Cyrano de Bergerac

1. Cyrano de Bergerac By Edmond Rostand

2. Introduction to Cyrano: • Historical Background • France and the Real Cyrano • Edmond Rostand • Realism and Romanticism • Vocabulary • General • Period • Drama • The Play • Romantic Comedy • Symbols • Themes • Key Concepts • Setting • Characters

3. History of 17th Century Paris • 1610 – Louis XIII becomes King of France. • 1618 – The Thirty Years War begins – Austria and Spain go to war with a group of German Princes. • 1624 – Cardinal Richelieu becomes first minister of France. • 1634 – Spanish troops invade central and northern Europe. • 1635 – France declares war on Austria and Spain.

4. History of 17th Century Paris • 1639 - The real Cyrano is wounded in battle. • 1641 – Cyrano leaves the army and takes up literature. • 1643 – Louis XIII dies, Louis the XIV becomes king and rules from 1643-1714. • 1645 – Cyrano dies from head injuries from a log dropped on his head. • 1645-1789—Over 11 different wars 

5. French Revolution- 1789-1799 France shifts from a Monarchy to a Republican Government Napoleon declares himself Emperor in 1804 and rules until 1815. From 1801-1871, there were 21 wars or battles  After all the war and death, do you think people are ready for literature that is less realistic and more romantic or idyllic? France during the 1700s and 1800s

6. Edmond Rostand • born in Marseilles, France in 1868 • as a college student in Paris, he fell in love with French literature and theater. • first play, Le Gant Rouge, was produced when he was only 20 years old • Each new play proved more successful than the previous one, and Rostand’s name lured prominent actors and actresses to star in his productions.

7. Drama in the 1800s… • Late 19th century theater dominated by grim, realistic stories and unsentimental characters • In theater, a movement towards greater fidelity to real life • Rostand felt that the French people had forgotten the values and ideals that made them a proud and virtuous people, the qualities and character that made them honorable and specifically French.

8. Industrialization taking place across Europe, and with it came a more scientific way of looking at things Realism places an emphasis on the objective documentation of everyday life, usually working-class life, and rejects idealization or glamour. French Realism develops into Naturalism- shares the same goals as Realism, but also stresses the governing of human life by natural laws. Naturalists argued that the theater should explain the scientific laws of human behavior. Realism

9. Romanticism places an emphasis on idealism and heroism. A reaction against the scientific rationalization of nature Stressed strong emotions & the aesthetic experience Romanticism

10. Cyrano de Bergeracas Romanticism • Romantic period in Europe vaguely began in the late 18th century and ended in middle of the 19th century. • Imagination, emotion, and freedom are certainly the focal points of romanticism. • Characteristics of Romantic literature: • an emphasis on individualism; • spontaneity; • freedom from rules; • solitary life rather than life in society; • the beliefs that imagination is superior to reason and devotion to beauty; • love of and worship of nature; • and fascination with the past, especially the myths and mysticism of the middle ages.

11. The Romantic Hero Characteristics of the romantic hero: • Usually protagonist • focus on character's thoughts rather than actions. • placed outside the structure of civilization; represents the force of physical nature, yet with a sense of power and often leadership, that society has impoverished itself by rejecting. • introspection, the triumph of the individual over the restraints of theological and social conventions, wanderlust, melancholy, misanthropy, alienation, and isolation. 5. However, another common trait of the Romantic hero is regret for his actions, and self-criticism, often leading to philanthropy, which stops the character from ending tragically.

12. Cyrano de Bergeracas Romanticism • Romantic treatments are sometimes sentimental, idealistic rather than realistic • A reaction to the restrained neoclassical attitude of reason, order and balance • The Romantics freed the French drama from the two unities of time and place. • Written in 1897, many believed Cyrano to be the revival of Romanticism • Cyrano is celebrated for its idealism

13. VOCABULARY • affable : adj. warm and friendly • bellicose : adj. hostile; aggressive • Cynosure : n. something that attracts admiration • droll : adj. humorous; clownish • dubious : adj. doubtful • enmity : n. hatred • lambast : v. to criticize harshly • obsequious : adj. fawning; servile

14. Period Vocab A Marquis: • A nobleman ranking below a duke and above an earl or a count. • Used as a title for such a nobleman. Cavalier: • A military man serving on horse. • One of the court party in the time of King Charles I, as contrasted with a Roundhead or an adherent of Parliament. • A well mannered man; a gentleman.

15. Period Vocab Lackey: • a uniformed manservant A Cutpurse: • a thief A Page • Below a Knight; serves him. A Duenna: • A chaperone (or occasionally chaperon) • an adult who accompanies or supervises one or more young, unmarried men or women during social occasions, usually with the specific intent of preventing inappropriate interactions or illegal behavior

16. Period Vocab Porter: • a person employed to carry luggage and supplies • doorkeeper: someone who guards an entrance

17. Drama Vocab • Comic Relief – a witty exchange, skit, or soliloquy that the author inserts to ease tensions within a serious work. • Melodrama – a romantic or sensational plot carried to the extremes of emotion in weeping, or dismay. The final act of Cyrano has been labeled melodrama

18. Symbols (We will discuss these more) • Cyrano’s nose • The love letters • The plume • War/fighting

19. Cyrano’s Themes • Values and Virtue • Inner and Outer Beauty • The Danger in Deception • Appearance versus Reality • Honor Loyalty Sacrifice

20. Key Concepts • Chivalry • Courtly Love

21. Settings • ACT 1: Hotel de Bourgongne, the lobby or auditorium, 1640 • ACT 2: Raguaneau’s pastry shop, the next morning • ACT 3: the garden of Roxane’s house, the Marais quarter of Paris, a few weeks later • ACT 4: the siege of Arras, a month later • ACT 5: Convent of Ladies of the Cross, 15 years later

22. Three Main Characters: • Cyrano de Bergerac: He is a long-nosed, fencing, poetry writing, fighting, loving, man convinced that no one will ever love him because of his ugly features • Christian: dumb as a rock, Gascon (soldier) of Cyrano’s, handsome, loves Roxane and wishes to win her, but fears he can’t because of his lack of expression. • Roxane: “Madeline Robin” She is the most beautiful woman around. She is also the smart and cousin to Cyrano. She is loved by Cyrano, Christian, and many others.

23. Friends of Cyrano • Ligniere: mischievous poet, angers DeGuiche with poem ridiculing him • Raguenueu: poet and pastry cook, later works for Roxane • Lise: wife of Raguenuau, leaves him after Act II • Le Bret: officer in Cyrano’s regiment, Cyrano’s confidant, first learns of Cyrano’s love for Roxane • Carbon de Castel Jaloux: captain of Cyrano’s regiment

24. Opponents of Cyrano: • Count de Guiche: ambitious nobleman and military commander, in love with Roxane, hates Cyrano, experiences a change during the play, known as the Duke in Act 5 • Viscount de Valvert: follower of DeGuiche, wooer of Roxane, gets insulted by Cyrano • Montfleury: fat, untalented actor, insulted by Cyrano

25. Assignment 1: Pre-Reading Reflection • Would you rather have inner beauty or outer beauty? You may only choose one and if you choose inner beauty, then you are pretty ugly and if you choose outer beauty, you are gorgeous, but a pretty, mean and nasty person. Discuss the reasons for your choice. • Do you have 1 physical quality or trait that you are self-conscious about? What is it and why are you self-conscious about it? How does this affect you and have you ever felt alienated because of this difference? • What does our society value more highly-inner beauty or outer beauty? • How does a boy win the heart of a girl? List all of the ways a guy can impress a girl and win her over, include what his personality has to have. • What are the elements of your ideal mate?

26. Assignment 2: ACT 1 Questions • What does Captain Le Bret say happens to anyone who makes fun of Cyrano’s nose? What do you learn about Cyrano from this information? • How does Valvert insult Cyrano just before their duel begins? How does Cyrano gain revenge for this insult? • What is Le Bret’s advice to Cyrano regarding his love for his cousin? What is Cyrano’s reaction to the advice? Why do you suppose he reacts the way he does? • How does Rostand prepare the audience for Cyrano’s first entrance on stage? Do you feel this is an effective technique? Why or why not? • In response to the question about where his life will lead, Cyrano tells Le Bret, “I’ve decided to excel in everything.” Do you think such an attitude is realistic in everyday life? Why or why not?

27. Assignment 3: Act I Indirect Characterization

28. Assignment 4: Compare/Contrast Cyrano and Christian Cyrano and Christian are two of the main characters in Cyrano de Bergerac. Write a paragraph comparing and contrasting them, citing lines from Act I to support your analysis. What can you infer from each character’s words and actions in this scene? In what ways are Cyrano and Christian different? How are they similar?

29. Assignment 5: ACT II Questions • At what exact moment in the pastry shop does Cyrano learn that Roxane is talking about someone else? What does this say about Cyrano? • In your opinion, why does Christian insult Cyrano’s nose? What is Cyrano’s reaction when he finds out that Christian is the one making the rude comments about his nose? What does Cyrano’s reaction tell you about him? • What arrangement does Cyrano make with Christian regarding Roxane? Why do you suppose Cyrano suggests this arrangement? • Cyrano agrees to help another man who is in love with the same woman as himself. Are Cyrano’s actions believable? Does he behave as you feel most people would in a similar situation? Explain. • Do you think Cyrano is boastful? Why or why not? Give evidence from the text to support your answer.

30. Assignment 6: Images from Nature Cyrano’s speech to Le Bret (p.91), in which he explains why he does not want a protector, contains numerous natural images that enrich his speech and clarify his explanation. Write a short essay in which you evaluate Rostand’s use of imagery in this speech. Analyze how images such as the ivy, the spine of an eel, and the oak tree add richness to the speech and magnify his reasons for wanting to remain free.

31. Assignment 7: ACT III Questions • Why is Roxane so concerned when she learns that de Guiche is about to order the soldiers to depart for war? What trick does she play as a result of her concern? • Having read the conversation between Roxane and de Guiche, how would you describe Roxane’s attitude toward him? How does Rostand communicate Roxane’s true feelings to the audience without making them clear to de Guiche? • How would you describe Cyrano’s emotions as he speaks for Christian to Roxane? Why might he have mixed feelings about what he is doing? • How does Cyrano keep de Guiche from interrupting the wedding? What do you learn about Cyrano from the method he chooses?

32. Assignment 8: Act IV Questions • What is the military significance of de Guiche’s white scarf? What happens to it? What does Cyrano think about the white scarf, and what does he do for it? • What realization does Roxane finally come to about Christian? How does this realization affect Christian? • What does Christian urge Cyrano to do? In your opinion, what are his reasons? • What do you think would be Roxane’s reaction if she were to learn the truth about Christian and Cyrano and her relationship with them? • Describe Roxane’s character so far. Do you feel that she is worthy of Cyrano’s love? of Christian’s? Why or why not?

33. Assignment 9: Act V Questions • What do you learn about Cyrano from the conversation of the nuns, de Guiche, and Le Bret before he comes on stage? Why is this information necessary? • What information does de Guiche give to Le Bret about Cyrano? Why do you suppose Cyrano’s old enemy has told Le Bret about the danger? • How does Roxane finally learn that it was Cyrano who wrote the letters and has loved her all along? Do you think she is surprised? Explain your answer. • How does Rostand use natural imagery to create the mood in the last scene? Evaluate the success of this technique. • What are Cyrano’s accomplishments? For what will he be most known? In your opinion, what kinds of accomplishments in life are the most meaningful?

34. Project: Faux File Visit http://faux-fil.es/and create a sign in (use real name). Create a “faux file” for one of the characters in the play. When you are finished, email it to me. To receive full credit, you should use the play to really analyze your character and be as accurate, yet creative as possible for this project. Example of things to include: favorite quotes, work place, family relationships, personality traits, etc.

35. Remakes of Cyrano • Sesame Street: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u_GoRsuEQ8 • Wishbone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioWi5j1RxIs • Live performance on Stage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzPgLYFnwD4 • Cyrano (1950) film: h https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I8SLTJLCJw (complete As. 11 for this film)

36. Assignment 11: Film Viewing Guide

37. Need a study guide? Not sure what just happened in a scene/act? Visit: http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides7/Cyrano.html