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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 two drinks does Roxane compare to express her disappointment with Christian's words to her?

2. Upon what subject does Roxane expect Christian to speak this night?

3. How long does the monk say Cyrano needs to detain the Comte de Guiche?

4. What two vices does Cyrano proclaim to want to slay at the end of Scene 8?

5. Who does Cyrano chase from the shop at the end of Scene 4?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why does Cyrano truly detest Montfleury?

4. Why does Ragueneau expect Cyrano at the play?

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

6. With what has Ragueneau been preoccupied in Act 2?

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

8. What offer does de Guiche make Cyrano, and why does Cyrano refuse?

9. What new sadness has befallen Ragueneau at the beginning of Act 3?

10. How does Cyrano react to the loutish Citizen's attack on his nose?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Roxane develops from a mere object of affection into a fully-dimensional strong-willed character. Chart this transition in an essay. How does Roxane appear in the first act of the play? Is her role active, or merely objective to male characters? By scene 4, how has she transformed herself? What bold actions does she undertake without assistance from others?

Essay Topic 2

Ragueneau is a figure of much comedic value, a sort of kindly fool forever at the mercy of a hostile world. He is also on of Cyrano's greatest advocates. Write an essay about Ragueneau. What does he value in life, and why do these choices cause him so much pain? Why does he enter scenes when he does? Why do you think he ends in such ignominy?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about the dynamic between Cyrano and the Comte de Guiche. Use the several insults that Cyrano deal de Guiche throughout the play as framework for the essay. Why does Cyrano deal the nobleman these slights, and how does de Guiche respond? Who pays for these slights? Does either man ultimately change as a result of this dynamic?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 858 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample