1. What is satire? How did Voltaire use satire in Candide to attack European society of the 1700s?

2. How does Dr. Pangloss' philosophy represent pre-Enlightened thought? What does he mean by "the best of all possible worlds"?

3. How does Voltaire ridicule notions of class inequality? Why did the Baron's family treat Candide as an inferior?

4. What sort of religious figures does Candide encounter? Do any of them seem like a model of Christian virtue? Are any of them tolerant of other Christians? Or those of other faiths? What is Voltaire critical of here?

5. What is war like in the 1750s? Was Voltaire supportive of war?

6. Does Voltaire want the reader to adopt Martin's pessimistic philosophy? If not, what does Voltaire want the reader to think of Martin's view of life?

7. How is El Dorado the utopia that Voltaire envisions for an enlightened civilization? What solutions for the problems of 1750s Europe does Voltaire offer? Would this really be a better way?

8. What does Candide's statement towards the end of the book, "...but we must cultivate our garden" mean? How does it relate to what enlightened thinkers must do? Spend a bit more time on this last question, as a means to introduce your thoughts about the big message that Voltaire is trying to portray in this novel.