CliffsNotes on

Don Quixote

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About the Author

About the Novel

A Brief Synopsis
List of Characters

Chapter Summaries and Commentaries

The Author's Preface
Part One: Book One: Chapter I
Part One: Book One: Chapter II
Part One: Book One: Chapter III
Part One: Book One: Chapter IV
Part One: Book One: Chapter V
Part One: Book One: Chapter VI
Part One: Book One: Chapter VII
Part One: Book One: Chapter VIII
Part One: Book Two: Chapter I
Part One: Book Two: Chapter II
Part One: Book Two: Chapter III
Part One: Book Two: Chapter IV
Part One: Book Two: Chapter V
Part One: Book Two: Chapter VI
Part One: Book Three: Chapter I
Part One: Book Three: Chapter II
Part One: Book Three: Chapter III
Part One: Book Three: Chapter IV
Part One: Book Three: Chapter V
Part One: Book Three: Chapter VI
Part One: Book Three: Chapter VII
Part One: Book Three: Chapter VIII
Part One: Book Three: Chapter IX
Part One: Book Three: Chapter X
Part One: Book Three: Chapter XI
Part One: Book Three: Chapter XII
Part One: Book Three: Chapter XIII
Part One: Book Four: Chapter I
Part One: Book Four: Chapter II
Part One: Book Four: Chapter III
Part One: Book Four: Chapter IV
Part One: Book Four: Chapter V
Part One: Book Four: Chapter VI
Part One: Book Four: Chapter VII
Part One: Book Four: Chapter VIII
Part One: Book Four: Chapter IX
Part One: Book Four: Chapter X
Part One: Book Four: Chapter XI
Part One: Book Four: Chapter XII
Part One: Book Four: Chapter XIII
Part One: Book Four: Chapter XIV
Part One: Book Four: Chapter XV
Part One: Book Four: Chapter XVI
Part One: Book Four: Chapter XVII
Part One: Book Four: Chapter XVIII
Part One: Book Four: Chapter XIX
Part One: Book Four: Chapter XX
Part One: Book Four: Chapter XXI
Part One: Book Four: Chapter XXII
Part One: Book Four: Chapter XXIII
Part One: Book Four: Chapter XXIV
Part One: Book Four: Chapter XXV
Part Two: The Author's Preface
Part Two: Chapter I
Part Two: Chapter II
Part Two: Chapter III
Part Two: Chapter IV
Part Two: Chapter V
Part Two: Chapter VI
Part Two: Chapter VII
Part Two: Chapter VIII
Part Two: Chapter IX
Part Two: Chapter X
Part Two: Chapter XI
Part Two: Chapter XII
Part Two: Chapter XIII
Part Two: Chapter XIV
Part Two: Chapter XV
Part Two: Chapter XVI
Part Two: Chapter XVII
Part Two: Chapter XVIII
Part Two: Chapter XIX
Part Two: Chapter XX
Part Two: Chapter XXI
Part Two: Chapter XXII
Part Two: Chapter XXIII
Part Two: Chapter XXIV
Part Two: Chapter XXV
Part Two: Chapter XXVI
Part Two: Chapter XXVII
Part Two: Chapter XXVIII
Part Two: Chapter XXIX
Part Two: Chapter XXX
Part Two: Chapter XXXI
Part Two: Chapter XXXII
Part Two: Chapter XXXIII
Part Two: Chapter XXXIV
Part Two: Chapter XXXV
Part Two: Chapter XXXVI
Part Two: Chapter XXXVII
Part Two: Chapter XXXVIII
Part Two: Chapter XXXIX
Part Two: Chapter XL
Part Two: Chapter XLI
Part Two: Chapter XLII
Part Two: Chapter XLIII
Part Two: Chapter XLIV
Part Two: Chapter XLV
Part Two: Chapter XLVI
Part Two: Chapter XLVII
Part Two: Chapter XLVIII
Part Two: Chapter XLIX
Part Two: Chapter L
Part Two: Chapter LI
Part Two: Chapter LII
Part Two: Chapter LIII
Part Two: Chapter LIV
Part Two: Chapter LV
Part Two: Chapter LVI
Part Two: Chapter LVII
Part Two: Chapter LVIII
Part Two: Chapter LIX
Part Two: Chapter LX
Part Two: Chapter LXI
Part Two: Chapter LXII
Part Two: Chapter LXIII
Part Two: Chapter LXIV
Part Two: Chapter LXV
Part Two: Chapter LXVI
Part Two: Chapter LXVII
Part Two: Chapter LXVIII
Part Two: Chapter LXIX
Part Two: Chapter LXX
Part Two: Chapter LXXI
Part Two: Chapter LXXII
Part Two: Chapter LXXIII
Part Two: Chapter LXXIV

Critical Essays

Purpose of Don Quixote
Technique and Style
Characterization
Themes

Study Help

Quiz
Essay Topics and Review Questions

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Chapter Summaries and Commentaries

Part Two: Chapter V

The Wise and Pleasant Dialogue Between Sancho Panza, and Teresa Panza, His Wife: Together with Other Passages Worthy of Happy Memory.

Cervantes intrudes once more, saying that this chapter is apocryphal because it shows Sancho speaking with an understanding and elegance foreign to his peasant upbringing. The squire tells his wife that he is glad to seek for adventures because he shall soon be rewarded with the government of an island. Teresa is afraid that she and her daughter would never be happy or comfortable in the role of finely-costumed gentlewomen, and the people would laugh at their rusticity. Sancho insists that respect is paid to persons of wealth and fine appearance with no heed to former circumstances. "All those things which we see before our eyes do appear, hold, and exist in our memories much better and with greater stress than things past," he says. Teresa, at last, asks that Sancho send for his son and train him to be a gentleman as soon as he gains his position, but the daughter must try to avoid the false royalty as long as possible.

Commentary

Part Two also introduces a Sancho who amazes his master with his intelligent observations and aptness for the profession of knight-errantry even as he amazes his creator, for Cervantes insists that Sancho's awakened intellect must be "apocryphal." The squire, however, is a quick student of his master and shows his wife that he is imbued with Don Quixote's ambition. He of the "let not the cobbler look beyond his last" and "every sheep to her mate" now wishes that the future Panzas of the world be counts and countesses. Teresa, on the other hand, prefers the status quo, looking forward only to sufficient food and clothing for her family.


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