1. Don Quixote Miguel de Cervantes

2. The Author Was born in 1547 near Madrid, Spain Was born in 1547 near Madrid, Spain Noble family, however his father was imprisoned for debts Noble family, however his father was imprisoned for debts He became a soldier and lost his left hand in battle He became a soldier and lost his left hand in battle When sailing home, he was captured by Barbary pirates and was a slave in Algiers for 5 years; he was not freed until 1580 when his family paid ransom When sailing home, he was captured by Barbary pirates and was a slave in Algiers for 5 years; he was not freed until 1580 when his family paid ransom He married a girl of 19 in 1584 (unhappy result) and began writing plays and poetry He married a girl of 19 in 1584 (unhappy result) and began writing plays and poetry Worked for government as a tax inspector but still ran into financial problems/debt and was imprisoned – twice in the Seville gaol Worked for government as a tax inspector but still ran into financial problems/debt and was imprisoned – twice in the Seville gaol

3. In 1590, he was turned down for a post in the American colonies In 1590, he was turned down for a post in the American colonies The first volume of Don Quixote was published in 1604; second volume in 1615. The first volume of Don Quixote was published in 1604; second volume in 1615. Cervantes died on April 23, 1616 - the same day as William Shakespeare (unreformed calendar) Cervantes died on April 23, 1616 - the same day as William Shakespeare (unreformed calendar) He has had an enormous influence on European literature for centuries He has had an enormous influence on European literature for centuries Don Quixote is the best-selling non-religious, non-political work of fiction of all time Don Quixote is the best-selling non-religious, non-political work of fiction of all time

4. A satire on the old romances of chivalry, to a certain extent A satire on the old romances of chivalry, to a certain extent Cervantes satirizes the extravagances of chivalry, yet lived his whole life in the spirit of the knight-errant Cervantes satirizes the extravagances of chivalry, yet lived his whole life in the spirit of the knight-errant Don Quixote is considered by many to be the greatest romance of chivalry (irony?) because its action is placed in the real world Don Quixote is considered by many to be the greatest romance of chivalry (irony?) because its action is placed in the real world Historical Background

5. Code of chivalry – chivalry symbolizes moral idealism and Don Quixote is its embodiment Code of chivalry – chivalry symbolizes moral idealism and Don Quixote is its embodiment Against the panorama of characters that Quixote meets – the vicious and brutal, the morally corrupt and sophisticated, or those who cannot or will not understand him – his idealism is helpless Against the panorama of characters that Quixote meets – the vicious and brutal, the morally corrupt and sophisticated, or those who cannot or will not understand him – his idealism is helpless Is Cervantes showing us – as some maintain – the inevitable failure of idealism in a modern world of science and industry? Is Cervantes showing us – as some maintain – the inevitable failure of idealism in a modern world of science and industry?

6. Don Quixote is insane and insanity is wrong; he distorts the ethical world and the sensory world Don Quixote is insane and insanity is wrong; he distorts the ethical world and the sensory world Madness in literature is often the vehicle and symbol of truths and attitudes that cannot be conveyed by normality Madness in literature is often the vehicle and symbol of truths and attitudes that cannot be conveyed by normality Don Quixote, from this viewpoint, is a tragic hero Don Quixote, from this viewpoint, is a tragic hero He adopts his ideals and his means of interpreting reality from novels of chivalry He adopts his ideals and his means of interpreting reality from novels of chivalry

7. The novel is not anti-Christian, but is written outside of the circle of Christianity The novel is not anti-Christian, but is written outside of the circle of Christianity DQ never goes to church, never appeals to God, Jesus or Mary; in his hours of testing he calls only upon Dulcinea, who symbolizes the purely human, willfully created ideal DQ never goes to church, never appeals to God, Jesus or Mary; in his hours of testing he calls only upon Dulcinea, who symbolizes the purely human, willfully created ideal DQ involves this world, not the next; Dulcinea not Christ; self-creation not grace. DQ involves this world, not the next; Dulcinea not Christ; self-creation not grace. “Chivalry is a religion” he tells us “Chivalry is a religion” he tells us DQ rides with Sancho Panza, squire and apprentice DQ rides with Sancho Panza, squire and apprentice

8. Sancho represents the average mold of man; unsophisticated and unpolished, he has the natural human vices and also the natural virtues; he has moments of uplifting idealism Sancho represents the average mold of man; unsophisticated and unpolished, he has the natural human vices and also the natural virtues; he has moments of uplifting idealism While DQ is an ascetic, neglecting the physical body for the spirit, Sancho is pictured as a glutton While DQ is an ascetic, neglecting the physical body for the spirit, Sancho is pictured as a glutton

9. One aspect of the story involves the nature of reality and knowledge - delusion, deceit and disguise are woven throughout the novel One aspect of the story involves the nature of reality and knowledge - delusion, deceit and disguise are woven throughout the novel But despite shifting appearances, subjective interpretations cannot change basic reality But despite shifting appearances, subjective interpretations cannot change basic reality If man cannot alter and change reality, he cannot escape the prison of a fixed destiny (think Hamlet) If man cannot alter and change reality, he cannot escape the prison of a fixed destiny (think Hamlet) This world cannot accept DQ’s metaphysical perspective or his ethical ideals: freedom and responsibility; justice and the surpassing of oneself by devotion to a cause This world cannot accept DQ’s metaphysical perspective or his ethical ideals: freedom and responsibility; justice and the surpassing of oneself by devotion to a cause

10. The path of disillusionment is clearly marked out The path of disillusionment is clearly marked out Alonso Quixano, the undistinguished hidalgo Alonso Quixano, the undistinguished hidalgo Cervantes, though he sympathizes with DQ and has put much of himself into him, consistently rejects and mocks him Cervantes, though he sympathizes with DQ and has put much of himself into him, consistently rejects and mocks him Elements of tragedy and comedy are artfully fused in the story Elements of tragedy and comedy are artfully fused in the story

11. Terms to know Satire Satire Sally – a venture or excursion usually off the beaten path Sally – a venture or excursion usually off the beaten path Knight-errant – a knight traveling in search of adventures in which to exhibit military skill, prowess, and generosity (Alonso Quixano steps into his literary world and becomes a knight-errant, just like those in his books of chivalry) Knight-errant – a knight traveling in search of adventures in which to exhibit military skill, prowess, and generosity (Alonso Quixano steps into his literary world and becomes a knight-errant, just like those in his books of chivalry) Quixotic- foolishly impractical, especially in the pursuit of ideals Quixotic- foolishly impractical, especially in the pursuit of ideals