1a. What happens to Quixana's mind as a result of reading too many medieval romances? What does he hope to accomplish by becoming a knight-errant? What preparations does he make for his new life?
2a. What does Don Quixote imagine the windmills to be?
3a. How does Sancho Panzo react to his master's beliefs about the windmills? What happens in the battle of the windmills? What does Sancho do thereafter?
4a. What elements of medieval romance literature does Cervantes satirize in these selections?
5a. Evaluate whether the manner in which Quixana chooses his new name is consistent with his other behaviors.
1b. What is Don Quixote's attitude toward himself?
2b. Given Quixote's imaginings, what might you say about his character?
3b. How does Sancho Panza see the world differently from his master? What would be interesting to know about Sancho?
4b. Why do you think Cervantes chose to satirize medieval romances? What does Cervantes seem to admire about books of chivalry?
5b. Watch the 1972 movie Man of La Mancha. Is Don Quixote portrayed as Cervantes intended, or has his character been altered for the big screen? If so, how is Don Quixote different in the movie?
Courtly Love. What elements of courtly love are found in these selections from Don Quixote? Who is the object of Don Quixote's veneration? Why does he need to find such a lady before he sets out on his quests? What does he do immediately before entering into battle with the windmills?
Medieval Romance. In what ways is Don Quixote similar to Arthur in Le Morte d'Arthur, to Tristan in "Chevrefoil," and to the Knight in "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales.
1. Imagine you are Miguel de Cervantes. Write a journal entry about your idea for a novel based on medieval romances. What inspires you? Whom do you want to read your novel? What is your purpose in writing it?
2. Write a paragraph describing the ways in which Don Quixote satirizes medieval romances.
3. A parody is a literary work that imitates another work for humorous, often satirical, purposes. Write a parody of a heroic adventure in which you attempt to poke fun at your character's loyalty, honesty, courage, inventiveness, or other positive attribute. You might select a hero from a movie, cartoon, or comic strip.
Creating a Bibliography. Create a bibliography of books about a topic of your choice pertaining to the medieval era, such as pilgrimages, cathedrals, weapons, food, or jousting tournaments. Use either a card or a computerized catalog to find works about medieval subjects. Compile a list of such sources, listing the titles, authors, and other necessary publication information.
Bibliography of Medieval Sources:
Writing a Forward. Read about how Cervantes affected writers that came after him. Then write a forward for a new edition of Don Quixote in which you discuss the influence the novel has had on other writers and periods of literature.
