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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. In Act 3, Scene 4, who draws a sword?

2. In Act 2, Scene 2, who challenges another character to a duel?

3. In Act 3, Scene 2, after Chimene responds to a character's offer to avenge her father's death, what does that character do?

4. In the opinion of the King, who dishonors the King's judgment?

5. In Act 1, Scene 5, who is asked to avenge his father's honor?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Don Gomes believe he is the best choice of tutor for the King's son?

2. Why does the Infanta say that the wedding of Chimene and Don Rodrigue simultaneously means death and life to her?

3. How does Don Rodrigue respond, when Don Diegue tells him that honor is more important than love and that women are plentiful?

4. Compare the actions of the Infanta with the actions of Chimene, in terms of honor. How do their actions reveal their differences?

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

6. Why does Don Gomes feel there is no honor in dueling with Don Rodrigue?

7. In Act 2, Scene 5, do the Infanta's words indicate a greater concern for honor or for love?

8. What is Don Sanche's real motivation in offering to avenge the death of Chimene's father?

9. In Act 4, Scene 1, when Chimene learns that Don Rodrigue is victorious in battle, she says that she joins the people of the kingdom in their celebration of his heroism, but still wants revenge on him for killing her father. Is she being honorable or stubborn?

10. In Act 1, Scene 5, what does Don Diegue ask his son, Don Rodrigue, to do? Why does he ask him to do this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Who is the most admirable character in "Le Cid"? What qualities do you admire most about that character? Does the character you chose grow as a person or learn from mistakes over the course of the play? Is honor at or near the top of your list of admirable qualities?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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