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Moral ToneMoral Tone

Moral toneMoral tone—overall philosophy of a —overall philosophy of a workwork

A story is A story is literaryliterary if the conflict and if the conflict and characters are characters are artfully artfully developed, developed, the plot is the plot is well-structuredwell-structured, and the , and the theme is theme is significantsignificant. .

A positive moral tone is A positive moral tone is keykey..““A book is not harmless merely A book is not harmless merely

because no one is consciously because no one is consciously offended by it.” (T. S. Eliot)offended by it.” (T. S. Eliot)

Moral ToneMoral Tone

Three Moral Tone Philosophies:Three Moral Tone Philosophies:1. Pessimist View1. Pessimist View—allow —allow somesome

objectionable elements for two objectionable elements for two reasons:reasons:Compensating Compensating aestheticaesthetic qualities qualities

(It is attractive!)(It is attractive!)Honest Honest view of life view of life (I Tim. 6:11, II Tim 2:22)(I Tim. 6:11, II Tim 2:22)*This view elevates man’s *This view elevates man’s

standards above God’s.standards above God’s.

Moral ToneMoral Tone

22. Exclusivist View—. Exclusivist View—Any exposure to Any exposure to evil is wrong!evil is wrong!Study Study nothing nothing with objectionable with objectionable

elements.elements.Extreme view—Read Extreme view—Read nothingnothing but but

the the Bible.Bible.This view fails to reconcile the use This view fails to reconcile the use

of censorable elements in of censorable elements in Scripture.Scripture.

Moral ToneMoral Tone

3. Biblical View—3. Biblical View—teaches by means of teaches by means of precept and exampleprecept and exampleJesus made use of Jesus made use of negative negative

examples (degeneracy of Sodom, examples (degeneracy of Sodom, Cain and Abel, evils of the Corinthian Cain and Abel, evils of the Corinthian church, immorality)church, immorality)

We must consider the work’s attitude We must consider the work’s attitude toward toward sinsin..

Moral ToneMoral Tone

““It is our business, as It is our business, as readers of literature, to know readers of literature, to know

what we like. It is our what we like. It is our business, as Christians, as business, as Christians, as

well as readers of literature, well as readers of literature, to know what we ought to to know what we ought to

like.” like.” T. S. T. S. EliotEliot

“I—I am going to be a storm-a flame—I need to fight whole armies alone; I have ten hearts; I have a hundred arms; I feel too strong to war with mortals—BRING ME GIANTS!”  Cyrano de Bergerac

“A great nose is the banner of a great man, a generous heart, a towering spirit, an expansive soul - such as I unmistakably am, and such as you dare not to dream of being. . . .”

Cyrano de Bergerac

Author: Edmond Author: Edmond RostandRostand

1868-1918

Author: Edmund RostandAuthor: Edmund RostandBorn in Marseilles, France, on Born in Marseilles, France, on

April 1, 1868April 1, 1868His education included a His education included a

degree in degree in lawlaw..He wrote his first play when He wrote his first play when

he was only he was only 2020..His greatest triumph was His greatest triumph was

Cyrano de BergeracCyrano de Bergerac, and it , and it was presented for was presented for 500500 consecutive performances.consecutive performances.

Author Information Cont.Author Information Cont.

Due to Due to poor healthpoor health, Rostand , Rostand was refused for service was refused for service during World War I, but he during World War I, but he consoled himself by writing consoled himself by writing patriotic poetrypatriotic poetry..

He died December 2, 1918.He died December 2, 1918.

The REAL Cyrano de The REAL Cyrano de BergeracBergerac

1619-1655

soldier

satirist

dramatist

poet

humanitari

an

duelistphilosop

her

scientist

Act IAct ISettingSetting: 1640, Paris, Hotel de : 1640, Paris, Hotel de

Bourgogne, the opening of Bourgogne, the opening of La La CloriseClorise by Baro by Baro

Main characters:Main characters:MontfleuryMontfleury: pompous actor: pompous actorChristianChristian: from the Touraine, : from the Touraine, in Paris for three weeks, in Paris for three weeks, wants to join the Guardswants to join the Guards

LignièreLignière: gentleman, drinks, : gentleman, drinks, writes songswrites songs

Act I Cont.Act I Cont.RagueneauRagueneau: poet, : poet, pastrycook, supports other pastrycook, supports other poetspoets

RoxaneRoxane: Cyrano's cousin, : Cyrano's cousin, wealthy, single, orphan, loved wealthy, single, orphan, loved by the Comte de Guiche by the Comte de Guiche (Richelieu's nephew by (Richelieu's nephew by marriage)marriage)

Comte de GuicheComte de Guiche: powerful, : powerful, ruthless, immoral, willing to ruthless, immoral, willing to persecute others to get what persecute others to get what he wants, nephew to Richelieu he wants, nephew to Richelieu by marriageby marriage

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Louis XIIILouis XIII

Cardinal RichelieuCardinal Richelieu

Louis XIVLouis XIV

Louvre in ParisLouvre in Paris

LouvreLouvre

Act I Cont.Act I Cont.CyranoCyrano: :

Cyrano’s appearanceCyrano’s appearance: : ugly! ugly! Theme:Theme: appearance appearance versus reality versus reality

Cyrano is a man of not Cyrano is a man of not only chivalry, courage, only chivalry, courage, and poetry personified, and poetry personified, but also poverty, worldly but also poverty, worldly failure, and ugliness.failure, and ugliness.

Act I Cont.Act I Cont.Cyrano’s credentialsCyrano’s credentials: in : in the Guards, a gentleman, the Guards, a gentleman, poet, swordsman, poet, swordsman, musician, philosopher, musician, philosopher, proud, Gascon, poor proud, Gascon, poor

Cyrano’s reasonsCyrano’s reasons for for disliking Montfleurydisliking Montfleury

Cyrano’s justificationCyrano’s justification for closing Baro’s playfor closing Baro’s play

Cyrano’s responseCyrano’s response to to the intellectualsthe intellectuals

Act I Cont.Act I Cont.Cyrano’s values:Cyrano’s values:

FreedomFreedom: no patron : no patron Inner worth not outer Inner worth not outer appearanceappearance: does not : does not dress according to fashiondress according to fashion

CourageCourage: not dependent : not dependent on, afraid of, or seeking to on, afraid of, or seeking to impress wealthy, powerful impress wealthy, powerful menmen

ContentmentContentment: not : not concerned about moneyconcerned about money

Act I Cont.Act I Cont.

The ideal: The ideal:

““to make to make

himself himself

in all things in all things

admirable" admirable" Cyrano does succeed in Cyrano does succeed in living up to his ideal.living up to his ideal.

Act IIAct II

WhenWhen: morning after the play: morning after the playWhereWhere: Ragueneau's bakery : Ragueneau's bakery

on Rue St. Honoré on Rue St. Honoré PlotPlot: Cyrano's ideal is tested.: Cyrano's ideal is tested.

Roxane's requestRoxane's request - reveals - reveals her immature attitude her immature attitude toward love/ reveals the toward love/ reveals the maturity of Cyrano's love maturity of Cyrano's love

Act II Cont.Act II Cont.

De Guiche's offerDe Guiche's offer - offers - offers Cyrano his patronage and Cyrano his patronage and publication of Cyrano's publication of Cyrano's plays (plays (the catchthe catch: some lines : some lines must be changed)must be changed)

This reveals the tenacity This reveals the tenacity with which Cyrano holds to with which Cyrano holds to his principles.his principles.

Act II Cont.Act II Cont.Le Bret's questionsLe Bret's questions - gently - gently challenges Cyrano's purposechallenges Cyrano's purpose

This reveals the Cyrano's This reveals the Cyrano's belief in his right to be free.belief in his right to be free.

Christian's attackChristian's attack - attacks - attacks Cyrano's most vulnerable point: Cyrano's most vulnerable point: his appearancehis appearance

Reveals Cyrano's lack of Reveals Cyrano's lack of self-interest. He even offers self-interest. He even offers his gift of words to Christian.his gift of words to Christian.

Act II Cont.Act II Cont.

Christian's attackChristian's attack - attacks - attacks Cyrano's most vulnerable point: Cyrano's most vulnerable point: his appearancehis appearance

This reveals Cyrano's lack of This reveals Cyrano's lack of self-interest. He even offers self-interest. He even offers his gift of words to Christian to his gift of words to Christian to help him win Roxane.help him win Roxane.

Summary of Tests in Act Summary of Tests in Act II:II:

Cyrano is challenged by… Cyrano is challenged by… 1. His love: Roxane1. His love: Roxane

(purity of love vs. despair)(purity of love vs. despair)2. His enemy: De Guiche2. His enemy: De Guiche (principles vs. compromise) (principles vs. compromise) 3. His friend: Le Bret3. His friend: Le Bret (purpose vs. defeat)(purpose vs. defeat)4. His rival: Christian4. His rival: Christian (pride vs. vanity)(pride vs. vanity)

Act IIIAct IIIWhenWhen: a few weeks later: a few weeks laterWhereWhere: Roxane’s garden : Roxane’s garden

outside her house outside her house PlotPlot: character analysis and : character analysis and

developmentdevelopmentChristianChristian: desires to speak : desires to speak for himself for himself

RoxaneRoxane: begins to be : begins to be dissatisfied with her ideal man; dissatisfied with her ideal man; outwits De Guicheoutwits De Guiche

Vs.Vs.De GuicheDe Guicheself-servingself-servingself-self-indulgentindulgentDishonorablDishonorableedebaucheddebauched

CyranoCyranoothers-others-

servingservingself-sacrificialself-sacrificialHonorableHonorabletruly lovingtruly loving

Act IIIAct III

Act III Cont.Act III Cont.

Proofs of Cyrano’s true love Proofs of Cyrano’s true love that “seeketh not his own”that “seeketh not his own”::

1. wins Roxane for Christian1. wins Roxane for Christian

2. delays De Guiche while 2. delays De Guiche while Roxane and Christian are Roxane and Christian are marriedmarried

3. promises that Christian will 3. promises that Christian will write everydaywrite everyday

Arras in Paris, FranceArras in Paris, France

Main Street in Arras(left picture)

Act IVAct IVWhen:When: a few months later a few months laterWhere:Where: Cadets’ post near Arras Cadets’ post near Arras Plot:Plot:

a. De Guiche: a. De Guiche: boastful and boastful and vengeful vengeful

1.) 1.) Cadets:Cadets: resent his resent his ostentationostentation

2.) 2.) Carbon:Carbon: will only obey will only obey military ordersmilitary orders

Act IV Cont.Act IV Cont.

3.) 3.) Christian:Christian: married Roxane married Roxane4.) 4.) Cyrano:Cyrano: kept him from kept him from Roxane, makes him look foolishRoxane, makes him look foolish

b. Roxaneb. Roxane1.) 1.) personal development:personal development:

shows courage, self knowledge, shows courage, self knowledge, and mature love and mature love

Act IV Cont.Act IV Cont.

2.) 2.) development of her development of her love:love: began in the balcony began in the balcony scene, developed through scene, developed through letters, matures by loving letters, matures by loving Christian’s (Cyrano’s) soulChristian’s (Cyrano’s) soul

c. Christianc. Christian: : 1.) 1.) weakness:weakness: good, but good, but average; wants to be loved for average; wants to be loved for who he iswho he is

Act IV Cont.Act IV Cont.2.) 2.) strength:strength: nobility of nobility of

character; willing to give up character; willing to give up Roxane; insists Cyrano tell her Roxane; insists Cyrano tell her the truththe truthd. Cyranod. Cyrano

EncouragingEncouragingFaithful in loveFaithful in loveFaithful in friendshipFaithful in friendship: : won’t tell Roxane after won’t tell Roxane after Christian diesChristian dies

Act IV Cont.Act IV Cont.

1.) wouldn’t be noble: 1.) wouldn’t be noble: appreciates Christian as a appreciates Christian as a comrade; Christian can’t comrade; Christian can’t verify.verify.

2.) wouldn’t be consistent with 2.) wouldn’t be consistent with his nature: shows his great his nature: shows his great love, deep commitment, and love, deep commitment, and unyielding adherence to what unyielding adherence to what he believes is noble and true.he believes is noble and true.

Act VAct VWhen:When: 1655 (15 years later) 1655 (15 years later)Where:Where: a convent in Paris a convent in ParisCharacters:Characters:

a. Roxane:a. Roxane: mourns for mourns for ChristianChristian

b. De Guicheb. De Guichevisits Roxanevisits Roxanehas wealth, prestige, powerhas wealth, prestige, powerregrets his self-centered liferegrets his self-centered life

Act V Cont.Act V Cont.

c. Le Bret:c. Le Bret: admires, admires, supports, defends, wants supports, defends, wants the best for Cyrano, but the best for Cyrano, but still doesn’t completely still doesn’t completely understand himunderstand him

d. Ragueneau:d. Ragueneau: shiftless shiftless but loyal to Cyranobut loyal to Cyrano

MoliereMoliere

(playwright)(playwright)

Act V Cont.Act V Cont.e. Cyranocontinues to attack hypocritesstill feared, but getting old and poorin death, still fighting falsehood, prejudice, compromise, cowardice, and vanity

Cyrano’s panache = his noble character

Act V: Cyrano Life LessonsAct V: Cyrano Life Lessons1.Try to be the best even if you might not reach every goal.2. Some things should never be surrendered.3. You must fight for some things whether you win or not.4. Someone must defend the truth even if no one else does.5. Freedom is more important than wealth or popularity.

Cyrano de Bergerac