2. What was the Thirty Years War? Who were Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years%27_War
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XIII_of_France
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armand_Jean_du_Plessis%2C_Cardinal_Richelieu
4. Who were the Three Musketeers? Who was D'Artagnan? What is a Gascon?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Musketeers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%27Artagnan
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Gascon
5. Why was theatre important to the Paris society of the 17th century? Who were the prominent playwrights? What were the favoirte subjects of drama? How did being seen at the theatre affect one's social status?
http://people.brynmawr.edu/cwillifo/pscp/
http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Theatre/DF_theatre.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_literature_of_the_17th_century
8. In the 17th century, war was a defining characteristic of society and people lived with the constant threat of death. What were the ways war affected the lives of men and women? How did it shape both their social roles and responsibilities, and their views on life and love?
http://www.higgins.org/Research/virtualexhibitions.shtml
http://www.uniformology.com/page15c.html
9. Research the precieuses. What influence did the preciuses have on the arts at the time of Cyrano (and Moliere)? What conditions bound their behavior and freedom?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pr%C3%A9cieuses
10. What is a duel? What is the "code duello?" Who benefited when men lived by that set of rules? Why was dueling allowed to be part of the 17th century French society?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_duello
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dueling
11. In 17th-century life, social roles were well defined. Look at examples of art and fashion from the 17th century. What can you learn about 17th century French society by examining the art and fashion from the period? What can you learn about the social rles of men? Women? Describe the artistic style of the time.
12. What are the distinguishing characteristics, reputations and sources of regional pride for individuals from the following French regions mentioned in the play: Gascony, Normandy, Paris?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gascony
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris
13. Cyrano de Bergerac is distinguished by his panache, which is both the white, "triple-waving plume" decorating his hat and an elusive combination of pride, bravura and magnificient gestures. Rostand describes the qualities symbolized by the panache this way:
"Panache is not greatness, but something added to greatness, which stirs underneath it. It's something acrobatic, excessive and a little over-ornamented. It's the courage that dares to find the right word for the situation. Certainly heroes without panache are more unselfish, because heroes with panache strike a pose while making the sacrifice. A little frivolous perhaps, a little theatrical without a doubt, panache is only a grade; but that grace implies so much strenth--isn't the soaring spirit our most beautiful victory over the quaking flesh?--that all the same, it's a grace I wish us all."
What is the dictionary definition of panache? What are some modern instances of panache?
http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/archive/2005/12/05.html |
After you are done answering questions, you may work on this prompt:
In your group, write a single paragraph that describes life in seventeenth century Paris, France, including how a person would demonstrate courage and heroic qualities for the purpose of showing love.
Shakespeare Online
