Cyrano de Bergerac
By Edmond Rostand
“The last great
romantic dramatist”
The author- Edmond Rostand
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Born April 1869; French poet and dramatist
Rostand was married to poet Rosemonde
Etienette Gerard and had two sons
Completed Cyrano in 1897
In 1901, Rostand became the youngest writer
to be elected to the French Academy
All of Rostand's best works, it seems, are
tragedies, yet they leave the audience with a
feeling of happiness and inspiration that many
a comedy fails of producing.
Rostand died in France in 1918
Cyrano de Bergerac:
A Romantic Comedy
Cyrano is referred to as a Romantic play Romance – as a medieval tale – was a French
literary form
Tales concerned daring deeds of knights and
the relationship of the knights to their ladies
Roman de la Rose and Chanson de Roland:
tales in which the chevalier servant loved his
lady from a far and wrote her poetry
Heroes were brave, noble, steadfast – their
word is their bond
Cyrano de Bergerac—
the historical character
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Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac (1619 –
1655) was a French dramatist and duellist
who is now best remembered for the many
works of fiction which have been woven
around his life story, big nose and all…
From prominent – not noble – family
Wrote poetry, political pamphlets, some plays
– Moliere did in fact use two scenes written
by Cyrano!
His high courage and equally high spirit made
him many enemies and gained him a
reputation as a romantic hero
Cyrano de Bergerac as Romanticism
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Romantic period in
Europe vaguely began
in the late 18th century
and ended in middle of
the 19th century.
Imagination, emotion,
and freedom are
certainly the focal
points of romanticism.
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Characteristics of Romantic
literature:
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an emphasis on individualism;
spontaneity;
freedom from rules;
solitary life rather than life in
society;
the beliefs that imagination is
superior to reason and devotion to
beauty;
love of and worship of nature;
and fascination with the past,
especially the myths and mysticism
of the middle ages.
Cyrano de Bergerac as
Romanticism, Continued
Romantic treatments are sometimes
sentimental, idealistic rather than realistic
 A reaction to the restrained neoclassical
attitude of reason, order and balance
 The Romantics freed the French drama
from the two unities of time and place.
 Written in 1897, many believed Cyrano to
be the revival of Romanticism
 Cyrano is celebrated for its idealism
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History of
th
17
Century Paris
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1610 – Louis XIII becomes King of France.
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1618 – The Thirty Years War begins – Austria and
Spain go to war with a group of German Princes.
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1624 – Cardinal Richelieu becomes first minister
of France.
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1634 – Spanish troops invade central and
northern Europe.
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1635 – France declares war on Austria and Spain.
History of 17th Century Paris, Continued
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1639 - The real Cyrano is wounded in
battle.
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1641 – Cyrano leaves the army and takes
up literature.
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1643 – Louis XIII dies, Louis the XIV
becomes king.
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1645 – Cyrano dies from head injuries
from a log dropped on his head.
Terms you should know
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Comic relief – a witty exchange, skit, or
soliloquy that the author inserts to ease
tensions within a serious work.
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Melodrama – a romantic or sensational
plot carried to the extremes of emotion in
weeping, or dismay. The final act of
Cyrano has been labeled melodrama
MORE Terms you should know
Troubadours—
 Lyric poets in Southern France,
northern Italy, and northern
Spain, who composed songs
about courtly love.
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A strolling minstrel.
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The “real” Cyrano was said to
be a minstrel and a great
swordsman.
MORE Terms you should know
Dramatic Irony—
 Occurs when the
audience of a play or
the reader of a work
of literature knows
something that a
character in the work
itself does not know
MORE Terms you should know
Unrequited Love--Love not returned in kind;
"unrequited (unanswered) love“
"Let no one who loves be unhappy. Even love unreturned
has it's rainbow."
-James Matthew Barrie
"Nothing takes the taste
out of peanut butter quite
like unrequited love."
-"Charlie Brown"
MORE Terms you should know
Tragedy—
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A drama or literary work in
which the main character is
brought to ruin or suffers
extreme sorrow, especially as
a consequence of a tragic
flaw, moral weakness, or
inability to cope with
unfavorable circumstances.
Themes and Motifs in Cyrano
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Unrequited love
Physical beauty vs. spiritual beauty (is one
more real than the other?)
Heroism
Arrogance
Loyalty
Sacrifice
Extensive monologues using subtle wit,
alliteration, and double entendres
Characters
Cyrano de Bergerac – our hero
 Roxanne his precieuse – a person of
highly affected language manners and
dress – appearance was of utmost
importance
 Christian de Neuvillette – good looking
soldier
 Compte de Guiche – the villain
 Ragueneau – poet, baker friend of Cyrano
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Characters
Ligniere – drunk singer of satiric songs
 Valvert – a dandy friend of de Guiche
 Montfluerry – a horrible actor
 And many, many, more…..
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