Le Cid, The Cit Turned Gentleman, and Berenice

Question 1

Social context of Le Cid

Answer 1

Spanish subject matter corresponds to the fashion of the times in France. In France at the time social responsibility was above personal impulses. Love vs. duty/honor all appealed to the French mentality.

Question 2

Who wrote Le Cid?

Answer 2

Pierre Corneille

Question 3

Infanta (Le Cid Characters)

Answer 3

princess of Castile, friend to Chimene, in love with Roderick, faces conflicted feelings of sorrow and hope whenever there are troubles between Chimene and Roderick

Question 4

Degue (Le Cid Characters)

Answer 4

father of Roderick, is chosen by the king to tutor the prince, is then affronted by the Count, who insults his honor, he then calls upon his son to win his honor back

Question 5

Count (Le Cid Characters)

Answer 5

father of Chimene, is jealous of Degue who was chosen to tutor the prince, feels he is more worthy, he then strikes Degue insulting his honor. He is then killed in a duel with Roderick who avenges his father’s insult

Question 6

Chimene (Le Cid Characters)

Answer 6

daughter of Count, lover ofRoderick, is torn between duty and honor as her father is killed by the one she loves, The king resolves her conflict by ordering her to marry Roderick but allowing her one year to dry her tears of grief over her father.

Question 7

Roderick (Le Cid Characters)

Answer 7

son of Degue, lover of Chimene, is torn between love and duty as he is faced with the task of avenging his father by killing Chimene’s father. After he kills the Count he goes on to fight the Moors and wins an honorable victory over them. The King for his service to the crown resolves his situation with Chimene, ordering the two to marry after she has had a year to mourn.

Question 8

Sancho (Le Cid Characters)

Answer 8

friend of Count, in love with Chimene, he attempts to defend the Count and his rash actions before the King. He later offers Chimene his sword so she can avenge her fathers death by killing Roderick. He fights in the duel of Chimene’s behalf and is injured by Roderick, who wins.

Question 9

Elvira (Le Cid Characters)

Answer 9

governess of Chimene, source of information about the goings on for Chimene. After the death of the Count, Roderick goes to Chimene’s house and Elvire urges him to run away. She later tells Chimene of Roderick’s grand victory over the Moors.

Question 10

Arias (Le Cid Characters)

Answer 10

Castilian gentleman, he warns the Count that his vanity and arrogance will cost him dearly.

Question 11

The King (Le Cid Characters)

Answer 11

King of Castile, he is offended when the Count dishonors Degue, he eventually resolves the entire situation be declaring that Chimene and Roderick shall marry in one year, giving her time to mourn.

Question 12

Leonora (Le Cid Characters)

Answer 12

governess of the Infanta, voice of reason for the INfanta, helps her work through her feelings for Roderick. Constantly reminds her that Roderick is beneath her, and not to weep over him. Finally informs her near the end of the play that there is certainly no hope for the two ever getting together, after the king’s orders.

Question 13

Who wrote The Cit Turned Gentleman?

Answer 13

Moliere

Question 14

What type of play was The Cit Turned Gentleman?

Answer 14

Comedie-Ballet

Question 15

What is a Comedie Ballet?

Answer 15

special form of entertainment in honor of Louis XIV, staged at the kings residence in Chambond, music written by Jean Baptiste Lulli (Lulli)

Question 16

Mr. Jordan (The Cit Turned Gentleman Characters)

Answer 16

member of the bourgeois class, has decided he wants to become a nobleman, makes a fool of himself trying to learn subjects that are useless to him, eventually is duped into allowing his daughter to marry the man he had originally refused.

Question 17

Mrs. Jordan (The Cit Turned Gentleman Characters)

Answer 17

married to Mr. Jordan, the voice of reason during most of the play, confronts Mr. Jordan about his silliness. She is opposed to her daughters marriage to the Turkish prince until she finds out it is Cleontes in disguise.

Question 18

Lucilia (The Cit Turned Gentleman Characters)

Answer 18

daughter to Mr. Jordan, wishes to marry Cleontes, her father refuses because hes is not a gentleman, she then marries him anyways while he is disguised as a Turkish prince

Question 19

Cleontes (The Cit Turned Gentleman Characters)

Answer 19

in love with Lucilia, asks her father if they can be married, Mr. Jordan refuses because he is not a gentleman, he later presents himself disguised as a Turkish prince and fools Mr. Jordan into letting him marry her.

Question 20

Dorimene (The Cit Turned Gentleman Characters)

Answer 20

a marchioness, Mr. Jordan fancies her, and believes that by helping Dorantes financially he will help win her over. IN actuality Dorantes wins her over by passing off Mr. Jordan’s wealth as his own.

Question 21

Dorantes (The Cit Turned Gentleman Characters)

Answer 21

a count, lover to Dorimene, he borrows money from Mr. Jordan and never pays him back, saying he will put in a good word for him among the noblemen, he is actually using the money to woo Dorimene, who he eventually wins over.

Question 22

Nicola (The Cit Turned Gentleman Characters)

Answer 22

servant to Mrs. Jordan, she is upset at all of the different scholars making noise and making messes all over the house.

Question 23

Coviel (The Cit Turned Gentleman Characters)

Answer 23

servant to Cleontes, assists Cleontes in the scheme to marry Lucilia by dressing up and acting like a Turk alongsid.e cleontes

Question 24

Who are the different scholars/ who Mr. Jordan hires to teach him stuff and make him a gentleman?

Answer 24

1. Music Master
2. Dancing Master
3. Fencing Master
4. Philosophy Master
   - also a Master-Tailor, and a Journeyman tailor to dress him

Question 25

Who wrote Berenice?

Answer 25

Jean Racine

Question 26

Titus (Berenice characters)

Answer 26

soon to be emperor of Rome, deeply in love with Berenice, initially plans to marry Berenice but reconsiders because of his duty to Rome, (Romans don’t like foreigners). He asks her to leave (via Antiochus) then asks her to stay, but she does not.

Question 27

Berenice (Berenice characters)

Answer 27

Queen of Palestine, former lover to Antioch, deeply in love with Titus, she is to be married to Titus but is heartbroken when she finds out he wishes her to leave. Torn between love, duty, and honor, she ultimately chooses to return to Palestine and distance herself from both Titus and Antiochus forever.

Question 28

Antiochus (Berenice characters)

Answer 28

king of Commagene, in love with Berenice, allies with the king, intends to tell Berenice of his feelings for her and then depart. He tells her and she is saddened. The king then asks him to tell Berenice to leave him, for he can no longer marry her. At the end of the play he says he will kill himself due to his painful love for Berenice, he doesn’t but is forever separated from her.

Question 29

Paulinus (Berenice characters)

Answer 29

friend of Titus, gives Titus information on the public opinion of the Berenice situation. He tells Titus that the people are not welcoming towards foreigners in power. This spurs Titus to tell Berenice that she must leave. He is confidante of Titus.

Question 30

Arsaces (Berenice characters)

Answer 30

Friend of Antiochus, he is the confidante of Antiochus, and arranges for him to speak to Berenice at the start of the play. Throughout the play he advises Antiochus updating him on the situation between Titus and Berenice.

Question 31

Pheonice (Berenice characters)

Answer 31

friend of Berenice, she warns Berenice that the sentiment of Rome’s people is not a welcome one. She is the confidante of Berenice, listening to her and talking her through the different struggles that arise.

Question 32

Rutilus (Berenice characters)

Answer 32

A roman, he beckons the king to come to the senate meeting, as the members are waiting for him.

Question 33

What are some of the main themes and ideas of Berenice?

Answer 33

internal struggles, love vs. duty, love vs. honor, sacrifice of love, sacrifice of interest of the state