Cyrano de Bergerac

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Cyrano de Bergerac

• By Edmond Rostand

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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

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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.

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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.
• 1645-1789Over 11 different wars ?

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France during the 1700s and 1800s

• 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?

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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 Rostands name lured prominent
  actors and actresses to star in his productions.

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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.

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Realism

• 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.

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Romanticism

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

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Cyrano de Bergerac as 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.

• 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.

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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.

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Cyrano de Bergerac as 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

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VOCABULARY

1. affable adj. warm and friendly
2. bellicose adj. hostile aggressive
3. Cynosure n. something that attracts admiration
4. droll adj. humorous clownish
5. dubious adj. doubtful
6. enmity n. hatred
7. lambast v. to criticize harshly
8. obsequious adj. fawning servile

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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.

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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

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Period Vocab

• Porter
• a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
• doorkeeper someone who guards an entrance

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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

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• Symbols (We will discuss these more)
• Cyranos nose
• The love letters
• The plume
• War/fighting

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Cyranos Themes

• Values and Virtue
• Inner and Outer Beauty
• The Danger in Deception
• Appearance versus Reality
• Honor Loyalty Sacrifice

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Key Concepts

• Chivalry
• Courtly Love

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Settings

• ACT 1 Hotel de Bourgongne, the lobby or
  auditorium, 1640
• ACT 2 Raguaneaus pastry shop, the next morning
• ACT 3 the garden of Roxanes 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

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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
  Cyranos, handsome, loves Roxane and wishes to
  win her, but fears he cant 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.

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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 Cyranos regiment, Cyranos
  confidant, first learns of Cyranos love for
  Roxane
• Carbon de Castel Jaloux captain of Cyranos
  regiment

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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

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Assignment 1 Pre-Reading Reflection

1. 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.
2. 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?
3. What does our society value more highly-inner
   beauty or outer beauty?
4. 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.
5. What are the elements of your ideal mate?

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Assignment 2 ACT 1 Questions

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

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Assignment 3 Act I Indirect Characterization
Event What it tells us about Cyrano
He stands on his chair and forces Montfleury from the stage. He is brave, aggressive, and follows through on his threat to remove the actor.
He challenges members of the audience to fight him
He criticizes Montfleurys acting style
He throws the bag of money on the stage
He bullies the citizen who stares at his nose
He teaches the viscount how to properly insult his nose
He composes a ballad while defeating the viscount
He takes very little food from the foodseller
He becomes moody and subdued when the crowd has left
He refuses to take Le Brets advice about Roxane
He instantly decides to defend Ligniare from the 100 attackers
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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 characters words and
  actions in this scene? In what ways are Cyrano
  and Christian different? How are they similar?

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Assignment 5 ACT II Questions

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

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Assignment 6 Images from Nature

• Cyranos 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 Rostands 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.

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Assignment 7 ACT III Questions

1. 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?
2. Having read the conversation between Roxane and
   de Guiche, how would you describe Roxanes
   attitude toward him? How does Rostand communicate
   Roxanes true feelings to the audience without
   making them clear to de Guiche?
3. How would you describe Cyranos emotions as he
   speaks for Christian to Roxane? Why might he have
   mixed feelings about what he is doing?
4. How does Cyrano keep de Guiche from interrupting
   the wedding? What do you learn about Cyrano from
   the method he chooses?

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Assignment 8 Act IV Questions

1. What is the military significance of de Guiches
   white scarf? What happens to it? What does Cyrano
   think about the white scarf, and what does he do
   for it?
2. What realization does Roxane finally come to
   about Christian? How does this realization affect
   Christian?
3. What does Christian urge Cyrano to do? In your
   opinion, what are his reasons?
4. What do you think would be Roxanes reaction if
   she were to learn the truth about Christian and
   Cyrano and her relationship with them?
5. Describe Roxanes character so far. Do you feel
   that she is worthy of Cyranos love? of
   Christians? Why or why not?

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Assignment 9 Act IV Historical Connection

• Act Four of the play takes place during the Siege
  of Arras.
• With a partner, find some information about the
  Siege.
• Why was this battle an important one for the
  French?
• Why are the cadets starving at the beginning of
  the scene?
• Knowing what you do about the battle, how does
  this change your perception of the events of Act
  Four?
• Use these websites http//www.fortified-places.co
  m/sieges/arras1640.html and http//www.chicagoshak
  es.com/education/teach_shakespeare/classroom/handb
  ooks/cyrano_de_bergerac/the_siege_of_arras_cyrano_
  de_bergeracs_military_co
• Or google siege of arras and look for the 1st
  and 3rd (sometimes 4th) entry).
• NO WIKIPEDIA!!!

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Assignment 9 Act V Questions

1. 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?
2. What information does de Guiche give to Le Bret
   about Cyrano? Why do you suppose Cyranos old
   enemy has told Le Bret about the danger?
3. 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.
4. How does Rostand use natural imagery to create
   the mood in the last scene? Evaluate the success
   of this technique.
5. What are Cyranos accomplishments? For what will
   he be most known? In your opinion, what kinds of
   accomplishments in life are the most meaningful?

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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.

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Group Project

• Create a playbill (poster) that outlines the
  following
• Title
• Author
• Setting
• Theme (write this in the form of a catchphrase or
  slogan)
• Short plot teaser (only give enough info to make
  the audience want to watch the play)
• Actors you want to play the main characters

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Remakes of Cyrano

• Sesame Street http//www.youtube.com/watch?v2u_G
  oRsuEQ8
• Wishbone http//www.youtube.com/watch?vioWi5j1Rx
  Is
• Live performance on Stage http//www.youtube.com/
  watch?vCzPgLYFnwD4
• Cyrano (1950) film h https//www.youtube.com/watc
  h?v7I8SLTJLCJw (complete As. 11 for this film)

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Assignment 11 Film Viewing Guide
Technique Examples How does this affect you (the audience)?
Lighting
Costumes
Sound effects/Music
Acting Voice patterns Speech
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Need a study guide? Not sure what just happened
in a scene/act?

• Visit http//www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides7/
  Cyrano.html