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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What false promise to the monk does Roxane claim is in de Guiche's letter?

2. What new honor does de Guiche announce he has been given in Scene 2?

3. How many enemies does Le Bret estimate Cyrano made this evening?

4. In Scene 7, behind what does Cyrano tell Roxane his heart cowers?

5. What does Cyrano give to Christian at the end of Scene 10?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Cyrano truly detest Montfleury?

2. How does Roxane trick the monk in Scene 11?

3. How do Cyrano and Christian intend to speak to Roxane at the end of Scene 6?

4. How does Roxane prevent Christian's going to battle in Scene 2?

5. Why does Cyrano consider himself a coward at the end of Scene 3?

6. Describe the scene at the beginning of the play.

7. How does Cyrano delay Christian's kiss in Scene 10?

8. Why does Cyrano leave the theatre at the end of Act 1?

9. How does Cyrano explain Christian's uncertain poetry to Roxane?

10. How does Cyrano get rid of the Duenna?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Cyrano is renowned in the play not only as a warrior and leader, but also as an artist. Write an essay about Cyrano the artist. How does he bring beauty and verse into every aspect of his being? Does he consider art a profession? Does he intend to make money from it? Cite examples from the text in answering these questions.

Essay Topic 2

Cyrano de Bergerac is an individualist of the highest order. His sense of honor is self-contained, and he is unwilling to equivocate to appease a crowd. Write an essay about his willingness to make enemies in pursuit of honor:

Part 1) How does Cyrano place himself in conflict with virtually the entire city in the first act of the play? Why does he do this, and what does this say about him?

Part 2) Why does Cyrano turn down de Guiche's offer of patronage for his verses? What is the crux of his argument after the Comte storms out?

Part 3) Describe Cyrano's station in life at the end of the play? How is he regarded by both his friends and Paris as a whole? What is Rostand saying about the play of the good man in society?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about the relationship between Le Bret and Cyrano. As the protagonist's foil, what information does Le Bret provide the audience at the beginning of the play? Throughout the ensuing four acts, what new information does Le Bret draw? How does Rostand create a relationship that allows this disclosure to occur organically?

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