Background Information
Study Questions
Is Don Quijote mad? Why yes? Why not?
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 noble and elevated?
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? How is the figure of Dulcinea connnected to the ideals of Don Quixote?
In general, what is the attitude of Don Quixote toward people of humble social/economic position? What about the rich and the powerful?
Why is Don Quijote angry at the merchants of Toledo? Why is he angry that they refuse to acknowledge the beauty of Dulcinea? Why do they demand to see a picture of her? What does this suggest about the values and way of life of the merchants? Why does the merchants' servant react so angrily and hurt Don Quixote?
Why is Don Quijote angry at the windmills? What is the literal function of the windmills? Is there any possible symbolic meaning? Any economic significance to these images? Why are they compared to the hundred-armed giant Briareus? Why does Don Quixote suggest that he and Sancho will enrich themselves with the spoils from the encounter? What is Cervantes attacking? What is the effect and significance of the different perceptions of Sancho and Don Quixote? What is the significance of Don Quixote claiming that the magician Freston changed the giants into windmills? What are the "evil arts" of Freston? Why is he said to have deprived Don Quixote of his books and his study? What may Cervantes be claiming regarding the nature of "reality" in the world in which he lived? What forces shape that reality?