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Link to the Reading Assignments

DON QUIXOTE by Miguel de Cervantes

A picaresque novel—(a story about a rogue or rascal who lives by his wits in a corrupt society.)

In the head note to Don Quixote, our text’s anthologists state that Don Quixote represents “one of the important aspects of Renaissance literature: the attempt, ultimately frustrated but extremely attractive as long as it lasts, of the individual mind to produce a vision and a system of its own in a world that often seems to have lost a universal frame of reference and a fully satisfactory sense of the value and meaning of action” (2220).

Romances

· Heroic stories—fantastic stories about marvelous adventures of a chivalrous knight, goes on quests, supernatural qualities. Written in Romance languages (most particularly French).

Knight-errant

· Lawful, righteous vigilante

· knight in shining armor

· wanders the land in search of adventures to prove himself

Chivalry

· Courage

· Justice

· Mercy

· Generosity

· Faith

· Nobility

· Hope

· Strength

· Humility

· Chastity

· Courtesy

· Honor

· Courtly Love

What does the beginning of the novel remind you of?

Real name Alonso Quejana

Cool romantic names

A Knight Errant needs:

A cool name

Don Quixote de la Mancha

A cool name for your horse

Rocinante

A cool name for your lady

Dulcinea del Toboso

A pure heart

A squire

A damsel to honor

Insurmountable odds and opponents to demonstrate valor