in the subordinate clause, which entails the absorption of the resultative phase. The article concludes by assuming that some PC in Camus’ novel contribute to the experience of the absurd for the reader.
Article language: French