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Background Information
Study Questions
Is Don Quijote mad? What drives him to insanity? What is the implied attitude toward literature? Is literature condemned or praised?
What does Don Quijote want? What does he value? Who does he want to help? Who does he want to attack? Does he accomplish what he desires? Why? Why not?
Is there anything noble or admirable in his actions or beliefs? What makes Don Quijote's actions comical? What makes them sublime? What does the novel parody? What values or beliefs are shown as obsolete? What values or beliefs are revitalized and ennobled?
Might Cervantes have seen himself in Don Quijote? In what ways? Is Cervantes's own idealism earlier in his life (as a fighter for Christianity) in any way connected to the character or actions of Don Quijote?
In what ways does Cervantes employ the figure of Don Quijote and other characters and situations in the story to express his criticisms of the world in which he lived? How does the mission of Don Quijote parallel or differ from the mission of Cervantes? How do their ideals resemble or differ from each other? How do their methods resemble or differ from each other?
What does Sancho Panza represent? How about the lady Dulcinea?
What is the meaning of Don Quijote's confrontation with the wealthy farmer and the young boy Andres? Who does Don Quijote defend?
Why is Don Quijote angry at the windmills? Is there any possible symbolic meaning in the windmills? What then is Cervantes attacking?
Why is Don Quijote angry at the merchants of Toledo? Why is he angry that they refuse to acknowledge the beauty of Dulcinea? What does this suggest about the values and way of life of the merchants?
What is the significance of Don Quijote's attack against the Benedictine friars? Why is he angry with religious people? What criticisms are embedded in this episode?
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