About the Author: Edmond Rostand

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.

5. ACT I, Scene iii-V, pages 26-57 Le Bret-Rick De Guiche---Andrade Montfluery--Tahj A Light Horseman- Austin Cuigy--Stepheno A Woman-- Deashae A Marquis--Will A Woman’s Voice--Weslee The Marquis—Demaris A Musketeer--Austin Another Voice--Griffin The Doorkeeper--George A Burgher—Da’je Refreshment Girl--Deshawn A Lady--JordanRageneau—Demaris A Nobleman—Rick A Voice---Javier A Page—Demaris The Boxes---Rick Bellerose—Deshawn The Duenna---Jordan Jodelet—George An Actress---Tahj A Young Man--Jarae The Actress---Darcele The Old Burgher—Da’je Another Actress---Javier The Lady Intellectuals---All girls A Third Actress---Deshawn A Meddler—AndradeLingniere---Rick The Meddler--George Brissaille---Weslee Valvert—Weslee

6. ACT I, Scene iii-V, pages 26-57 Le Bret- RYAN De Guiche--- MOLLY Montfluery—JUSTIN A Light Horseman- GRAY Cuigy-- JACK A Woman– KYLE A Marquis-- KATIE A Woman’s Voice– ERIN The Marquis— MICHAEL A Musketeer— DENTON Another Voice-- GRAY The Doorkeeper— SPENCER A Burgher— VIRGINIA Refreshment Girl— RACHEL A Lady-- GRACE Rageneau— WILL A Nobleman— JACK A Voice--- OLIVER A Page— XIANG The Boxes--- EVERYONE Bellerose— AMY The Duenna--- A’NIYA Jodelet— DEONTAE An Actress--- VIRGINIA A Young Man-- MICHAEL The Actress--- ISAIAH The Old Burgher— QUENTIN Another Actress--- ERIN The Lady Intellectuals--GIRLS A Third Actress--- JADE A Meddler— DENTONLingniere--- FREDRICK The Meddler-- ISAIAH Brissaille--- OLIVER Valvert— COLE

7. 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

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

9. 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.

10. ACT I STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION IMPORTANT LINES Cyrano: “It would be grotesque if a tear ran down this nose! As long as it’s in my power to prevent it, I’ll never let the divine beauty of tears be sullied by such gross ugliness” (Rostand 51). Cyrano: “When it bleeds, it must be like the Red Sea!” (Rostand 39) Valvert: “Your nose is …um… very big” (Rostand 38).

11. ACT II, Scene v, pages 72-80 The Duenna—George Roxane—Da’je

12. ACT II, Scene v, pages 72-80 The Duenna—A’Niyah Roxane—Amy

13. ACT II, Scene ix, pages 93-104 A Cadet—Da’je The Cadet—Austin Christian—George Rageneau—Deshawn Another Cadet—Will First Cadet—Rick Second Cadet—Stepheno Third Cadet—Daeshae Fourth Cadet--Griffin Fifth Cadet--Javier Sixth Cadet--Jordan Seventh Cadet--Jarae Carbon--Tahj The Musketeer--Weslee First Page--Demaris Second Page--Omarea

14. ACT II, Scene ix, pages 93-104 A Cadet—Gray The Cadet—Cole Christian—Isaiah Rageneau—Spencer Another Cadet—Oliver First Cadet—Kyle Second Cadet—Will Third Cadet—A’Niyah Fourth Cadet---Justin Fifth Cadet--Lauren Sixth Cadet--Jade Seventh Cadet--Jack Carbon--Denton The Musketeer--Gracie First Page--Fredrick Second Page--Deontae

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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.

18. ACT II STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION IMPORTANT LINES Find your own line that you think was important, quote it, and document it.

19. ACT II STUDY GUIDE INFORMATION SUMMARY Summarize the scenes you saw in your own words with bullet points (at least three).

20. ACT III, Scene iv, pages 118-149 Christian--George Roxane— Da’je The Duenna— Jordan First Page– Deshawn Second Page-- Will The Capuchin-- Jarae De Guiche--Tahj

21. ACT III, Scene iv, pages 118-149 Christian--Isaiah Roxane— Amy The Duenna— A’Niyah First Page-- Justin Second Page--Ryan The Capuchin--Cole De Guiche--Molly

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

23. 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

24. 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.

25. 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.”

26. 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.

27. ACT IV, Scene vii, pages 178-198 De Guiche—Weslee A Cadet— Austin The Cadet— Andrade Second Cadet— Stepheno Carbon— Rick First Cadet— Will Roxane— Da’je Christian— George Third Cadet— Jordan The Pikemen (2 needed)— Demaris, Griffen Le Bret— Tahj A voice— Daeshae Ragueneau--- Weslee A Spanish Officer--- Genesis

28. ACT IV, Scene vii, pages 178-198 De Guiche— Justin A Cadet— Will The Cadet— Oliver Second Cadet— Quentin Carbon— Katie First Cadet— Fredrick Roxane— A’Niyah Christian— Denton Third Cadet— Virginia The Pikemen (2 needed)— Ryan, Cole Le Bret— Gracie A voice— Gray Ragueneau--- Molly A Spanish Officer--- Jade

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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.

32. 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.”

33. 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.

34. ACT V, Scene v, pages 210-223 Roxane— Da’je Le Bret— George Ragueneau-- Rick Sister Marthe-- Demaris

35. ACT V, Scene v, pages 210-223 Roxane— Amy Le Bret— Denton Ragueneau-- Isaiah Sister Marthe— Amy A Nun-- Erin

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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.

39. 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!”

40. 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.

41. Cyrano De Bergerac Quiz Do not write the question; only write the answer • What does Cyrano do while he is fighting Valvert in the first scene? • When Roxane is telling Cyrano whom she loves, how did Cyrano know it wasn’t him before she mentioned a name? • How many men did Cyrano defeat in a fight defending his friend Ligniere? • Explain one symbol from Act I.

42. Cyrano De Bergerac Quiz Do not write the question; only write the answer 5. What are some of the only things that Christian can say to Roxane when he first talks to her? 6. How does Cyrano help Christian in the balcony scene? 7. How does Cyrano distract De Guiche while Roxane and Christian are getting married? 8. How many letters does Cyrano write a day to Roxane while they are at war? 9. How does Christian know that Roxane really loves Cyrano and not him?

43. Cyrano De Bergerac Quiz Do not write the question; only write the answer 1. What does Cyrano tell Christian right before he dies? 2. How does Roxane finally figure out that Cyrano is the one who wrote the letters? 3. How is Cyrano killed? 4. What does Cyrano’s white plume symbolize? 5. Explain one archetype from Act Five. 6. Who is the visitor that Cyrano decided to keep waiting in the last scene? EC: What is the fairy tale story that Cyrano compares his situation to when Roxane kisses him?