Capítulo 28: La historia de Dorotea.

• Is it significant that she first appears dressed as a man? Why or why not?
• Compare/contrast Dorotea and Cardenio (and Don Quijote?), as well as the ways in which their stories are told. Who comes off better? Why?

Capítulo 29:

• Note the changes in Cardenio, as exemplified for example in what he says at the bottom of page 231, lines 19-25.  Why has he changed?
• Why is the plan to trick Don Quijote changed?
• Why the names Micomicón, Micomicona?
• Compare/contrast Don Quijote and Cardenio as regards:
  1. Their personalities (and terms used to describe them).
  2. Their present situations: Don Quijote with princess Micomicona and Cardenio with Dorotea.

Capítulo 30:

• Does Princess Micomicona's story have anything to do with Dorotea's plight?
• Read note #32.
• P. 245, lines 22-23: Sancho says "yo nunca he visto a la señora Dulcinea". Neither have we; why?
• Note that starting with chapter 28 we are in Part 4 (the last part of the 1605 volume), and the last half of this volume. From at least one point of view Don Quijote is on his return home, and as the circular structure closes, people and episodes from the first half reappear (Ginés, Andrés, the priest and the barber from Don Quijote's village, the second barber, etc.).

Capítulo 31:

• Note that much of the chapter --and numerous other chapters in fact-- consists of a conversation between Don Quijote and Sancho, and often there is very little "action". Do you enjoy these conversations? What  is this conversation about? Why do you think Don Quijote might be "inactive" here?
• Why does Andrés reappear?

Capítulo 32: Return to the inn

• What is the main theme in this chapter? Why is it presented here?

Capítulos 33-35: "El curioso impertinente": Anselmo, Lotario and Camila. (With an interruption: the battle with the wineskins). A novel within the novel.

• What is Anselmo's problem? Lothario's problem? Of the three main characters, does any come off well? Why or why not? What is the moral of the story?
• Any parallels or contrasts with other parts of the novel (e.g., the Cardenio/Fernando/Luscinda/Dorotea quadrangle)? Or do you see any other reasons for the story's inclusion? (Will give an interpretation by Robert Day in class.)
• Why is the battle of the wineskins inserted in the middle of the "Tale of Foolish Curiosity" (as one translator termed it). Does it have anything to do with anything else?
• Note that Don Quijote has done almost nothing in these chapters except for a dreamed episode; he appears remarkably inactive here (and will remain so for several more chapters). Why? What's going on? Has Cervantes gone mad too?
• What would the novel be like without all these interpolated tales?

Fred Jehle jehle@ipfw.edu
Indiana U.-Purdue U. Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499
URL: http://users.ipfw.edu/jehle/courses/s450/h4-450.htm
Home page http://users.ipfw.edu/jehle/
Works of Cervantes http://users.ipfw.edu/jehle/cervante.htm