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About the Author: Edmond Rostand

Discover the captivating story of Cyrano de Bergerac, a heroic poet and swordsman who bravely defends his friends and fights for love during a tumultuous period in 17th century France. Written in mesmerizing rhyming verse, this enduring classic explores themes of bravery, idealism, and unrequited love with a touch of humor and suspense.

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About the Author: Edmond Rostand

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  1. About the Author: Edmond Rostand • Born April 1, 1868 in Marseilles (Southern France) into a successful family • Married a poet, Rosemond Berard, when he was 22 (gave her a volume of poems for a wedding gift) • First play (The Romantics) was performed when he was 26; it won a prize from the French Academy • Admitted into the French Academy at 33 (youngest ever) • In 1914, volunteered to fight in WWI, but was refused • Wrote patriotic poetry • Died in Paris in 1918 (only 50 years old)

  2. About the Story: Cyrano de Bergerac • Written in 1897 • Takes place in France, mostly during 1640, in the 17th century before Louis XIV was on the throne • France was in a war with Spanish troops (In Act IV, there is a dramatic moment in French campaign to liberate parts of the Netherlands) • Written in rhyming verse • Very popular…over 500 performances of the play took place in France

  3. About the Real Cyrano • Poet and dramatist who lives from 1619 to 1655 • Questioned the politics and religion of the time, which made him unpopular with authorities • An independent thinker; opposed war and the death penalty • Fought in the battle at the Seige of Arras and was wounded • Pictures show him with a thin mustache and large nose • Wrote Voyage to the Moon (about rocket and space travel) • Was an exceptional swordsman and always defended his friends; one story says he fought and won against 100 men • Some stories say that he died after getting hit on the head with a falling log or rafter. He died one year later at the age of 35.

  4. ACT I, Scene iii, pages 26-47 Le Bret De Guiche Montfluery A Light Horseman Cuigy A Woman A Marquis A Woman’s Voice The Marquis A Musketeer Another Voice The Doorkeeper A Burgher The Refreshment Girl A Lady Rageneau A Nobleman A Page Bellerose Jodelet A Young Man The Old Burgher The Lady Intellectuals A Meddler The Meddler Valvert

  5. ACT I, Scene v, pages 47-57 Le Bret The doorkeeper The Duenna A Voice Cuigy Brissaille Lingiere An Actress The Actress Another Actress A Third Actress Jodelet

  6. ACT I STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION SETTING AND MOOD Setting: Paris, 1640, the evening at the Hotel de Burgogne Mood: happy, lighthearted, sad (Cyrano is lonely), serious suspenseful, adventurous

  7. ACT I STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION SYMBOLS -Cyrano’s Nose: weakness, individuality -Bag of Money—idealism -Macaroon—pride, won’t take charity

  8. ACT I STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION ARCHETYPES -Hero—Cyrano is the hero because he fights the devil figures -Outcast—Cyrano is the outcast because of his nose. -Devil Figures—De Guiche and Valvert are devil figures because they plan to trap Roxane into an affair.

  9. ACT I STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION IMPORTANT LINES Cyrano: “I may not cut a stylish figure, but I hold my soul erect.”

  10. ACT I STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION BRIEF PLOT SUMMARY • All primary characters introduced. • Find out Cyrano and Christian love Roxane • De Guiche has a plot to trap Roxane • Cyrano kicks the actor off the stage • Roxane sets up a meeting with Cyrano • Cyrano goes off to fight 100 men

  11. ACT II, Scene v-vi, pages The Duenna Roxane

  12. ACT II, Scene ix, pages 93-104 A Cadet The Cadet Christian Rageneau Another Cadet First Cadet Second Cadet Third Cadet Fourth Cadet Fifth Cadet Sixth Cadet Seventh Cadet Carbon The Musketeer First Page Second Page

  13. ACT III, Scene iv, pages 118-149 Christian Roxane The Capuchin De Guiche

  14. ACT II STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION SETTING AND MOOD Setting: Next Morning; Workroom of Pastry Shop; Street; Dining Area of Pastry Shop Mood: Sad, suspenseful, humorous

  15. ACT II STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION SYMBOLS -Blood: represents Cyrano’s broken heart. Roxane is the only one who can heal it. -Plume (feather in hat): represents Cyrano’s bravery

  16. ACT II STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION ARCHETYPES -Unhealable Wound: Cyrano’s love for Roxane; she loves Christian -Ritual: Exchange of love letters between Roxane and Christian (Cyrano) -Hunting Group of Companions: Le Bret and Christian are Cyrano’s Friends -Mentor: Cyrano is Christian’s mentor.

  17. ACT II STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION IMPORTANT LINES Cyrano: “No need to sign it since I’ll give it to her myself.” Roxane to Cyrano: “Oh, I love you.”

  18. ACT II STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION BRIEF PLOT SUMMARY • Roxane and Cyrano meet at Ragueneau’s. • Cyrano finds out she loves Christian and he agrees to protect him. • Christian and Cyrano meet; Christian insults Cyrano’s nose. • Cyrano offers to speak and write to Roxane for Christian to win Roxane’s love.

  19. ACT III STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION SETTING AND MOOD Setting: A few weeks later; evening outside of Roxane’s house Mood: Romantic

  20. ACT III STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION SYMBOLS -Jasmine, Lilies, Roses: represent love, beauty, and romance -Balcony: represent barrier between Cyrano and Roxane; they put Roxane on a pedestal -Darkness: represents secrecy

  21. ACT III STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION ARCHETYPES -Star-Crossed Lovers: Cyrano and Roxane because they are cousins; Christian and Roxane because they are different stations in life. -Damsel in Distress: De Guiche is after Roxane and she has to trick him to get away. -Heaven vs Hell: Roxane on the balcony represents a goddess; Cryano is below in his own hell since he cannot tell her the truth. -The Ritual: The wedding ceremony of Roxane and Christian is a ritual.

  22. ACT III STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION IMPORTANT LINES Roxane to Christian: “It would displease me if you became ugly.” Cyrano to Roxane: “I’m speaking to you for the first time.”

  23. ACT III STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION BRIEF PLOT SUMMARY • Christian tries to speak for himself and fails. • Cyrano speaks to Roxane under the balcony. • Christian and Roxane marry. • Cyrano distracts De Guiche during the wedding ceremony by pretending he fell from the moon. • De Guiche sends Cyrano and Christian to war. • Cyrano promises Roxane that Christian will write every day.

  24. ACT IV STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION SETTING AND MOOD Setting:1 month later, daybreak; the soldiers’ Camp in between battles; tents, weapons, and drums; silence except for shots Mood: Intense, Sad

  25. ACT IV STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION SYMBOLS -White Scarf: represents Cyrano’s honesty and integrity -Food: represents hope -Letter: represents death, Cyrano’s love, Roxane’s love for Christian

  26. ACT IV STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION ARCHETYPES -Evil Figure with a Good Heart: De Guiche decides to stay with the soldiers and fight with them after Roxane arrives. -Scapegoat: Christian dies on the battlefield with Roxane still thinking that he wrote her the letters. -Damsel in Distress: Roxane risks her life to visit Christian before the next battle. -Death and Rebirth: Christian dies in the evening.

  27. ACT IV STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION IMPORTANT LINES Cyrano: “I don’t believe in declining the honor of being a target.” Roxane to Christian: “I’d still love you if you suddenly became ugly…” Cyrano: “And now I too must die, since, without knowing it, she’s mourning for me in him.”

  28. ACT IV STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION BRIEF PLOT SUMMARY • The soldiers have no food. • De Guiche and Cyrano have an argument. • Cyrano writes the last letter to Roxane. • Roxane arrives at the camp. • Roxane says she loves Christian’s soul. • Christian wants Cryano to tell Roxane the truth. • Christian dies and De Guiche takes Roxane to get her away from danger. • The soldiers continue to fight.

  29. ACT IV, Scene vii, pages 182-198 Christian Roxane Cyrano Le Bret Carbon De Guiche A Voice Ragueneau The Cadet A Spanish Officer

  30. ACT V, Scene v, pages 210-223 Roxane Cyrano Le Bret Ragueneau Sister Marthe

  31. ACT V STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION SETTING AND MOOD Setting:1655 (15 years later), convent in Paris -Lone tree, autumn, dead leaves on ground, dusk Mood: sad, serious

  32. ACT V STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION SYMBOLS -Letter—represents physical love of Christian-deeper love of Cyrano -Tree—represents Cyrano’s independence- standing alone -WhitePlume—integrity, bravery

  33. ACT IV STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION ARCHETYPES -Death and Rebirth—Autumn and dead leaves represent the death of Cyrano. -Unhealable Wound—Roxane wears Christian/Cryano’s letter around her neck to remind her of her lost love. -Light vs Darkness—It is dusk, signifying the end of Cyrano’s life. -Battle between Good and Evil—Cyrano fights with death at the end.

  34. ACT V STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION IMPORTANT LINES Roxane: “I love you; you must live!” Cryano: “While I remained in the shadows below, others climbed up to receive the kiss of glory.” Cryano: “Yes, he’s coming, but I’ll meet him on my feet!”

  35. ACT V STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION BRIEF PLOT SUMMARY • The nuns discuss Roxane’s mourning and Cyrano’s poor state. • Roxane, Le Bret, and the Duke talk about Cyrano. • Ragueneau tells Le Bret of Cyrano’s accident. • Cyrano visits Roxane and reads the letter aloud. • Roxane finds out he loves her and then Cyrano dies.

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