Contrasting Novel and Romance

Assignment: Contrasting Novel and Romance

Due: Monday, April 3

Overview

We have talked a lot about how Don Quijote both imitates and criticizes the genre of romance. It is time to take a closer look at this issue, using specific passages. In this exercise, you will be comparing excerpts from the Quijote with similar passages from a romance, Amadis de Gaul. After reading the excerpts, complete questions contrasting their elements and describing similarities and differences.

Directions

To prepare for this activity, you will want to have your anthology handy. Please read the excerpts below. The first one comes from Amadis de Gaula by Vasco Lobeira (15th century). In the excerpts, you will read about Amadis of Gaul (also known as "the Greek") and his adventures as he tries to save the princess Olinda and his beloved Grasinda from the Roman army. The other passage comes, of course, from the Quijote (16th century).

As you read, consider the following:

	What genre does Amadis of Gaul belong to? And Don Quixote?
	How would you characterize the plot sequences in Amadis? And in Don Quixote?
	Both passages deal with heroics, but how is Don Quixote's show of heroism different than Amadis'?
	What is the tension between the 2 genres?

For each question, read the information and type in your response. After you are finished, click "Submit" below to send your assignment to Dr. Beebee.

Your Name:
Your E-Mail Address:

1. Do the chapter headings have similar or different functions? Explain.

Amadis of Gaul	The Quixote
Chap. XVI. How the Greek Knight and his companions led Grasinda and her company to place of battle, where her knight was to fulfil her command.	Of the good fortune which the valorous Don Quixote had in the terrifying and never-before-imagined adventure of the windmills, along with other events that deserve to be suitably recorded

Type your response here:

2. How does the description in Amadis of Gaul compare with Don Quixote's battle gear?

Amadis of Gaul

The Quixote

On the morrow Grasinda with four damsels heard mass in the tent, the three knights being armed mounted, and Grasinda mounted her palfrey, she and her palfrey being arrayed in cloth of silk and gold, with pearls and jewels, that the greatest empress in the world could not have been more richly adorned. This day had she long looked for, and therefore had prepared the ornaments, the costliest that could be procured, for having great possessions, and neither husband nor children, nor people, she thought of expending her wealth no other way than this. The Greek Knight led her bridle: the armour which he wore Grasinda had provided for him; the breast plate was white as snow, the surcoat was of her colours and laced with threads of gold, and his helmet and shield were of the same colour as the surcoat.

The first thing he did was to burnish up some old pieces of armor, left him by his great-grandfather, which for ages had lain in a corner, moldering and forgotten . . .(p. 1530 Chapter 1)

Type your response here:

3. Compare the equinine description of Salustanquidio with that of Rocinante's (you may wish to include something about the name, "Rocinante"):

Amadis of Gaul	The Quixote
When the Green Knight and his company arrived, they saw the king at one end of the field, and the Roman knights at the other, and among them Salustanquidio in black arms, bearing serpents or and argent; so huge of stature was he, that he seemed like a giant; and the horse he rode was of growth marvellously great.	After this, he went out to have a look at his nag; and . . . the animal had more cuartos, or cracks, in its hoof than there are quarters in a real. . . (p. 1530, Chapter 1)

Type your response here:

4. What effect is the description of Amadis's combats intended to have on the reader? And Quixote's?

Amadis of Gaul

The Quixote

[In the next few pages Salustanquidio challenges the Greek Knight to a joust, since Amadis needs to prove that he is indeed a brave knight.] The Roman at this, turned and ran at him. They ran at each other full speed, their lances laid in rest, and being covered with their shields; the horses were both fleet, the knights both strong and mutually enraged. They met in the middle of the lists, and neither failed in his blow. The Greek knight struck him on the edge of his shield and pierced it, and struck the strong plates of iron beneath, with so rude a blow that though it did not pierce them, it bore him from the saddle. The Greek knight passed on, carrying the lance of Salustanquidio hanging in his shield and in the sleeve of his mail, so that all thought he was wounded, but it was not so. He drew out the lance, and raised it with an overhand grasp and turned to Salustanquidio and saw that the did not move, but lay as if he were dead; this was no wonder for he was a large man and bulky, and had fallen from a high horse, and this armour was heavy and the ground was hard, and moreover the left arm upon which he had fallen was broken near the wrist and the greater part of his ribs put out. The Greek Knight who thought him stronger than indeed he was, stopt his horse, and held the lance point at his face, for his helmet had fallen off with the shock, and said to him, Knight you will not be so discourteous as not to award the crown to that fair dame, because she merits it! But the Roman made no reply. [Amadis goes on to fight two more Roman soldiers who dashed his shield and who wanted to kill his horse]

He thereupon commended himself with all his heart to his lady Dulcinea, beseeching her to succor him in this peril; and, being well covered with his shield and with his lance at rest, he bore down upon [the windmills] at a full gallop . . . (p. 1551, Chapter 8)

Type your response here:

5. List 3 similarities between the Amadis Of Gaul and Don Quixote texts:

1
2
3

6. For each of the 3 similarities listed above, describe a difference between the two works.

	Differences Identified:
Similarity 1
Similarity 2
Similarity 3

7. What do we call the form of Amadis narrative?

8. What do we call the form of the Don Quixote narrative?

When you feel you have answered all the questions above completely, click "Submit" to send your assignment to Dr. Beebee. Remember, you cannot make changes to your assignment after you submit it. DID YOU REMEMBER TO TYPE IN YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL AT THE TOP OF THE FORM?