Rocinante

Cervantes himself states that he wrote Don Quixote in order to undermine the influence of those “vain and empty books of chivalry” as well as to provide some merry, original, and sometimes prudent material for his readers’ entertainment.

The work by Miguel de Cervantes Don Quixote is a parody of the chivalric romances. The most important chivalric romance is Amadís de Gaula. …

Don Quixote bemoans the decline of Spain in the second part of Cervantes’s novel, but instead of blaming it on unwise rulers, he attributes it to the death of chivalry, the principles of knighthood: “Our depraved times do not deserve to enjoy so great a blessing as did those in which knights errant undertook and …

Don Quixote is considered by literary historians to be one of the most important books of all time, and it is often cited as the first modern novel. The character of Quixote became an archetype, and the word quixotic, used to mean the impractical pursuit of idealistic goals, entered common usage.

He develops love and sympathy for his employer—and just as Quixote is becoming disillusioned and waking up from his dream of chivalry, it is the formerly cynical Sancho who urges him onward to pursue his dreams.

Don Quixote’s self-invention as a knight triggers a series of idealistic episodes that constitute the bulk of Miguel de Cervantes’s novel. One episode where Quixote shows his idealism is in rescuing the chained men whom he and Sancho run across.

What is ironic about the promise Sancho Panza makes to Don Quixote? He promised not to protect him so Don Quixote could fight an honorable battle. Irony: He was never going to protect him anyway.

After being knocked down by the windmill, how does Don Quixote explain the fact that he has not killed a giant? Don blames it on the magic Freston.