Literary Devices in Cyrano de Bergerac
Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Cyrano’s nose is the barrier that keeps him from telling Roxane he loves her. It reminds us that not only is a person judged by others for his appearance, but that a person assimilates these...
Setting
Rostand makes a point of both mocking and paying tribute to 17th-century France. The setting is, incidentally, the same historical setting that Dumas used for The Three Musketeers. Rostand idealize...
Genre
At times, it’s easy to see that Cyrano is a comedy; it’s outlandish, hilarious, and features clever verbal sparring and over-the-top wit. At other times, it seems dark; there is death, thwarted...
Tone
Rostand treats most of his characters as larger-than-life figures—especially Cyrano, Roxane, and Comte de Guiche. But his tone is one of mockery. Cyrano de Bergerac, what with his big nose and ab...
Writing Style
Rostand’s style is infused with all the grand heroism of 17th-century French speech. He uses lyrical flights of poetry and witty repartee as well as all the conventional titles—Monsieur, Mademo...
What’s Up With the Title?
There’s no beating around the bush with this title: Cyrano de Bergerac is the main character of the play and also a real guy on whom Rostand based his work. The "Comedy in Five Acts" bit is prett...
Plot Analysis
Love triangles (squares?). There’s quite a bit of conflict even in our opening scene. Christian and Cyrano are both in love with the Lady Roxane. However, the powerful Comte de Guiche has other p...
Booker's Seven Basic Plots Analysis
Acts I and IIIn this stage, everyone’s identities are obscured from one another. Christian and Cyrano are both in love with Roxane. Comte de Guiche also wants this chick, but hides behind his p...
Trivia
Lady Roxane was also a real person—de Bergerac's cousin—and was married to the Baron of Neuvillette. (Source) The crazy "man on the moon" scene in the play is based off the real de Bergerac's...
Steaminess Rating
Though there are no explicit sex scenes in Cyrano de Bergerac, that doesn’t mean it’s not implied. Lise, for example, is cheating on her husband with a musketeer, and Roxane is the object of de...
Allusions
Piere Corneille: Le Cid (I.30)Piere Corneille (I.59)Christopher Marlowe: Tambourlaine (I.128); The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (I.399)William Shakespeare: Julius Caesar (I.245, I,246); Anton...