Don Quijote Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1605

Volume I was written in 1605 and Volume II was not written until 1615.

Answer: To make fun of chivalric novels

Novels of chivalry were very popular during Cervantes' lifetime. He wrote Volume I of "Don Quijote" to make fun of the chivalric novels. In the prologue we find the line, "Finally, keep your aim fixed on the destruction of that ill-founded edifice of the books of chivalry, hated by some and praised by many more..." This reminds the reader that the book is poking fun at the chivalric novel and is not a chivalric novel in itself.

Answer: Alonso Fernandez de Avellaneda

It is not certain exactly how much of Volume II Cervantes had written when he found out about Avellaneda's version. There is also some debate about whether or not Cervantes would have finished his continuation of "Don Quijote" had the other version not been published first.

Answer: Castellano (Spanish)

During Cervantes' time, Latin was a language used by people that were highly educated; however, Cervantes didn't write his novel in Latin. He wrote it in Castellano which was the language of the common people. This was a way of giving Castellano importance which it really didn't have before.

Answer: He wears old clothing and eats ordinary foods.

Cervantes makes the character of Don Quijote into an antihero. He does this because he is poking fun at the chivalric novel, so he needs to make his supposed hero into something that is the total opposite of the everyday hero. Normally the hero of the story would have a beautiful, valiant steed, shiny armor, a good title, and would be young. Don Quijote is the opposite: he is old, wears worn out armor and clothes, rides an old work horse, and has no prestige to his name.

Answer: Sancho Panza

Sancho Panza doesn't start out accompanying Don Quijote. Don Quijote asked for his company the second time he set out for adventure because he realized that all good knights/caballeros have a side-kick.

Answer: giants

Don Quijote sees the windmills and believes that they are giants with whom he must fight. Many of Don Quijote's adventures are based on fantasy because Don Quijote himself is living in a fantasy world. He believes that he is truly doing good by helping people when in reality he is only helping those who do not want to be helped, and is causing more problems for them.

Answer: reality

Fantasy and reality run parallel throughout the novel. Don Quijote is living in fantasy while Sancho Panza represents reality. Sancho goes along with the fantasy of Don Quijote, and by the end of Volume II, we see that Sancho has actually been pulled into the fantasy himself, even after Don Quijote has realized that his adventures were not based on reality.

Answer: Spanish Inquisition

The Spanish Inquisition was still very strong during Cervantes' time and censored all books being published. When Don Quijote's friends and niece are going through his library, they decide to burn and get rid of all the books which are not appropriate or that are unacceptable.

This represents the censorship of the Inquisition and Cervantes makes mention of some very famous works of the time.

Answer: step-father

Cervantes wrote the novel, but he presents "Don Quijote" as a manuscript that he encountered, thus the title of 'step-father'.