ACT I: SCENE 1-3

ROSTAND LETS THE AUDIENCE KNOW THE PLAY IS SET IN 1640…

Costumes and certain characters Musketeers (formed in the 1600s and

disbanded in 1646) La Clorise - dates from the time period

MUSKETEERS, FIRST LACKEY, GUARDSMAN HAVE IN COMMON…

Lackey is gambling Guardsman chasing flower girl Musketeers do not see the play

All characters engaging in some what immoral or illegal activites

This time period will be excitring May contain immoral acts

SCENE IICHRISTIAN

Christian is handsome but wears out of date clothes from Touraine where he came from.

Marquis and other nobles judge a man based on his outward appearances

LIGNIERE

Chrisitian wants him to stay and tell him who the beautiful woman he loves is.

Ligniere writes songs about people in town (for a living)

He stays because he is offered more wine

RAGUENEAU

Owner of a bakery A poet He attends the play becaue Montfleury

is in it and he suspects Cyrano will show up and put on a good show getting rid of Montfleury.

CYRANO CHARACTERISTICS

Poet A soldier Philosopher Musician True swashbuckler Fight anyone who laughs or looks to

long at his nose

ROXANE

Beautiful Intelligent Refined Single Rich Cyrano’s cousin

SCENE IIITHIEF’S WARNING

The thief tells of Ligniere and the plot De Guiche has to kill him in exchange for freedom (because he tried to steal)

IS CHRISTIAN HONORABLE?

Honorable because he is outraged that Valvert would marry Roxanne and allow her to be a mistress to De Guiche.

Also he leaves to defend Ligniere who is about to be attacked.

CARDINAL’S PRESENCE ALTER THE MOOD Audience is laughing and playing

practical jokes before Cyrano arrives. After, they become silent: “We’ll have

to behave ourselves now”

ACT I SCENE IV

What are some conflicts that arise after Cyrano appears? Cyrano despises and threatens Montfleury,

but the audience, especially the nobles, encourages Montfleury to continue. Cyrano challenges anyone who wishes to fight him to come up on stage.

IV

Identify the literary technique: “I’ll cut off his ear and slit him up like a

roasted pig!” simile

“I shall mount the stage now and carve up this fine, fat Italian sausage!”

metaphor If you keep on you’re liable to rouse my

sword right out of its scabbard!” personification

IV

Explain why the crowd is amused when Cyrano says, “I will clap my hands three times, you full moon! On the third clap, I want to see you eclipse yourself!” Cyrano is comparing Montfleury to a full

moon because he is fat. He is telling him to leave the stage, or disappear (“eclipse himself”) implying that he is fat enough to obscure himself with his own size. The audience is amused with Cyrano’s quick wit.

IV

Why does Cyrano hate Montfleury? Terrible actor And a secret reason

IV

Cyrano’s removal of Montfleury and cancellation of the play is outrageous, even dangerous. Cyrano give Jodelet a purse of money in order to refund the audience. State a theme for this play based on this grand gesture. Principles are more important that

anything else, including money.

IV

The audience first learns about Cyrano from his friends. Then they hear his voice. Finally, Cyrano appears on stage. Why do you suppose Rostand structures the play so that the audience is fully prepared for Cyrano’s entrance? The audience may consider a large nosed man

appearing on stage to be a comedic character or buffoon and immediately begin to laugh at him. Rostand wants the audience to understand the man before they judge him on his absurd appearance.

IV

Why does Cyrano list for Valvert the various ways that a man might insult his huge nose? What is Valvert’s reaction to this speech? Cyrano implies that Valvert is too stupid to devise

a good insult; he demonstrates his superior intellect by cleverly listing many ways to insult his nose. Cyrano manages to insult Valvert by calling him an ass and then challenges Valvert to insult the nose again. Cyrano warns Valvert that no one but himself may make fun of his nose.

Valvert only thinks to criticize Cyrano’s attire…

8. What adornments or decorations does Cyrano consider to be of more importance than the gloves, ribbons or lace? Cyrano proudly adorns himself with

“truth”, “independence,” “A clean soul,” “brave exploits” and “spirit”

9. Why do you suppose Cyrano decides to compose a ballad while he is dueling with Valvert? What does Cyrano plan to do just as he finishes reciting the refrain? Cyrano wants to make Valvert appear ridiculous

to the onlookers. He lets Valvert know that dueling with nobleman is so easy that Cyrano can duel and compose a ballad at the same time.

Cyrano tells Valvert that he will “strike” with his sword at the end of the refrain.

10. What evidence is there that the audience’s opinion of Cyrano changes after he duels with Valvert? The audience cheers for Cyrano and

several men congratulate him. A Woman shouts out that Cyrano is a hero , and they hoot after Montfleury. Before the duel, the audience had been angry with Cyrano for spoiling the play.

HOW DOES CYRANO EXPLAIN TO LE BRET HIS REASONS FOR MAKING SO MANY ENEMIES?

Cyrano: “I took the simplest path, by far! I decided to be admirable in everything!”

What is Cyrano’s secret reason for banishing Montfleury from the stage? Cyrano is in love with Roxanne. Montfleury

dared to make advances to Roxanne, so Cyrano refuses to let Montfluery perform.

What simile does Cyrano use? “It was like seeing a slug crawl across a

flower’s petal”

How does Le Bret argue that women may find Cyrano attractive despite his large nose? Le Bret says that Cyrano has “great

courage and wit.” He points out the serving girl that was moved by Cyrano and offered him free food.

What is the one thing in life that Cyrano fears? Cyrano fears Roxanne laughing at his nose

ACT I SCENE VI

What does Cyrano’s reaction to the Duenna reveal about his thoughts? Cyrano staggers, he leans against his

friend when he learns that Roxanne wishes to meet him. His behavior reveals his shock and excitement!

SCENE VII

What new aspect of Cyrano’s personality is revealed after Cyrano learns that Roxanne wants to see him? Cyrano is nervous and excited, which

differs from his earlier cool, controlled behavior.

SCENE VII

Cyrano states that he is willing to fight a hundred men to save Ligniere because Ligniere once drank holy water a a romantic gesture for a young lady. What OTHER reason might Cyrano have for fighting 100 men? He thinks that 100 men were sent to kill

Ligniere BECAUSE he is a friend of Cyrano. Cyrano is ecstatic at the prospect of meeting Roxane that he feels strong enough to defeat them all!

SCENE VII

“Willing suspension of disbelief” is a term for the willingness of the audience to accept the behavior and motivations of the characters for the duration of the play. At the end of Act I, Cyrano bravely goes off to fight one hundred men. Do you believe that Cyrano’s actions are believable or unbelievable? Cite incidents from the story to support your answer. Cyrano manages to subdue all the members of an angry

audience; and he effortlessly duels with Valvert while composing a ballad. Cyrano’s abilities are well established, so there is little reason to doubt that he can fight one hundred men. Most likely, he will only duel with a few before the rest flee in fear of his bravery and expert swordsmanship.