Active Viewing: Cyrano de Bergerac Act 4-5 (124:02-218:00)

Directions: In Act IV, Rostand romanticizes the war. Use the boxes below to explain how
Rostand does this.

Aspect of War Romanticized How Aspect is Romanticized

How does this romanticizing of war further the idea of escapism for French society in
1897, when the play was written?

Directions: In the final act of Cyrano de Bergerac, many of the play’s conflicts are resolved. As
you view act 5, this about the conflicts and their outcomes. Then, note the conflicts’ outcomes.

Cyrano vs.
de Guiche

Cyrano vs.
Christian

Cyrano vs.
society
 Active Viewing: Cyrano de Bergerac Act 4-5 (124:02-218:00)
Act IV Analysis:
1. In Act IV, Cyrano chooses not to tell Roxane the truth, even when he knows that she will
finally accept him. Is this heroic? Discuss and defend your answer using textual support.

2. Characterize Christian and Roxane – are they heroic people? Discuss and defend your answer
using textual support.

Act V Analysis:
3. Cyrano finally gets to “read” Christian’s final letter – yet he has no plans to “read” it, nor to
actually tell Roxane his secret (though it does come out). What is Cyrano really doing in this
scene by asking to read the letter? What evidence is there to support your claim?

4. The movie version and the written play end a little differently. Read the play version below,
annotating and analyzing it as you read.

CYRANO: Now, my epitaph: Philosopher, physician, poet, fighter, and musician, famous for his travels
through the air; a fancy duelist, no less, a lover, too—to his distress—who broke his heart pretending not
to care; here lies Hercule-Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac, who, thinking he was everything, was nothing.
Ah, alas, alack! But pardon me, I find I cannot stay; the moon, you see, has come to take me home... [He
falls back in his chair, speechless for the moment. ROXAN’s weeping bring him back to consciousness.
He looks long and longingly at her, caressing her veil.] I would not have you grieve one hour less for that
fine soul, the good and valiant Christian. I only ask that when my flesh is cold, you’ll give a double
meaning to this veil, and mourn for me a little, mourning him.
ROXANE: I promise!

Keep reading and analyzing…

 Active Viewing: Cyrano de Bergerac Act 4-5 (124:02-218:00)
CYRANO: No! Not here! Not in a chair! [They run to help him, but he waves them back.] No one shall
hold me up! [He supports himself against the trunk of the tree.] Only the tree! [He is silent for a moment]
He comes! I am already shod with stone and gloved with lead. [He holds himself erect.] Since he is on the
way I’ll meet him standing—here—with sword in hand! [He draws his sword.]
ROXANE: [almost fainting]. Cyrano! [All of them shrink back, terrified.]
CYRANO: He sees me! Yes, he dares to mock me for my nose, the noseless one! lifts his sword] What do
you say? It’s useless? That I know. But who fights with assurance of success? A man fights better when
he’s doomed to lost… Who are you there? How many? Thousands? Ah! I know you now, my enemies of
old! Falsehood! [He flails at the air with his sword] Take that! … And you there, Compromise! Prejudice!
Treachery! [He strikes out again] What? Come to terms? Never! No, Never! Here is Cowardice! [He
lunges desperately] You’ll get me down. But, be that as it may, I’ll fight—and fight—and still go fighting
on. [He swings his sword blindly, making wide circles, then stops, panting for breath] You’ve robbed me
of the laurel and the rose, Glory and love… Take them! Take everything! But there is one think that you
shall not have; one think I take with me. And when tonight, I enter god’s great house, I shall bend low,
and bowing, sweep the thresholds’ heavenly blue with something which –in spite of you—I wear… [He
raises his sword, about to spring forward] And that thing is – [the sword clatters from his hand. He totters
and falls into the arms of LE BRET and RAGUENEAU.}
ROXANE: That is--?
CYRANO: [opening his eyes, recognizing her, and smiling contentedly]. My stainless plume. My pride,
my pose, and my lifelong masquerade.

What does this final scene tell us about Cyrano’s character? Is he heroic? Explain using the
text as support.

Cyrano is heroic because, as the text states, he is against compromise, prejudice, treachery, and
cowardice. A hero would not support those traits, and he does not support them. He is also very
honorable, him stating that he has his “stainless plume.” Cyrano spent his entire life working an
image of a fearless fighter, which was the standard of a hero. He worked extra hard in order to
overcome the one thing against him, his nose.

5. Choose one overall theme statement that Rostand is attempting to prove to his audience
through this production. Flesh is out, and explain how the theme is evident throughout the entire
play.