Miguel de Cervantes - from Don Quixote (published 1605)
Don Quixote is generally considered the first modern novel. Its hero, Don Quixote, is a poor elderly gentleman who loses his mind from reading too many tales about the daring deeds of heroic knights. Don Quixote decides to win fame as a knight, assisted by a peasant "squire" named Sancho Panza. Cervantes devoted over 100 chapters to their comically ill-fated adventures.
The author, Miguel de Cervantes, led a life of adventure. As a young soldier fighting for Spain, he was wounded in battle, nearly losing his left hand. On his journey home, he was captured by pirates and was enslaved for five years. In 1580, when his family raised the money to pay his ransom, he returned to Spain, hoping to be honored for his sacrifices. Instead, he struggled to make a living from odd jobs and landed in debtor’s prison.
In 1605, after 25 years of failures, Cervantes found fame with Don Quixote. Written to parody both romances and romantic ideals, the book’s inspired use of irony and realistic details changed the way novels were written. Today, Cervantes’s work is one of the most widely published books in the world.
The author, Miguel de Cervantes, led a life of adventure. As a young soldier fighting for Spain, he was wounded in battle, nearly losing his left hand. On his journey home, he was captured by pirates and was enslaved for five years. In 1580, when his family raised the money to pay his ransom, he returned to Spain, hoping to be honored for his sacrifices. Instead, he struggled to make a living from odd jobs and landed in debtor’s prison.
In 1605, after 25 years of failures, Cervantes found fame with Don Quixote. Written to parody both romances and romantic ideals, the book’s inspired use of irony and realistic details changed the way novels were written. Today, Cervantes’s work is one of the most widely published books in the world.
"The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha
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Why Do We Admire Dreamers?
Think of people you know or have heard of who have pursued their dreams even when the dreams seemed foolish or impossible to achieve. Which of their qualities do you admire the most? In these two selections, you will meet a character whose devotion to an impossible dream has inspired countless readers.
With a small group, generate a list of people who have been considered dreamers—Mahatma Gandhi, for example. Then discuss these questions: What traits do these individuals share? How have their actions affected the way you look at the world?
With a small group, generate a list of people who have been considered dreamers—Mahatma Gandhi, for example. Then discuss these questions: What traits do these individuals share? How have their actions affected the way you look at the world?
Parody Across Genres
In the Novel
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In the Play
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Compare and Contrast
In this lesson, you are reading to compare and contrast two selections that parody the medieval romance. As you read, note the specific ideas each writer is mocking and the
techniques he uses to achieve his comic effects. Use these questions as a guide:
techniques he uses to achieve his comic effects. Use these questions as a guide:
- What motivates the main character?
- How do the main character’s traits compare with those of a romance hero?
- What absurd events occur in the story?
- What romance conventions are being mocked?
- Which descriptions, dialogue, or visual images were particularly funny?
Reading Assignment: Don Quixote
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