Research Plan

Cyrano de Bergerac
1. Edmond Rostand

Who was he? Major Works? Writing style?

Purpose/intent in writing Cyrano?

2. La Belle poque

When? Characteristics? Who were its primary writers and

artists? Did they share common values/purpose? How?

3. Elements of Drama

What are the key elements of this form? In VIEWING a play,

what should one look for/pay attention to?

4. How to Read Drama

What are the challenges of reading drama? To what should we

pay attention? How does it differ from other literature?

In preparation for our first

Part 1 work, written by
Edmond Rostand and
translated by Brian Hooker,
you will need to research
the following and prepare
brief statements on each
regarding its relevance or
background or importance
in relation to the play.
Then, you will present
on your given topic.

5. Cyrano de Bergerac

Who was he? What did he write? What were his beliefs?
Why was he chosen to be celebrated in La Belle poque?

6. Freethinker / Freethought

Define. What is the philosophy? What do freethinkers value?

How does this fit into Cyrano and La Belle poque?

7. Unrequited Love

What is the theme? Is it as simple as it appears? What makes it

worthy as a topic? Apply to Cyrano?

8. Humanism (secular / as a life-stance)

Define. What is the philosophy? What do humanists value?

How does this fit into Cyrano and La Belle poque?

9. Carpe Diem

Define. In addition to its meaning, how does it translate to a

philosophy? Why and to whom would it be relevant?

10. Cavalier / Cadet

Who were the English Cavaliers and/or the French Cadets?

What was their job? Values? Apply to Cyrano (and crew).

11. Cavalier Poetry

Who were some of the writers? Themes? How did they

embody carpe diem? Links to La Belle poque values?

12. Naturalism (as a genre of drama)

Define. Characteristics? Purpose? How did it come about?

What influenced the genre? Who were its primary writers?

13. Neo-Romanticism (as a sub-genre)

Define. Characteristics? Purpose? How did it come about?

What influenced the genre? Who were its primary writers?

How Far Should I Go?

or What Kind of Grade
Do I Deserve?
As you research and write
out responses to these
items, realize that some
answers will require more
in-depth research (i.e. who
were some of the cavalier
poets and what were some
examples?). Many of the
categories will require this
type of extended research.
Use your own discretion to
decide how far to research
and in what form you would
be prepared to present any
of this material.
What Im looking for this
semester, as we move
toward your Works in
Translation Paper, is: what
do you bring to the table?