Author

1
(No Transcript)
2

• Author
• Edmond Rostand

• Born 1868 in France while France was under the
  rule of Napoleon III
• His father wanted him to be a lawyer, but Edmond
  preferred French literature instead
• He eventually did earn a law degree
• Produced his first play, Le Gant Rouge (The Red
  Glove) at the age of 20
• Enjoyed early success with the play Les
  Romanesques
• This play became the inspiration for the more
  modern play The Fantasticks

3

• He volunteered to fight with the French army, but
  was refused.
• He was very upset about this and consoled himself
  by writing patriotic poetry.
• During the time that Rostand wrote Cyrano de
  Bergerac, France was experimenting with
  scientific research
• The countrys morale was very low. The occult
  flourished, while naturalism declined, and people
  were just plain sad.
• Realism was the popular style of the time
• Cyrano emerged as a hopeful character and the
  people of France were pleased with Rostand for
  giving them such a different character than the
  ones that they were used to with the problem plays

• Author Background Cont.
• Edmond Rostand

4

• Author
• Edmond Rostand

• Great success came with the wildly
  popular Cyrano de Bergerac
• Cyranos character was used as the inspiration
  for the film version Cyrano de Bergerac starring
  Gerard Depardieu
• It also served as the inspiration for Steve
  Martins popular film, Roxanne
• Legend has it that the first audience to watch
  the play applauded a full hour after its
  conclusion

5
Background Information
6

• Theater during Rostands day was mostly grim and
  realistic
• Cyrano was groundbreaking because its hero was
  anything but realistic and was swashbuckling at
  its finest
• Its Romantic nature was a breath of fresh air

• Background

7

• The play harkened back to an era in theatre when
  men were musketeers, women were there to be
  rescued, and wit was just as important to a hero
  as how he handled his sword
• Cyranos unique blend of honesty, courage, wit
  and passion brought back to the stage the type of
  protagonist that had been missing

• Background

8
Literary Focus
9

• Literary Focus
• Date of Publication
• Genre
• Setting (time)
• Setting (place)
• Foils
• Dramatic Irony

• 1897
• Play heroic comedy and romance
• 1640
• Paris
• Christian and Cyrano are opposites from one
  another. Both characters possess what the other
  lacks.
• The audience begins to understand that Roxane has
  fallen in love with Cyrano and his words.
  Although the audience recognizes this, Cyrano
  cannot see the truth past his nose.

10

• Literary Focus
• Symbols

• Cyrano is symbolic
• of the strength and importance of inner
  beauty
• Christian is symbolic
• of outer (physical) beauty
• The letters Cyrano writes are symbolic of
  Christians failure to express himself adequately
  and Cyranos failure to express himself in action

11

• Cyranos nose is the most prominent symbol in the
  play.
• It is representative of societys inability to
  look past outer beauty to see beauty within
• It is representative of a barrier to his love
  Roxane he doesnt have the confidence to pursue
  her and he is reminded of his physical
  shortcoming every time he opens his eyes

• Literary Focus
• Symbols

12

• Literary Focus
• Themes and Conflicts

• Inner vs. Outer Beauty
• Moral code and principles
• Honor and Integrity
• Pursuit of Love
• Bravery and Virtue
• Loyalty and Sacrifice
• Friendship
• Search for Self-Confidence and Self-Acceptance

13
Overview a love triangle
14

• The play centers around a swordsman named Cyrano
  de Bergerac who is as deadly with his tongue as
  he is with his sword
• Despite his great skill with words and metal, he
  is handicapped with a grotesquely large and ugly
  nose

• Overview

15

• His nose is the main reason for Cyranos only
  real weakness the lack of confidence he feels
  when it comes to matters of the heart
• Cyrano is deeply in love with a woman named
  Roxane, but because he is so ugly he thinks he is
  beneath her
• Roxane, in turn, tells Cyrano she is in love with
  one of Cyranos cadets, Baron Christian de
  Neuvillette

• Overview

16

• Overview

• Cyrano tells Christian of Roxanes love, but
  Christian then become distraught because he feels
  he lacks the poetry and eloquence to woo a woman
  of Roxanes caliber
• Cyranos bright idea is what spurs on the rest of
  the action Cyrano will write letters to Roxane
  pretending to be Christian.

17
Main Characters to Know
18

• Cyrano de Bergerac

• The protagonist
• Talented with words and his sword
• Member of the Cadets of Gascyne (royal guards)
• Confident in almost all things except for love
  because of his ugly, long nose

19

• Roxane

• Beautiful and Intellectual
• Appreciate Cyranos vast wit and loves poetry
• Initially falls in love with Christian because of
  his good looks

20

• Christian

• Falls in love with Roxane
• While he possesses the beauty Cyrano lacks, he
  does not have any of Cyranos inherent wit and
  charm
• He is an honorable person and wants Roxane to be
  happy

21

• Comte de Guiche

• The plays antagonist
• In love with Roxane and strongly dislikes Cyrano
• Tries to have Cyrano killed on several occasions
  throughout the play