In the plays first act, Cyrano de Bergerac expresses to his friend, Le Bret, that his plan is "To make myself in all things admirable." Cyrano is quite successful in accomplishing this throughout the rest of his life.
1) Cyrano is willing to protect Christian from harm upon Roxane's request even though he loves her and is envious of her love for Christian. He honours his word each time Christian his put in the way of harm.
2) Le Bret cleary has admiration for Cyrano when he describes him as "The best friend and bravest soul alive."
3) Cyrano displays courage, and admirable trait, in the first act on the night when he fights one hundred men by himself. Preceding this, he confronts Montfleury and is triumphant in his duel with the actor.
4) At the end of the play, as Cyrano is dying, he finally admits to Roxane his love for her. He is finally honest with her and is rewarded with requited love.
5) Cyrano helps Christian with his pursuit of Roxane. He gives him the words to say and helps him out when Christian tries to go it alone and fails. He risks his life everyday to deliver his letters from the war, written by Cyrano and signed by Christian.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Cyrano de Bergerac - The Acrostic
C - courageous. Cyrano shows courage when he fights against one hundred men and provokes Montfleury.
Y - young hearted. Cyrano's heart is young and inexperienced when it comes to love.
R- romantic. Cyrano is a poet who uses words to express his love towards Roxane. His words melt her heart.
A - addicted. He is addicted to writing Roxane letters and pretending to be Christian, the man she loves.
N - naked. Cyrano bears his whole soul within his letters.
O - oral. Words are his way of expressing himself.
D - debonair. Cyrano is a true sauve gentleman.
E - enchanting. The way Cyrano speaks of Roxane is enough to make any woman swoon.
B - blushing. He is ashamed of the length of his nose.
E - elegant. Cyrano is a man of privilege and a gentleman.
R - rich. His letters are rich with meaning and drip with affection.
G - grandiose. Cyrano's confrontation with Montfleury is impressive and pompous.
E- envious. Cyrano envies Christian's immoderate good looks.
R - remorseful. He regrets not being able to tell Roxane how he feels.
A - anonymous. The letters, which play a huge part in the play, are written by Cyrano, but he does not sign his name or admit that his words are truly how he feels.
C - charismatic. Cyrano is an overly boisterous man who enjoys putting on a show for whoever is watching.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Cyrano de Bergerac…What could have been?
1) What if Cyrano was confident in his physical appearance?
Perhaps if Cyrano had embraced his large nose he may have had the confidence to tell Roxanne how he felt earlier, possibly before she saw Christian. But even if he had told Roxanne his true feelings would they have been reciprocated by Roxanne? Roxanne always said that she always looked up to Cyrano as an older brother, a source for advice for her. The only reason that she fell in love with him in the play was because of the love letters that he wrote her under Christian’s name. Without those love letters Roxanne would probably have continued to view Cyrano as her older brother. With this knowledge of Roxanne’s feelings Cyrano would not have told her that he loved her because he was chivalrous and would not want to offend Roxanne or put her in an awkward situation.
2) What if Christian had both brains and beauty?
If Christian had both brains and beauty would he have been able to attract Roxanne and keep her love with the love letters that he would have been able to write himself? Even if Christian was smart and had caught the eye of Roxanne he would not have been able to write the love letters that Roxanne needed in order to know that she was loved. In order to write these letters that have the ability to move people to tears it takes great skill, a skill that some are born with, and others are not. Cyrano was born with this talent and thus able to help Christian, who was not, make Roxanne fall in love with him. But if Christian was smart would Cyrano have helped him, or even met him? Christian would probably have been enrolled at a university and not the army if he was smart, meaning that Cyrano would never have met him, even if he had caught the eye of Roxanne. Roxanne and Christian were never meant to be together, he was not able to write the love letters that she craved, even if he did have the brains.
3) What if Cyrano had told Roxanne earlier about the letters after Christian’s death?
After Christian’s death Roxanne mourns for fifteen years in a nunnery. Every week Cyrano visits her and tells her the news and current events going on. It took Cyrano fifteen years to tell Roxanne that he was the one who wrote those love letters to her under Christian’s name. If Cyrano had told Roxanne earlier would they have gotten married and lived a long, happy life? After reading the love letters written to her Roxanne fell in love with somebody, for fifteen years she thought that it was Christian, but upon hearing that Cyrano had written the letters her feelings changed. She fell in love with Cyrano. Unfortunately Cyrano died moments later and they were never able to live a happy life together. If, however, Cyrano had told Roxanne that he had in fact written those love letters to her, and had meant every word of them they would have ended up marrying and living happily ever after.
Kelsey Mills
Perhaps if Cyrano had embraced his large nose he may have had the confidence to tell Roxanne how he felt earlier, possibly before she saw Christian. But even if he had told Roxanne his true feelings would they have been reciprocated by Roxanne? Roxanne always said that she always looked up to Cyrano as an older brother, a source for advice for her. The only reason that she fell in love with him in the play was because of the love letters that he wrote her under Christian’s name. Without those love letters Roxanne would probably have continued to view Cyrano as her older brother. With this knowledge of Roxanne’s feelings Cyrano would not have told her that he loved her because he was chivalrous and would not want to offend Roxanne or put her in an awkward situation.
2) What if Christian had both brains and beauty?
If Christian had both brains and beauty would he have been able to attract Roxanne and keep her love with the love letters that he would have been able to write himself? Even if Christian was smart and had caught the eye of Roxanne he would not have been able to write the love letters that Roxanne needed in order to know that she was loved. In order to write these letters that have the ability to move people to tears it takes great skill, a skill that some are born with, and others are not. Cyrano was born with this talent and thus able to help Christian, who was not, make Roxanne fall in love with him. But if Christian was smart would Cyrano have helped him, or even met him? Christian would probably have been enrolled at a university and not the army if he was smart, meaning that Cyrano would never have met him, even if he had caught the eye of Roxanne. Roxanne and Christian were never meant to be together, he was not able to write the love letters that she craved, even if he did have the brains.
3) What if Cyrano had told Roxanne earlier about the letters after Christian’s death?
After Christian’s death Roxanne mourns for fifteen years in a nunnery. Every week Cyrano visits her and tells her the news and current events going on. It took Cyrano fifteen years to tell Roxanne that he was the one who wrote those love letters to her under Christian’s name. If Cyrano had told Roxanne earlier would they have gotten married and lived a long, happy life? After reading the love letters written to her Roxanne fell in love with somebody, for fifteen years she thought that it was Christian, but upon hearing that Cyrano had written the letters her feelings changed. She fell in love with Cyrano. Unfortunately Cyrano died moments later and they were never able to live a happy life together. If, however, Cyrano had told Roxanne that he had in fact written those love letters to her, and had meant every word of them they would have ended up marrying and living happily ever after.
Kelsey Mills
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Our Top 5 Grand Gestures Performed by Cyrano de Bergerac
1) In the opening scene of the play we are introduced to Cyrano in a grand way as he publicly criticizes Mont Fleury, the leading character in that evenings play. Cyrano believes no one should have to witness his terrible acting, so he successfully shuts down the play that so many people were looking forward to seeing that night. Cyrano believes he has done the audience a favor by sparing them Mont Fleury’s acting however he can see the crowd becomes restless as they paid good money to see a show that night. When he realizes this Cyrano personally reimburses every audience member for their ticket, this is a small sacrifice for Cyrano as he would rather give away money than watch such horrible acting.
2) Cyrano single handedly fights off a hundred angry men and lives to tell about it, and each time he does the story becomes more grand than the story told before.
3) One of the grandest gestures performed by Cyrano is the bargain he makes with Christian to help him win over Roxanne despite his own love for her. He diligently writes letters and poems expressing Christian’s love for her when it is truly the love he feels for her. They work together to use the perfect combination of Christian’s good looks and Cyrano’s romantic wit to sweep Roxanne of her feet and fall deeply in love with Christian.
4) While away at war Cyrano risks his own life everyday crossing enemy lines to send love letters in the name of Christian to Roxanne. Before heading off to war Cyrano promises Roxanne he will take care of Christian, this grand gesture demonstrates his true love for her as he is willing to sacrifice his own life to keep his word to Roxanne.
5) Following the death of Christian Roxanne spends fifteen years in mourning all alone at a convent. In attempt to cure her loneliness Cyrano visits the convent every week of those fifteen years. During this time he never lets on that the man who wrote those letters whom Roxanne fell in love with was actually Cyrano until they are his last dying words.
2) Cyrano single handedly fights off a hundred angry men and lives to tell about it, and each time he does the story becomes more grand than the story told before.
3) One of the grandest gestures performed by Cyrano is the bargain he makes with Christian to help him win over Roxanne despite his own love for her. He diligently writes letters and poems expressing Christian’s love for her when it is truly the love he feels for her. They work together to use the perfect combination of Christian’s good looks and Cyrano’s romantic wit to sweep Roxanne of her feet and fall deeply in love with Christian.
4) While away at war Cyrano risks his own life everyday crossing enemy lines to send love letters in the name of Christian to Roxanne. Before heading off to war Cyrano promises Roxanne he will take care of Christian, this grand gesture demonstrates his true love for her as he is willing to sacrifice his own life to keep his word to Roxanne.
5) Following the death of Christian Roxanne spends fifteen years in mourning all alone at a convent. In attempt to cure her loneliness Cyrano visits the convent every week of those fifteen years. During this time he never lets on that the man who wrote those letters whom Roxanne fell in love with was actually Cyrano until they are his last dying words.
3 Themes in Cyrano De Bergerac
Generosity without thought of payment.
- Cyrano loves Roxane, and even when she tells him she is in love with another man, he still acts as the close friend he always has been. He goes out of his way numerous times to protect the man Roxane loves.
- At first when Cyrano writes the love letters for Christian to give to Roxane, there is absolutly no credit or payment for him, even though he is the true author of the poetry. He risks his life many times a day to deliver these letters that are supposedly from Christian during the war.
- Cyrano puts himself in harms way to fight off the 100 men that are waiting to attack Ligniere, because Cyrano believes he writes witty poetry. Again, he expects nothing of a reward.
- Until the very last scene, Cyrano hides his love for Roxane in memory of Christian, even though he knows it was his own soul that Roxane was really in love with. He could have had Roxane for himself soon after Christian died, but he was too much of a good friend and a gentleman to reveal their scheme.
Loving an idea rather than a person.
- Roxane is unknowingly in love with the idea of this 'perfect man' that Cyrano and Christian have made, and in reality is completly fictional.
- Cyrano loves Roxane, but after he realizes that she loves someone else, he romances with her on his own through letters that she thinks are written by someone else. When he is writing his letters, he probably gets lost in the idea of Roxane loving him. It is fair to say that he is in love with the idea of the romance between himself and Roxane.
- Comte De Guiche also expierances this theme when he himself realizes he is in love with Roxane. Since he is already married, he uses the same approach that Cyrano does - tries to live out his romance through another person. In this case, De Guiche tries to get Roxane to marry one of his friends (Valvert, I think).
Characters' responses to different situations.
- Cyrano is a very calm and collected man, and is able to think quickly to respond to any difficult times that he might come across. For instance, when he is told that he must immediatly stall De Guiche while Christian and Roxane are getting married, he comes up with a scheme that no one else could have imagined. He is able to think and communicate effectivly on the fly, and this shows he is a very intelligent and creative character.
- After the death of her husband, Christian, Roxane feels that she can no longer love another man. She moves into a nunnery, and continues her life without much excitement for the following 15 years. Roxane is not necessarily strong in times of hardship, and feels she does not have to courage to move forward with her life.
- Even though Christian is not very smart, he proves that he can respond honeslty when faced with a tough decision. When he learns that Roxane loves the poetry more that Christians good looks, he feels obliged to tell her the truth even though it would mean the end of his romance with Roxane.
- Cyrano loves Roxane, and even when she tells him she is in love with another man, he still acts as the close friend he always has been. He goes out of his way numerous times to protect the man Roxane loves.
- At first when Cyrano writes the love letters for Christian to give to Roxane, there is absolutly no credit or payment for him, even though he is the true author of the poetry. He risks his life many times a day to deliver these letters that are supposedly from Christian during the war.
- Cyrano puts himself in harms way to fight off the 100 men that are waiting to attack Ligniere, because Cyrano believes he writes witty poetry. Again, he expects nothing of a reward.
- Until the very last scene, Cyrano hides his love for Roxane in memory of Christian, even though he knows it was his own soul that Roxane was really in love with. He could have had Roxane for himself soon after Christian died, but he was too much of a good friend and a gentleman to reveal their scheme.
Loving an idea rather than a person.
- Roxane is unknowingly in love with the idea of this 'perfect man' that Cyrano and Christian have made, and in reality is completly fictional.
- Cyrano loves Roxane, but after he realizes that she loves someone else, he romances with her on his own through letters that she thinks are written by someone else. When he is writing his letters, he probably gets lost in the idea of Roxane loving him. It is fair to say that he is in love with the idea of the romance between himself and Roxane.
- Comte De Guiche also expierances this theme when he himself realizes he is in love with Roxane. Since he is already married, he uses the same approach that Cyrano does - tries to live out his romance through another person. In this case, De Guiche tries to get Roxane to marry one of his friends (Valvert, I think).
Characters' responses to different situations.
- Cyrano is a very calm and collected man, and is able to think quickly to respond to any difficult times that he might come across. For instance, when he is told that he must immediatly stall De Guiche while Christian and Roxane are getting married, he comes up with a scheme that no one else could have imagined. He is able to think and communicate effectivly on the fly, and this shows he is a very intelligent and creative character.
- After the death of her husband, Christian, Roxane feels that she can no longer love another man. She moves into a nunnery, and continues her life without much excitement for the following 15 years. Roxane is not necessarily strong in times of hardship, and feels she does not have to courage to move forward with her life.
- Even though Christian is not very smart, he proves that he can respond honeslty when faced with a tough decision. When he learns that Roxane loves the poetry more that Christians good looks, he feels obliged to tell her the truth even though it would mean the end of his romance with Roxane.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Christian and Cyrano's Bargain
Both Cyrano and Christian have an undying love for Roxane. Yet Roxane loves only parts of each of them – Christian’s good looks and Cyrano’s touching soul. Obviously having both is not an option. This triggers Cyrano’s brilliant idea of combining his and Christian’s strengths and making the ‘perfect man’. They each fill each other’s voids and by doing so hopefully win over Roxane’s heart. The result of this ploy is ever changing, and by no means successful.
Christian benefits from the bargain at first. He gets all of Roxane’s physical attention, and eventually ends up marrying her. Because of Cyrano, he gets to pursue this romance that he would have otherwise had no chance with, having the simple mind that he does. Later on, however, he realizes that it is the poetry that Roxane is really in love with. He feels as if he has no more to offer the relationship, and would have revealed the truth to Roxane had it not been for his tragic death.
In the first few scenes of the perfect romance between Cyrano, Christian, and Roxane, it appears as though Cyrano has short end of the deal. He is doing much, if not all, of the work and receiving very little credit. He is even forced to wait outside in the rain while Christian and Roxane are kissing on the balcony. Things start to look up for Cyrano after they go to war, when he realizes that Roxane loves his letters more than Christian’s charming looks. Even though he is not credited for the work, he has the personal satisfaction that he himself is able to win over Roxane.
By acting as 2 parts a perfect partner, both Christian and Cyrano benefit and fail from the bargain at different times. It is fair to say that they both play an important role – Christian captured her first love and attention and Cyrano kept the love strong and lasting. Neither of them could have carried out the romance without the help of each other. It works out for both men, just in different ways and at different times.
Our Top 5 Themes in Night-Unfinished
1) The effects of adversity on the human spirit.
a) "From the depths of the mirror, a corpse gazed back at me."
After so much hardship and adversity, Elie Wiesel is unable to see himself as a really, living person. All he sees is a corpse, he died from the inside out.
b) While the were in the cattle carts being shipped to a new camp, bread was thrown into the carts and the people were fighting for it 'til the death. A man was able to get a large piece and crawl away, having some for himself and for his son. His son then steals all the bread, even the piece already in his father's mouth and ends up killing his father. The adversity causes him to think only of himself and of staying alive. He is even willing to kill his own father to achieve this.
c) When Moshe the Beadle returned after his deportation, "there was no longer any joy in his eyes. He no longer sang. He no longer talked to me of God or the cabbala, but only of what he had seen."
2)The role that self-preservation plays when individuals respond to competing demands.
a) The young man who stole his father's bread and killed him on the cattle cart.
b) Elie struggles with whether or not to give his father his ration, or to take his father's ration for himself.
c) Towards the end, everyone is laying on top of each other, sleeping, Elie has to scratch his way out of a pile of bodies, either dead, alive or dying. He was running out of air and crushing his friend, Juliek.
a) "From the depths of the mirror, a corpse gazed back at me."
After so much hardship and adversity, Elie Wiesel is unable to see himself as a really, living person. All he sees is a corpse, he died from the inside out.
b) While the were in the cattle carts being shipped to a new camp, bread was thrown into the carts and the people were fighting for it 'til the death. A man was able to get a large piece and crawl away, having some for himself and for his son. His son then steals all the bread, even the piece already in his father's mouth and ends up killing his father. The adversity causes him to think only of himself and of staying alive. He is even willing to kill his own father to achieve this.
c) When Moshe the Beadle returned after his deportation, "there was no longer any joy in his eyes. He no longer sang. He no longer talked to me of God or the cabbala, but only of what he had seen."
2)The role that self-preservation plays when individuals respond to competing demands.
a) The young man who stole his father's bread and killed him on the cattle cart.
b) Elie struggles with whether or not to give his father his ration, or to take his father's ration for himself.
c) Towards the end, everyone is laying on top of each other, sleeping, Elie has to scratch his way out of a pile of bodies, either dead, alive or dying. He was running out of air and crushing his friend, Juliek.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
