Cyrano de Bergerac Study Guide

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CONTENTS
1. A Brief History of the real Cyrano de Bergerac
2. Court Life with King Louis XIV
3. Character List and Plot Summary
4. Vocabulary words from the Plot Summary
5. Vocabulary words from the play
6. Meeting Standards in Speaking
7. Meeting Standards in Writing
8. Meeting Standards in Art

A Brief History of The Real 
Cyrano de Bergerac

"A large nose is the mark of a witty, courteous, affable, generous, and
liberal man."
-Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac

The play of "Cyrano de Bergerac" is based on a real man by the name of Savinien Cyrano. He was born in Paris, France on March 6, 1619 and educated by a priest in the village of Bergerac.  Though he did have a pronounced nose, he was considered a handsome young man and became noted for his skills as a duelist. At the age of 20 he joined the army and was wounded in a battle at Mouzon and received a severe neck wound in 1640 while fighting the Spanish at Arras. It is also thought that while he was in the army The Count of Canvoye asked Cyrano to help him write love poems to his new wife.

Cyrano left the army in 1642 and went to Paris to study science and literature.  Just like the play, he did single handedly rout an ambush at the Port de Nesle designed to assassinate a fellow poet and he did mount an abusive verbal attack on the actor Montfleury. However he also wrote stories of imaginary journeys to the sun and the moon. In these posthumously published stories, he satirized the idea that the earth and humanity were the center of the universe. He had two plays published during his life, a 
comedy, The Ridiculous Pedant  (1653) and a tragedy, The Death of Agrippina (1654), which was suspected of blasphemy.

As the accusations of blasphemy increased, so did the threats on his life. 17th century France may have been the dashing time of the musketeers, but it was also the time of the power hungry Cardinals Richelieu and Mazarin. Membership in the Catholic Church was not voluntary, and people lived in fear of denouncement. As in the play, the real Cyrano did have log dropped on his head about a year before his actual death.  The question still
remains if the log dropping, combined with his earlier injuries as a soldier, was the eventual cause of his death. The question also remains as to weather the log dropping was accidental or purposeful.

Court Life with King Louis XIV

In the time of Cyrano de Bergerac, the king of France was Louis XIV. Louis XIV was fearful that members of the French aristocracy would plot to take over his throne, and so he decided to control the nobility by bringing them to live with him at his court. Louis¹ palace at Versailles became a symbol of glory and elegance. The nobles who lived near the palace were required to follow strict rules of etiquette. For example, if a lady was invited to Versailles, she was expected to arrive in full court dress at six in the evening and stay until eight the next morning. During that time she would attend a comedy, dance at a ball, eat two suppers, and play at cards. She was not allowed to sleep at all, and if she sat down at the card game, she would never be invited back.

The nobles had to maintain extensive, elegant wardrobes and have plenty of money to spend on their luxurious lives at court. Nobles would compete for the chance to help the king dress in the morning, or prepare for bed at night. Louis never bathed. Instead, he dabbed his face with cotton soaked in scented alcohol and dipped his fingers in a bowl. He was also covered in scented powder several times a day. Washing in water was thought to be dangerous to your  health. Because the nobles spent so much time waiting on the king, they didn¹t have any chance to plot against him. Louis XIV set the standard for elegant fashion and absolute monarchy that was copied all over Europe.

Plot Summary

Main Characters

Cyrano De Bergerac-a native of Gascony, known for his wit, sword and large nose
Christian de Neuvillette-newly enlisted soldier, young, handsome, loved by Roxane
Viscount de Valvert- opponent to Cyrano in a duel
Ragueneau- aspiring poet who holds "poetry meetings" at his bakery. 
Le Bret- friend and supporter of Cyrano
Montfleury-leading actor of La Clorise and enemy of Cyrano
Roxane-Cyrano's cousin. Beautiful, wealthy, and loved by all

Act I:  A Performance at the Hotel de Bourgogne

The year is 1640 and a young, ardent, and extremely attractive Frenchman, Christian de Neuvillette is attending a performance of the play La Clorise. The lively audience is full of pages, thieves, refreshment girls, soldiers and nobles. Among the crowd is Roxanne, a beautiful society woman. Christian is madly in love with Roxanne but every time he tries to talk to her he bungles his words and feels like a fool.

As Montfleury, the leading actor in La Clorise, steps out on to the stage, he is mercilessly heckled by Cyrano de Bergerac. Cyrano attacks him because Montfluery has been bothering Roxane. Cyrano is a Gascon known for his aggressive nature, wit, arrogance and extremely large nose.  However, if anyone ever comments upon this distinguishing feature Cyrano is quick to disgrace them with either his words or his sword. After Montfleury leaves the stage, the Viscount de Valvert makes the fatal mistake of insulting
Cyrano and challenging him to a duel by striking Cyrano's nose with his glove. Cyrano quickly dispatches the Viscount while composing and reciting a ballad.

The audience is enthralled with this vibrant man, but what they don't know is that Cyrano is also secretly in love with Roxane. Just as Christian is insecure about his own lack of charm, Cyrano is mortified by his own lack of beauty.

Act II:  The Poets' Cookshop

The setting is the pastry shop of Ragueneau.  He is both baker and aspiring poet.  Unfortunately for Ragueneau, his wife Lise believes poetry is best used as napkins.  Cyrano arrives and is shown tremendous praise for winning the "word" battle at the theatre.  Roxane has asked to meet Cyrano here and while he waits, his mind is filled with dreams of her loving him.  Roxane arrives and expresses that she is madly in love with Christian.  She asks Cyrano is he would protect Christian during the first few weeks of being a soldier.  It is a known fact that the "initiation" period in the army is brutal.  Cyrano is heartbroken but he agrees to protect Christian anyway.  He loves Roxane too much to not obey her wishes.

All the cadets arrive in a rowdy fashion.  They challenge Christian to prove his strength by teasing Cyrano about his nose.  Christian proceeds to mock Cyrano and to everyone's surprise, Cyrano hugs Christian and asks to speak to him alone.  Cyrano then tells Christian that Roxane is in love with him. Christian panics because he doesn¹t know how to talk to her.  Cyrano offers to write letters to Roxane on Christian¹s behalf.  This way, Christian will be the face but Cyrano will be the soul. Christian agrees and the plan is set into motion.

Act III:  Roxane¹s Kiss

Christian has decided that he is through with having Cyrano¹s letters be the intermediary between himself and Roxanne. He goes to her home and stands underneath her balcony window preparing to profess his love. Cyrano catches Christian before he makes this horrible mistake and tries to convince him to stop but Christian's mind is made up. He attempts to profess his love but all he says is, "I love you."  Roxane thinks that he is mocking her and that he never truly loved her. Cyrano steps in to save Christian but then is overwhelmed and recites beautiful poetry about his love for her.  Although the voice has changed, Roxane recognizes the depth of his words and falls even more in love with Christian.  Next, Christian asks for a kiss and then proposes to Roxane.  There just happens to be a Capuchin walking by and he agrees to perform the wedding right away.

The wedding night will have to wait because the soldiers have been ordered away to the siege of Arras.  Roxane and Christian say good-bye and Christian promises to write.

Act IV:  The Gascon Cadets

Fires, tents, weapons, and tired cadets open this act with all the signs of being at war.  Cyrano is returning from crossing over the enemy's lines in disguise where he has been delivering a letter for Roxane twice a day.  Not even Christian knows of the constancy of his writing.

All of a sudden, Roxane shows up in a carriage.  She was able to make it past the enemies with her charm and beauty.  Cyrano's writing is so powerful, she could not stay away.  The only problem is that she still believes Christian has been writing to her.

Christian is overwhelmed by her presence and decides he can¹t handle the lies anymore.  He demands that Cyrano tell her the truth and that Roxane should choose who she really loves.  Cyrano tries to tell her but a battle breaks out and Christian is shot.  Cyrano whispers in his ear as he is taking his last breath, "it is still you she loves."

Roxane falls to the ground in utter despair as the cadets rush off to battle.

Act V:  Cyrano¹s Gazette

Fifteen years have passed and Roxane now lives at a convent.  She has been here ever since Christian died.  For fun, she grieves the loss of her husband and hangs out with the nuns.  Cyrano visits her every Saturday at three o'clock and keeps her spirit light. Nothing has really changed for Cyrano.  He still loves Roxane, he still acts out and disrupts the community, and he still refuses to be an active part of society.

As the scene begins, it is Saturday and Roxane is waiting for Cyrano to arrive. Meanwhile, someone has tried to kill Cyrano by dropping a log on his head.   Instead of going to a doctor, Cyrano goes to the convent to see Roxane with a bandage on his head.

Cyrano cracks a few jokes when he sees Roxane but soon starts to die.  He asks Roxane to read the letter that "Christian" had written to her on the day he died.  Roxane realizes that it was Cyrano who wrote to her and expressed his love that night on her balcony.

As Cyrano dies, he realizes that in his life he did everything yet did nothing.  He hands Roxane the white plume which he used to write her hundreds of letters and passes away.

 VOCABULARY from the Plot Summary

(Answer Key: 1-d, 2-g, 3-e, 4-h, 5-a, 6-c, 7-i, 8-b, 9-f)

VOCABULARY from the play

(Answer Key: 1-h, 2-d, 3-j, 4-b, 5-c, 6-f, 7-k, 8-a, 9-i, 10-l, 11-g, 12-e)

MEETING STANDARDS IN SPEAKING

Discovering Themes. Discuss the following themes of Cyrano

a. Are physical looks really important? In the end, it didn't matter what Cyrano looked like. Should Cyrano have been more confident to win Roxane's love?

b. How powerful are words? Think of words that have power, such as hate, love, war, anger. What makes these words powerful? How careful should you be when using these words?

c. To what length should a person go in order to be loyal to a friend? We admire Cyrano for his loyalty to Christian, but it kept him from Roxane's love. Did he take this loyalty too far?

d. Cyrano is very insecure about his nose and believes that no one could love him because of it. What does society think is beautiful? Can someone be more beautiful because of his or her personality?

Rhyming. Much of Cyrano's charm is in his ability to speak in rhyme. Have your students choose a topic and work in pairs, asking questions or having a conversation in rhyme. When they have had time, have them share their best lines with the class using proper speaking skills. 

MEETING STANDARDS IN WRITING

Rhetoric ­ Cyrano's sharpest sword
Wit, humor, irony, sarcasm, satire and repartee are modes of expression  intended to arouse amusement.  WIT suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception.  HUMOR implies an ability to perceive the ludicrous, the comical, and the absurd in human life and to express these without bitterness.  IRONY is used when the intended meaning is the opposite of what is seemingly expressed.  SARCASM is a caustic and bitter expression of disapproval masquerading as praise. SATIRE applies to writing that exposes or ridicules conduct, doctrines, or institutions either by direct criticism or more often through irony, parody, or caricature.  REPARTEE implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily.

Write A Scene. Choose a subject you feel strongly about or something that you find humorous.  Write a scene between 2 people who disagree on this topic. Use at least three of the methods above in your characters' dialogue.

The Poetry of Love. The term "prèciositè" refers to a trend in 17th century Paris, which focused on the philosophies of love and proper courtship. Matters of the heart were considered of utmost importance, and were to be treated with the highest respect. For example, a man must woo a woman with elegant poetry over time rather than coming right out and saying "I love you". In Cyrano, Cyrano is well acquainted with the prèciositè, which is why he becomes such a valuable helper for Christian, who is not. Cyrano writes the beautiful love letters, which Roxane believes are from Christian. Have
your class pretend that they are Cyrano by composing a love letter that uses romantic words or poetry. Make sure that the letter never comes right out and says, "I love you".

Writing a Eulogy. Discuss the concept of honor addressed in Cyrano. How does Cyrano's sense of honor affect his own behavior, decision-making and the outcome of the play? Have students write a eulogy or a newspaper tribute to Cyrano that may have been published after his death. Discuss his character in terms of his honor.

A Historical Journal. Choose a character in the play.  Write from the perspective of the character how you feel about Cyrano. Support your statements with examples drawn both from the play and from your imagination.

Cyrano's Journal. Write a journal entry from the perspective of Cyrano. Answer such questions as:  Why do I love Roxane?  Why can't I talk to her and tell her how I feel?  Why do I criticize all the people around me?  How was I treated as a child for the way that I look and how do I feel about it? Am I jealous of Christian?  How does it make me feel when I make fun of others?

Research Project.  Research Savinien Cyrano¹s life more closely and decide whether or not you believe he was murdered. Write a five-paragraph essay supporting your claim.

Essay Questions

1. In what ways does this play represent love?  Who loves in this play and how do they express it?
2. Why does Cyrano constantly push people away from him with his rude banter?
3. Why does Cyrano want to write letters to Roxane for Christian?  What satisfaction does he receive from doing this?
4. How much do looks matter when someone is in love?  Compare the attributes of Christian and Cyrano that Roxane loves.
5. What does Cyrano mean in the end of his life when he says that he "has done everything and had done nothing" ?
6. Do you believe Christian really ever loved Roxane or was it simple attraction?  Why or why not?
7. If you were Roxane and you found out that the letters received were from someone else and your friend had lied to you for 15 years, how would you feel?  Describe.
8. War is a major factor in most of this play.  How does war effect the seriousness of our daily lives?  Does it make love more real or urgent?  Explain.
9. Why do you think that Cyrano always brings attention to himself in public?
10. Do you believe you should always tell the truth in every situation no  matter who it will hurt?  Explain.
11. Have you ever hidden your true feelings for someone?  Have ever put on a mask by pretending to be someone you are not?  Why do people do this?
12. What would it be like to be Christian and know that the person you loved was in love with someone else's words?
13. What is "panache?"  How does it relate to Cyrano and his life?

MEETING STANDARDS IN ART

Act it Out. Cyrano says, "One whole is made from our two halves." Tell your students to think of someone they know and list that person's positive attributes; then list their own. How could they compliment one another? Using this list, have students create a hero. One at a time, have students portray their hero in front of the class. Encourage classmates to ask the hero questions about his or her powers or attributes, reminding the student to "stay in character" as the hero.

Customs and Etiquette. For members of 17th century French nobility, proper etiquette was extremely important. Bows and curtsies were essential and well-practiced. Discuss etiquette and movement as elements of characterization, then see if you can master a 17th century bow or curtsy. What are some of today's customs and etiquettes? How do they differ from those in the 17th century?

MESSIEURS/GENTLEMEN:
The "best" bow came from using personality and the movement of clothing, rather than following strict rules. There were many different types of bows, but the following was the most important courtly bow: Place the feet in the third position (right heel to the hollow of the left foot) the body is drawn up, and the right hand is put to the heart as if to say, "My heart is yours". Then take a step back with the right foot while bowing, bringing the hand down in front of the body with the palm up as if to say, "I lay at your feet". Straighten the body by bringing feet back to third position, with the hand sweeping up at the side.

MESDAMES/LADIES:
Variations on the curtsy developed based on clothing or the amount of respect shown. Slide the right foot back with the instep pressing down, behind and slightly to the left of the left leg. Gradually sink down, sitting by bending the right leg, arms falling to the side, and head lowered. The important point was the crossing under of the sliding right leg, this movement being supported by crossed thighs. The lady then rose with her weight on the left foot since this foot did not move during the entire sequence of the curtsy.

                                                                 Last Updated: 05/06/2007                    Copyright Orlando Shakespeare Theater