Bring your literature books today! You may turn in early projects if they are ready.

1. Bring your literature books today! You may turn in early projects if they are ready.

2. Moral Tone • Moral tone—overall philosophy of a work • A story is literary if the conflict and characters are artfully developed, the plot is well-structured, and the theme is significant. • A positive moral tone is key. • “A book is not harmless merely because no one is consciously offended by it.” (T. S. Eliot)

3. Moral Tone Three Moral Tone Philosophies: 1. Pessimist View—allow some objectionable elements for two reasons: • Compensating aesthetic qualities (It is attractive!) • Honest view of life • (I Tim. 6:11, II Tim 2:22) • *This view elevates man’s standards above God’s.

4. Moral Tone 2. Exclusivist View—Any exposure to evil is wrong! • Study nothing with objectionable elements. • Extreme view—Read nothing but the Bible. • This view fails to reconcile the use of censorable elements in Scripture.

5. Moral Tone 3. Biblical View—teaches by means of precept and example • Jesus made use of negative examples (degeneracy of Sodom, Cain and Abel, evils of the Corinthian church, immorality) • We must consider the work’s attitude toward sin.

6. Moral Tone “It is our business, as readers of literature, to know what we like. It is our business, as Christians, as well as readers of literature, to know what we ought to like.” T. S. Eliot

7. “I—I am going to be a storm-a flame—I need to fight whole armies alone; I have ten hearts; I have a hundred arms; I feel too strong to war with mortals—BRING ME GIANTS!”  Cyrano de Bergerac

8. “A great nose is the banner of a great man, a generous heart, a towering spirit, an expansive soul - such as I unmistakably am, and such as you dare not to dream of being. . . .” Cyrano de Bergerac

14. Author: Edmond Rostand 1868-1918

15. Author: Edmund Rostand • Born in Marseilles, France, on April 1, 1868 • His education included a degree in law. • He wrote his first play when he was only 20. • His greatest triumph was Cyrano de Bergerac, and it was presented for 500 consecutive performances.

16. Author Information Cont. • Due to poor health, Rostand was refused for service during World War I, but he consoled himself by writing patriotic poetry. • He died December 2, 1918.

17. The REAL Cyrano de Bergerac poet satirist scientist soldier philosopher duelist dramatist humanitarian 1619-1655

18. Act I • Setting: 1640, Paris, Hotel de Bourgogne, the opening of La Clorise by Baro • Main characters: • Montfleury: pompous actor • Christian: from the Touraine, in Paris for three weeks, wants to join the Guards • Lignière: gentleman, drinks, writes songs

19. Act I Cont. • Ragueneau: poet, pastrycook, supports other poets • Roxane: Cyrano's cousin, wealthy, single, orphan, loved by the Comte de Guiche (Richelieu's nephew by marriage) • Comte de Guiche: powerful, ruthless, immoral, willing to persecute others to get what he wants, nephew to Richelieu by marriage

28. Bring your literature books today and have out your notes!

29. Louis XIII

30. Cardinal Richelieu

31. Louis XIV

32. Louvre in Paris

33. Louvre

38. Act I Cont. • Cyrano: • Cyrano’s appearance: ugly! • Theme: appearance versus reality • Cyrano is a man of not only chivalry, courage, and poetry personified, but also poverty, worldly failure, and ugliness.

39. Act I Cont. • Cyrano’s credentials: in the Guards, a gentleman, poet, swordsman, musician, philosopher, proud, Gascon, poor • Cyrano’s reasons for disliking Montfleury • Cyrano’s justification for closing Baro’s play • Cyrano’s response to the intellectuals

40. Act I Cont. • Cyrano’s values: • Freedom: no patron • Inner worth not outer appearance: does not dress according to fashion • Courage: not dependent on, afraid of, or seeking to impress wealthy, powerful men • Contentment: not concerned about money

41. Act I Cont. • The ideal: “to make himself in all things admirable" • Cyrano does succeed in living up to his ideal.

42. Act II • When: morning after the play • Where: Ragueneau's bakery on Rue St. Honoré • Plot: Cyrano's ideal is tested. • Roxane's request - reveals her immature attitude toward love/ reveals the maturity of Cyrano's love

43. Act II Cont. • De Guiche's offer - offers Cyrano his patronage and publication of Cyrano's plays (the catch: some lines must be changed) • This reveals the tenacity with which Cyrano holds to his principles.

44. Act II Cont. • Le Bret's questions - gently challenges Cyrano's purpose This reveals the Cyrano's belief in his right to be free. • Christian's attack - attacks Cyrano's most vulnerable point: his appearance • Reveals Cyrano's lack of self-interest. He even offers his gift of words to Christian.

45. Act II Cont. • Christian's attack - attacks Cyrano's most vulnerable point: his appearance • This reveals Cyrano's lack of self-interest. He even offers his gift of words to Christian to help him win Roxane.

46. Summary of Tests in Act II: Cyrano is challenged by… 1. His love: Roxane (purity of love vs. despair) 2. His enemy: De Guiche (principles vs. compromise) 3. His friend: Le Bret (purpose vs. defeat) 4. His rival: Christian (pride vs. vanity)

47. Act III • When: a few weeks later • Where: Roxane’s garden outside her house • Plot: character analysis and development • Christian: desires to speak for himself • Roxane: begins to be dissatisfied with her ideal man; outwits De Guiche

48. De Guiche self-serving self-indulgent Dishonorable debauched Cyrano others-serving self-sacrificial Honorable truly loving Vs. Act III

49. Act III Cont. Proofs of Cyrano’s true love that “seeketh not his own”: 1. wins Roxane for Christian 2. delays De Guiche while Roxane and Christian are married 3. promises that Christian will write everyday

50. Arras in Paris, France Main Street in Arras (left picture)