Don Quixote I-II

In Ch. 1, what do we learn about Quixote's life, financial situation,

and social class?

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

What has Don Quixote been reading? What effect do the things he reads have on him?

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RI.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.K.6

What does Don Quixote decide to do? How does he prepare for his journey?

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

In preparation for his journey, he tries to clean some old armor from one of his great grandfathers. What does the armor symbolize?

"The poor man imagined himself already wearing the crown, won by the valor of his arm, of the empire of Trebizond at the very least; and so it was that with these exceedingly agreeable thoughts, and carried away by the extraordinary pleasure he took in them, he hastened to put into effect what he so fervently desired." He is referred to as 'poor' but is motivated by the dream of 'wearing a crown won by the valor of his arm.' What is the author trying to tell us about the role of of hope and idealism in human life?

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

He finds a noble steed and names him Rocinante. The name rocin means old horse and ante means before. This emphasizes how he was an old horse before Quixote looked at him anew and remade him as a knight's noble steed. (He also renames himself, and the narrator notes his original name is unknown) What does the horse symbolize? Is the author trying to tell us something about identity?

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Using both the Chinese and English versions, how difficult were the first two chapters of Don Quixote to understand (on a scale of 1-10)?

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RI.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.K.6

[no answer required] He declares a peasant girl in a nearby village who "never knew

or noticed" him to be Dulcinea of Toboso, his lady. [See: role of lady in knight tales]

"He armed himself with all his armor and mounted Rocinante, wearing his poorly constructed helmet, and he grasped his shield and took up his lance and through the side door of a corral he rode out into the countryside with great joy and delight at seeing how easily he had given a beginning to his virtuous desire." Why does this moment, at the beginning of his adventure, feel so delightful?

[No reply] "He strung these together with other foolish remarks, all in the manner his books had taught him and imitating their language as much as he could. As a result, his pace was so slow, and the sun rose so quickly and ardently, that it would have melted his brains if he had had any." "as soon as he saw the inn it appeared to him to be a castle complete with four towers and spires of gleaming silver, not to mention a drawbridge and deep moat and all the other details depicted on such castles."

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6