"Don Quixote"

Paper Summary:

The paper describes how the main character, Don Quixote, in Miguel de Cervantes' novel of the same name, is trying to live a dream he has of a so-called better time, when Spain was filled with lords, ladies and courtly manners. The paper discusses why this story has been called a farce, fantasy, parable and fable. The paper looks at the theme of class and worth and shows how the characters represent different aspects of Cervantes' thought and history.

From the Paper:

"Don Quixote is about a man living in the 16th century in the countryside in Spain named Alonso Quijano. He loves reading about knights and chivalry, admiring the famous heroes of the past. He reads so much that he comes to believe he lives in the past and longs to "become a knight errant and. . . seek adventures. . . righting all manner of wrongs and . . . placing himself in danger and ending those wrongs, winning eternal renown and everlasting fame" (Grossman 21). He renames himself Don Quixote, as he comes to think of himself as a real knight in shining armor and remakes a headpiece from his ancestral heritage to wear. He is knighted by the innkeeper and travels around on Rocinante, his old horse, supposedly doing good deeds, such as rescuing a boy tied to a tree, seeking adventure and living for knightly honor."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Grossman, Edith, and Harold Bloom. Don Quixote. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. 2003.
• Ormsby, John. "Translator's Preface." Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Translated by John Ormsby. London. 1885. Page v.
• Phillips, Brian and Davidson, Sara. SparkNote on Don Quixote. 29 Sep. 2007 <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/donquixote/canalysis.html>.

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• Book Review # 71136 : "Don Quixote"
• Book Review # 29256 : "Don Quixote"

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