Heroes of epic adventures have always sought glory at the risk of their lives, and Don Quixote is no exception. His challenge to the lion is an example of pure courage, and the victory was an important one for it completely restored his self-confidence, so bruised at seeing his Dulcinea so vulgarly enchanted.
Furthermore, in challenging the lion, Don Quixote personifies a favorite Spanish knight, Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, known as the Cid. In Poema de Mio Cid (written in 1140), the hero confronts a loosed lion, and the beast turns away in shame before the proud bearing of his challenger. With this precedent in mind, we must consider that the lion turned from Don Quixote because he was ashamed before the imposing courage of the valorous knight.
