Cyrano Act 2 Study Guide, Due Friday, December 7

ACT 2, The Poet’s Eating-House (19 questions total)

Act II, Scene I

Vocabulary

andiron – a metal support used in a fi replace

gallery – a narrow passageway

lute – a small guitar-like musical instrument

lyre – a stringed instrument belonging to the harp family

scullions – kitchen workers

1. Explain the conflict between Ragueneau and his wife, Lise. How is Ragueneau similar to Cyrano?

Act II, Scene II

1. What is the purpose of the exchange between Ragueneau and the children?

Act II, Scene III

1. Why does Cyrano write a letter to Roxane? For what reason does he decide not to sign the letter?

Act II, Scene IV

Vocabulary

cudgels – small, heavy clubs

pikes – long spears

1. Find a passage from this scene that demonstrates Cyrano’s lack of interest in his fight with the one hundred men.

2. What evidence is there that the poets who enjoy Ragueneau’s hospitality only pretend to like Ragueneau’s poetry?

Act II, Scene V

1. How does Cyrano guarantee a private meeting with Roxane?

Act II, Scene VI

1. Find an example of litotes (A figure of speech in which a positive is stated by negating its opposite. Some examples of litotes: no small victory, not a bad idea, not unhappy ...) in this scene.

2. List some ways Roxane raises Cyrano’s hopes that she is in love with him. What word does she use that shatters his hopes?

3. What is Roxane’s true reason for meeting Cyrano at the pastry shop?

4. Find an example of irony on page 50.

Act II, Scene VII

Vocabulary

coronets – crowns worn by members of the noble class

heraldry – the study of genealogy, coats of arms, and ranks of the noble class

intrepid – brave

pentacrostic – a set of five lines of poetry in which the same word or name is formed within all five lines

1. Cyrano recites a poem to introduce the Gascons to De Guiche. Briefly identify the qualities that Cyrano believes all the Gascons possess.

2. Why does Cyrano decline De Guiche’s offer to be Cyrano’s patron?

Act II, Scene VIII

Vocabulary

madrigals – vocal arrangements meant to be sung by three voices in harmony with one another

1. Cite some of Cyrano’s reasons for why he rejects patronage.

2. Cyrano discusses his reasons for remaining free of patronage:

“To be content with every flower, fruit or even leaf—but pluck them

from my own garden and no one else’s! And then, if glory ever does by

chance come my way, I’ll pay no tribute to Caesar, because the merit

will be my own.”

State a theme for Cyrano de Bergerac based on the above quotation.

3. What evidence is there that Le Bret knows Cyrano is deeply hurt after his visit with Roxane?

Act II, Scene IX

1. Why does Christian risk a battle with Cyrano by making comments about Cyrano’s nose?

Act II, Scene X

Vocabulary

eloquence – the ability to express oneself gracefully and fluently

haphazard – random

1. What reason does Cyrano give Christian for wanting to help him win Roxane? Speculate on what unspoken reasons Cyrano may have.

2. List two objections that Christian has to Cyrano’s plan to win Roxane. How does Cyrano overcome these objections?

Act II, Scene XI

1. What is the purpose of this scene?