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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 item does Carbon pointedly tell Roxane is missing from his company?

2. Why does Cyrano fear telling Roxane the truth of the letters?

3. What does Christian insist he can do to help Cyrano?

4. How many years after the events of Act 4 does Act 5 take place?

5. On what day does Cyrano customarily visit the convent?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the imaginary enemies Cyrano fights at the end of the play?

2. What secret does Cyrano tell Christian in Scene 7?

3. In Scene 2, what news has de Guiche heard regarding Cyrano?

4. Why does Cyrano fear telling Roxane the truth regarding the letters?

5. What is Cyrano's relationship with Roxane in Act 5?

6. What does Roxane resolve to do at the end of Scene 5?

7. How does Cyrano embarrass the Comte de Guiche in Scene 4?

8. How does Roxane reason Cyrano's absence at his appointed time?

9. Why do Le Bret and Carbon call on Cyrano at the end of Scene 1?

10. Why does Cyrano wait so long to tell Roxane the truth?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the play, Cyrano combines his desire for glory in battle with his desire to create beautiful verses. Write an essay about this unity of combat and rhyme. What does Cyrano do to add an aura of melody to his combat? Who does he take with him? What is the public reaction to this aplomb?

Part 1) Cyrano's duel with Valvert

Part 2) Cyrano's fending off of the 100 ruffians

Part 3) The Gascony Guard's stand against the Spanish at Arras

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

The Comte de Guiche seems to be a simple villainous presence at the beginning of the play, but he proves to be one of the most dynamic figures of the narrative. Write an essay analyzing the Comte's transformation over the course of the play. What is the root of his villainy? Why does he suddenly change? What hopes and regrets does he express in Act 5?

(see the answer keys)

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