View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why is neither competitor dead, following the duel?

2. Who apologizes to the King for speaking rashly?

3. Why does the King lie to Chimene?

4. In Act 5, Scene 1, Chimene says the boldness of which character costs her honor?

5. In Act 5, Scene 6, what does Chimene ask the King to do?

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

Discuss the use of foreshadowing in "Le Cid". Does foreshadowing add to your enjoyment of the play? Does foreshadowing add to or take away from your sense of the characters and their free will? When the Infanta predicts that Don Rodrigue's victory in a duel leads to his later victory in battle, the idea seems far-fetched. When the prediction comes true, do you feel satisfied or manipulated?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 419 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample