Going on an Adventure
- from Adventures of Don Quixote
by Miguel de Cervantes (Roots)
Start Here
Look carefully at the different book covers given below. Which of these do you think might involve adventure?
= I think the books - The Flyaway Chair, The Magic Land and Space Tour might involve adventure.
Comprehension
Read and answer
1. Write numbers from 1 to 5 in the blanks to arrange the events from the story in the right order.
❐ Don Quixote saw a horseman who was wearing something glittery. [5]
❐ Mr Quixana found some armour, a helmet and a lance in his store. [2]
❐ Mr Quixana wanted to become a knight. [1]
❐ Mr Quixana gave himself a new title. [3]
❐ Don Quixote looked for a squire. [4]
2. Choose the right answer.
a. Mr Quixana was famous throughout the world because
i. he was gentle and kind. [ ]
ii. he did not work much. [ ]
iii. he did many strange things. [✓]
b. Mr Quixana forgot himself sometimes because
i. he was getting quite old. [ ]
ii. he read all day and night. [✓]
iii. he was busy taking care of his dogs and horse. [ ]
c. Mr Quixana's biggest need after he decided to become a night was
i. a new title. [✓]
ii. someone to attend to him. [ ]
iii. a protective armour. [ ]
Reference to context
3. "This gentleman had so many odd ways and did so many strange things that he not only amused his neighbours and distressed his friends, but made himself famous throughout the world."
a. Who is 'this gentleman'?
= 'This gentleman' is a very old-fashioned gentleman who lived in Spain.
b. Which word in these lines means the same as 'peculiar'?
= The word 'strange' in these lines means the same as 'peculiar'.
c. What is the main reason for friends and neighbours finding him amusing and distressing? Why?
= So many strange things done by the gentleman are the main reasons for friends and neighbours finding him amusing and distressing.
Because he used to do those strange things in so many odd ways.
4. "Yes, I will be a knight, and I will fight against error wherever I find it."
a. Who is the speaker in these lines?
= Mr Quixana is the speaker in these lines.
b. What made him decide to become a knight?
= He used to read stories of knights and their daring deeds. He read so many of these stories that he could not think of anything else. His head was full of knights and knightly deeds, of magic and witchcraft, of tournaments and battlefields. The habit of reading this type of stories made him decide to become a knight.
c. What did he mean when he said he will 'fight against error'?
= When he said he will 'fight against error', he meant to protest against wrong and injustice.
5. "See there! cried Don Quixote. "Now I shall have an adventure that will bring glory to my name."
a. Who is Don Quixote speaking to?
= Don Quixote is speaking to his squire Sancho Panza.
b. What is he pointing at when he says this?
= He is pointing at a horseman coming slowly towards them when he says this.
c. How do you think Don Quixote is feeling when he says this?
= I think Don Quixote is feeling heroic and expecting to do some adventure and become famous.
Reflect and answer
6. "Now, what kind of books do you suppose he read? He read no histories nor books of travel... His head was full of knights and knightly deeds, of magic and witchcraft, of tournaments and battlefields."
What is the tone of the story here? Does the author seem to approve of Mr Quixana's reading choices and interests? How can you tell?
= Here the story has a tone of sneer.
The author does not seem to approve of Mr Quixana's reading choices and interests. Rather he seems to mock on it.
The author clarifies Mr Quixana's reading habits. He reads no history books nor travelogues. He had no interest in poems or in philosophy. He was addicted to the stories of knights and their brave deeds.
7. Reread the section in the story where the main character decides to call himself 'Don Quixote de la Mancha'. What does this tell us about him?
= According to Mr Quixana, every knight had the right to put Don at the beginning of his name. Don is a Spanish title like 'Sir'. That is a title of honour and respect. Mr Quixana was very much obsessed with the name he was going to have after being a knight. He was confused to decide the name after the title Don. He studies for this for eight whole days. Then he finalised his name as Don Quixote. For him that was the most noble and honourable name for him. This shows that he was very much ambitious to have name and fame throughout the world.
8. Can you guess what will happen next in the story? Will Sancho Panza agree that the horseman heading their way is a knight wearing Mambrino's helmet?
= Yes, I can guess what will happen next in the story. They may go near the approaching man or the man may come to them. They may have a fight or become friends.
Sancho Panza may or may not agree that the horseman heading their way is a knight wearing Mambrino's helmet. But I think he should give his master the honest and true observation.
About the Author :
Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), born near Madrid, was a Spanish writer widely celebrated as a great novelist. Cervantes was an avid reader even as a child. He served Spain as a soldier in the navy when he was young, which led him to brave many challenges. In the early 1600s, he published the first part of his masterpiece, Don Quixote, which became a bestseller. The novel has been translated into more than 140 languages.