Before beginning Candide, consider previewing some of the relevant context to the novel. Students may need some background in pre-Revolutionary France and in the intellectual and philosophical ideas of the Enlightenment. Additionally, since the novel relies heavily on satire, students will need to be familiar with the purpose of satire and its literary characteristics. Use storyboards to introduce or reinforce many of these concepts. To keep your lessons fresh and inform your teaching, check out the suggested links below.
Chapter by chapter treatment of Voltaire’s literary processes (in French)