Donquixote Part 1 Timeline

The Author

1 CE

The creator of this masterpiece name is Miguel de Cervantes, one of the most significant figures in Spanish and world literature. He was born in 1547 in Alcala de Henares, Spain, and passed in 1616. Though he was best known for "Don Quixote," he also was a soldier in the Spanish army, a playwright, a novelist, and a poet.

Relation to this Class

2

"Don Quixote" is an epic like other stories we read this semester. This epic explores love a topic we discussed in every story we read. It explores love in various ways some of which are idealized and unrealistic. For example, his beloved Dulcinea del Toboso whom he never met is the driving factor for him to go on various adventures and quests. This unrequited love for Dulcinea is a central element of the story.

Relation to Other Works

3

Don Quixote is a parody of other Chivalric Romances that were popular during the 16th and 17th centuries. An example of one would be Arthurian legends. Don Quixote the character himself has also an influence on modern Novels such as The Great Gatsby due to his idealism and quest for an unreachable goal.

The Beggining (Chapter 1)

4

Takes place in Early 17th century spain in a small village. An aging man by the name of Alonso Quixano, an aging gentlemen, obsessed with chivalric romances. This obsession begins to consume him and drive him into madness. "You must know, then, that the above-named gentleman whenever he was at leisure gave himself up to reading books of chivalry with such ardour and avidity that he almost entirely neglected the pursuit of his field-sports, and even the management of his property" (Cervantes)

New found Identity (Chapter 2)

5

Alonso Quixano consumed by his passion for Chivalric romances adopts the name Don Quixote a knight persona he believes to be him. He refurbishes his old armor and rechristens his aging horse as "Rocinate." Now he's ready, he sets off towards the "the castle" as the self-proclaimed knight Donquixote.

First Adventure (Chapter 2)

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Don Quixote's first adventure involves him questing out to revive Chilvary and he finds himself running into an inn that he views as a castle where he requests to be knighted. This text shows Don Quixote's wild imagination mistaking the Inn for a castle "The moment he saw the inn he pictured it to himself as a castle with its four turrets and pinnacles of shining silver, not forgetting the drawbridge and moat and all the belongings usually ascribed to castles of the sort." (Cervantes)

After the Inn (Chapter 2)

7

Don Quixote heads home after the encounter but has some misfortune along the way. On the way back he was attacked and left beaten so badly that another civilian had to help him up and home When he arrives home it does not get any better there he is greated with his niece, house servant, and priest destroying his books

Sancho Panza Becomes Squire (Chapter 3)

8

Don Quixote convinces a simple farmer, Sancho Panza, to be his loyal squire with promises of riches and a governorship. Sancho was very skeptical of these grand promises but eventually gave in with the idea of receiving a governorship in mind. Don Quixote says to Sancho "Be assured, Sancho, that when thou kickest off, thy fortune will raise thee to such greatness that thou shalt be as much king of this land as I am of mine. (Cervantes). This proves the promise of governorship that is promised.

The Windmill Encounter (Chapter 8)

9

Don Quixote mistakes the windmill for giants and charges at them with his lance, resulting in a comical defeat. Sancho attempted to explain to Don Quixote that these were just windmills. Sancho says “What you see over there aren't giants—they're windmills, and what seems to be arms are the sails that rotate the millstone when they're turned by the wind.”(Cervantes)

Dulcinea del Toboso (Throughout part 1)

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Don Quixote falls in love with a woman named Dulcinea del Toboso, whom he has never met, but idealized as his beloved lady. He embarks on numerous adventures to prove his love for her. Don Quixote says this about Dulcina "I was born to live dying and to try to attain the unattainable. Dulcina, I have never spoken a word to you nor have you any way of knowing me; but I am that Knight of the Sorrowful Countenance, whom yesterday returned your lost liberty by the might of my arm" (Cervantes).

Various encounters and Adventures (Throughout Part 1)

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Don Quixote got quite ambitious and got into tons of battles with knights, helped free a group of galley slaves, and got involved in various absurd situations, all while trying to uphold the chivalric code. The text says "He ordered the chain to be taken off and placed in the hands of those who had been tied up" (Cervantes). This piece of text is in relation to the galley slaves being freed by Don Quixote and Sancho.

Returning home after Defeat (towards the end of Part 1)

12

Don Quixote's luck comes to an end when he is defeated by the knight of the White Moon. He is forced to return home fortunately because he was viewed as clinically insane. when he returned home his friends and family attempted to cure his madness.