Don Quixote de la Mancha – Reading Focus Questions
RFQs Introduction & Chapters 1 – 3
Directions: Answer each question to the best of your ability and write them in your Reading Composition
Notebook. We will discuss them in class: elbow partners, group discussion, Socratic Seminar, etc. I
expect that you will fix any answers that are incorrect or half answered in your Reading Composition
Notebook.
Introduction (pg. i-iv)
1. Why must a Knight Errant suffer?
2. Explain the difference between a Romance and a Novel, and give an example of both a Romance Story
and a Novel that you have read.
3. How is the story of Don Quixote both a Romance and a Novel?
4. Explain in YOUR OWN WORDS why Cervantes “wishes we could mix the best qualities of this
knight and squire”?
Chapter 1 Reading Focus Questions: “An Old-School Gentlemen Gone Mad” (pg. 1-14)
1.Why does Don Quixote sell some of his prized crop land?
2.How does that let you know that chivalry is important to him?
3.Why does the innkeeper go along with Don Quixote’s knighting ceremony?
4.What is the first incident that shows you that Don Quixote may be mad, a lunatic?
Chapter 2 Reading Focus Questions: “The New Knight’s First Adventures” (pg. 15-29)
1.What is Ironic about the boy and the farmer’s arguments outcome?
2.Why doesn’t one of the merchants want to swear that Don Quixote’s lady is the most beautiful?
3.Why doesn’t the destroying of Don Quixote’s books cause him to snap out of his lunacy?
4.What is Sancho Panza’s motivation for joining Don Quixote?
Chapter 3 Reading Focus Questions: “More Thrilling Adventures: The Captive Princess and Blankettossing” (pg. 30-44)
1.What is the reason Don Quixote gives Sancho for Sancho’s inability to “see” danger?
2.Why does the Balsam of the Great Fierabas work for Don Quixote and not Sancho?
3.Why must Sancho suffer for Don Quixote refusing to pay the innkeeper?
Lesson #2 Idioms
Directions: study the figurative meanings for these idioms… once maybe rooted in literal situations, they
no longer apply but their figurative meanings have become part of our cultural dialogue. You are to draw
the literal meaning to show that it could not be implied in regular conversation. Draw the pictures in the
Vocabulary section of your Reading Binder.
“Catch forty winks”
literal meaning – run around and try to catch forty winks
figurative meaning – to take a nap
“Chip on your shoulder”
literal meaning – a chip is on your shoulder
figurative meaning – eager to pick a fight
“Count your blessings”
literal meaning – count out loud and number your blessings
figurative meaning – be thankful for the good things in your life
“Eat crow”
literal meaning – you must eat a crow
figurative meaning – you have to take back something you once said; a humbling experience
“Every cloud has a silver lining”
literal meaning – clouds have silver linings on them
figurative meaning – even bad things or situations have a hidden good side if you look for it