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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. Where does Christian refuse to go with Cyrano in Scene 4?

2. What word is Roxane unable to utter when she returns to the window in Scene 10?

3. Who does Cyrano strike at the end of Act 2?

4. Where does Roxane depart at the end of Scene 5?

5. What are the players of the Hotel de Bourgogne doing at the end of the first act?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Cyrano get rid of the Duenna?

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

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

4. What requests does Roxane make of Cyrano before leaving in Scene 3?

5. Describe Christian's interchange with Roxane in Scene 5.

6. What news does Roxane tell Cyrano in Scene 6?

7. Why does Cyrano decide to convince Roxane to kiss Christian?

8. What job is Cyrano given in Scene 12?

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

10. Describe Lise.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Christian is in many ways the tragic figure of CYRANO DE BERGERAC. Write an essay on this assertion. What does he want at the beginning of the play, and why does he choose to involve Cyrano in this endeavor? In the end, how does CHristian end up accomplishing the opposite of what he wanted to?

Essay Topic 2

Cyrano de Bergerac is a friend to the common man and a fierce enemy to hypocrisy and pompousness. Write an essay about his various successes in humbling the soft upper crust of Paris. What does he dislike about each of these adversaries? How does he humble them, and what are the consequences?

Part 1) Montfleury

Part 2) Valvert

Part 3) The Comte de Guiche in Act 4

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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