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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. The Infanta offers to use her authority as Princess to imprison which character?

2. As the play opens, who is considered likely to be offered the position of tutor to the King's son?

3. In Act 2, Scene 3, who comforts Chimene?

4. Chimene's father agrees with her choice of suitor because he possesses which quality?

5. In Act 2, Scene 6, what does the King do immediately, to protect the kingdom from the potential invasion?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Act 4, Scene 3, the King says he listens to Chimene politely, but no longer considers her request to punish Don Rodrigue. Why does the King make this decision?

2. Compare and contrast the main conversational threads in Act 1, Scene 1 and Act 1, Scene 2.

3. What does the sword represent, both in Act 1, Scene 5 and in Act 2, Scene 2?

4. It seems unlikely that Don Rodrigue, inexperienced in battle, suddenly becomes a great war hero. Prior to his duel with Don Gomes. In fact, Don Gomes is hesitant to fight against someone so inexperienced. Does this weak plot development hinder the integrity of the play?

5. Act 1, Scenes 1 and 2, contain all dialogue and no action. What is the dramatic purpose of these scenes?

6. Describe the emotions in Don Rodrigue's soliloquy.

7. In Act 1, Scene 4, Don Diegue speaks in soliloquy. Describe his emotions and complaints.

8. The Infanta says she no longer loves Don Rodrigue, but now loves "Le Cid", the hero. What does she mean by this statement?

9. In Act 3, Scene 5, Don Diegue laments in soliloquy about his unhappiness since the duel is fought. Don Diegue's son follows his wishes in defending his honor, and yet he is not happy. What emotional punishments must Don Diegue endure?

10. In Act 2, Scene 3, what is the Infanta's advice to Chimene? Is this advice inspired by her sense of honor?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Chimene says that Don Rodrigue's death means death to her. The Infanta says that Don Rodrigue's marriage to Chimene means death to her. For each character, discuss whether she means her death as something literal or metaphorical. For each character, is her death a rational response to the loss of Don Rodrigue?

Essay Topic 2

The play "Le Cid" features two love triangles. Who are the three characters in each triangle, and what are their feelings for each other? Do the triangles overlap? Are the characters in the love triangles honorable? How could these characters best balance honor, love, and morality to achieve peace or joy?

Essay Topic 3

In "Le Cid", the sword represents the violent pursuit of honor. Don Rodrigue uses the sword to defend his father's honor, then later he honorably offers it to Chimene to uphold her father's honor. The same sword, defending honor every time, can be used at cross purposes. This shows that honor isn't an absolute, but rather is relative to every person's individual perspective. What, in your opinion, is the playwright's view of honor?

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