Cyrano de Bergerac

Study Guide: Act One

Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. Why has Christian come to the play?
What concern does he express to Ligniere?
2. Prior to his entry on stage what do we learn of Cyrano!s appearance
and personality from the descriptions of his friends?
". #rie$y retell what happens when %ont$eury tries to &egin the play.
'ow does Cyrano appease the audience?
(. List three of the comments Cyrano ma)es up a&out his nose.
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2*
"*
+. ,escri&e his duel with -al.ert/
0. What does Cyrano con1de to Le #ret after the crowd lea.es?
'ow does the duenna!s .isit change his mood?
Study Guide: Act Two
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. #rie$y relate Cyrano!s con.ersation with 2oxane at the &eginning of
Act 3wo. What news does she gi.e him and what promise does he
ma)e her?
2. ,escri&e ,e 4uiche!s o5er to Cyrano. What is Cyrano!s response?
". What does Christian do to pro.e himself to the Cadets?
(. 2elate the terms of the pri.ate agreement &etween Cyrano and
Christian concerning 2oxane.
+. 6n referring to his triumph o.er a hundred men Cyrano tells 2oxane
78h 6!.e done &etter since then.9 What does he mean?
0. What is your impression of 2oxane from her con.ersation with Cyrano?
'ow does she treat her cousin? ,o you thin) she deser.es his
lo.e? :xplain.
Study Guide: Act Three
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
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1. 6n the &eginning of Act 3hree what does 2oxane tell Cyrano a&out
Christian and his letters?
2. :xplain the circumstances that lead to Cyrano!s speech under the
&alcony to 2oxane.
". ,uring the &alcony speech what does Cyrano tell 2oxane a&out his
feelings for her?
,escri&e 2oxane!s response to him.
(. :xplain how 2oxane arranges for her marriage to Christian.
+. What does Cyrano do to delay ,e 4uiche and what does ,e 4uiche do
to retaliate?
0. 2oxane seems to &e in lo.e with the idea of lo.e. 'ow does she
demonstrate this?
;. When threatened why does ,e 4uiche change his mind and send the
troops away so suddenly?
Study Guide: Act Four
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. What mission does Cyrano underta)e each morning at Arras?
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2. 'ow does 2oxane explain the reason for her .isit to the camp to
Christian? According to her how and why has her lo.e for him
changed?
". 'ow does Christian feel a&out 2oxane!s declaration?
What does he as) Cyrano to do?
(. What e.ent pre.ents Cyrano from ful1lling Christian!s request?
What does Cyrano tell Christian a&out 2oxane!s lo.e?
+. What new dimensions does 2oxane re.eal in her con.ersation with
Christian?
What does she fail to see?
0. What disco.eries a&out 2oxane and Cyrano does Christian ma)e in this
act?
What new sides to his character do we see?
Study Guide: Act Five
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. According to the nuns what has happened since Christian!s death?
What do they and Le #ret re.eal a&out Cyrano!s circumstances?
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2. ,escri&e Cyrano!s condition when he arri.es at the con.ent.
'ow does he disguise it from 2oxane?
". 'ow does Cyrano 1nally re.eal his feelings to 2oxane?
'ow does she respond?
(. What 7old enemies9 does Cyrano see in his dying .ision?
What are his last words?
+. Cyrano draws attention to the lateness of the year with the falling of
the lea.es and points out that wintertime is when e.erything dies.
What other examples of sym&olism are e.ident in this scene?
0. :.en though death approaches what will ne.er defeat Cyrano?
;. 'ow do Cyrano!s last words ser.e to characteri<e his life?
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