Cyrano
Review
1. Imagine how people
in the mid-1600’s in
The two inventions which Cyrano is talking about are the spaceship and the
spacesuit. the spaceship comes apart as it goes
through the atmosphere it loses its lower parts, "I myself discovered six
ways to violate the virgin sky!" The other invention which Cyrano is
talking about is the spacesuit which allows people to breathe in space.
"... sealing up the air in a cedar
chest,..."
Picture of a Spaceship Picture of a Spacesuit
2. Cyrano
talks about the moon at length in his discussion with de Guiche,
but only refers to it at the end of Act I, and near the end of Act V. Look up
these references. In each of these instances, what does the moon symbolize?
What does this symbol reveal about Cyrano?
Cyrano is caught in a world of darkness and is the
only thing that is light. The moon is where everything intellectual goes, and
since Cyrano believes he is an intellectual, he should go to the moon. The moon
symbolizes fickleness and capriciousness. This symbol shows reveals that Cyrano
is an unpredictable character in the play
3. Cyrano’s last words are “My white plume”—the “one thing
without stain” that is his own. The plume is literally on his hat. Symbolically
what does the plume represent? (see Cyrano’s speech to Valvert in Act
I, a cadet’s comment in Act II when de Guiche is
present, and Cyrano’s comment to de Guiche in Act IV.)
The plume represents purity and freedom. Cyrano
chooses poverty and decides to keep his dignity and freedom. While everything
in Cyrano's life appears to be stained by blood or
tears, his white plume is the one thing that will always remain pure.
4. All
through Act V two images are repeated: falling leaves and falling darkness. De Guiche, Roxane, and Cyrano all
comment on the leaves. Considering what happens in Act V, what do the leaves
and darkness represent? After answering the question, find a web site that
discusses archetypes and these two symbols. Make a link to that web site.
The darkness represents a journey into the sub
consciousness and the unknown. as the leaves fall he
compares himself to them, he wants to fall gracefully as well.
5. Cyrano,
de Guiche, and Christian all fall in love with Roxane, but Rostand is still able to create somewhat complex characters
despite their first appearances in the play. Explain how each character “loves”
Roxane and how does that love change? Find
appropriate song lyrics or link a song to your answer that would be accurately reflect the love each character exhibits. Explain the
connection.
Cyrano- Cyrano truly loves Roxanne for her
intelligence and her beauty. He loves her even he cannot state his love for her
because he is scared of rejection.
"If I could say what I want to say I'd say I
want to blow you... away Be with you every night Am I
squeezing you too tight? If I could say what I want to see I want to see you go
down on one knee... Marry me today! Guess I'm wishing my life away... With
these things I'll never say" Avril Lavigne
de Guiche-
he loves Roxanne because of her beauty but only wants a physical relationship
with her.
"I wanna li li li
lick you from your head to your toes And I wanna move
from the bed down to the down to the floor Then I wanna
ah ah you make it so good I don't wanna
leave But I gotta kno kno kno know wha
what's your fan-ta-ta-sy" Ludacris
Christian- He loves Roxanne for her beauty but also because she thinks he
is hot. He wants Roxanne to love him for his looks only and nothing else, but
later realizes that Roxanne does not love him.
"I’m too sexy for my love, too sexy for my love
Love’s going to leave me
I’m too sexy for my shirt too sexy for my shirt
So sexy it hurts
And I’m too sexy for Milan too sexy for Milan
New York and Japan
And I’m too sexy for your party
Too sexy for your party
No way I’m disco dancing"- Right Said Fred
