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Don Quixode

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Don Quixote was the most influential wok of literature to develop from the Spanish Golden

Age and the best known work of Spanish literature in England. Don Quixote was a fictional

character by Miguel de Cervantes who was considered Spain’s greatest writer. Published in two

volumes a decade apart, Don Quixote contains romance, adventure, humor, aspiration and

philosophy. Cervantes himself states that he wrote Don Quixote in order to undermine the

influence of those "vain and empty books of chivalry.” I believe Cervantes wanted to take the knight

idea to a different approach. Don Quixote was an important book for many reasons, but mostly

because it was the first book to bring reasonable real-life consequences into the world of literature.

Don Quixote is very different to other literature of previous time periods such as The Iliad, The

Odyssey, Beowulf, Inferno, etc. It was an important development in literature and shows us readers

that the reality of existence consists in accepting all the impact of experience.

The popular literature at the time was romance. Cervantes work influenced the creation and

transformation of literary genres. Don Quixote introduced the contrast between romance and

reality. Alonzo Quixano who later changes his name to Don Quixote, was a wealthy man who

spends all his days and nights reading books about medieval knights and dragon-slaying. Don

Quixote is a sweet old man under a delusion that he is a knight in a land where knights have gone

out of style. He is a dreamer and characterized as a fool. Throughout his many adventures Quixote

often seem ridiculous, yet he maintains his belief in chivalry. He sets out riding a donkey to perform

deeds in which he read about. Additionally, he chooses a peasant girl name Aldonza to be his lady

and calls her Dulcinea. One of his most famous adventures involves battling with windmills which

he thought was giants. Don Quixote has selective vision of the real world. He believes sheep were

attacking armies and slaves were oppressed gentlemen. He dreams impossible dreams but he is in

reality just bringing happiness and dreams wherever he goes. One of the most important themes in

the novel is about change. Don Quixote is an idealist who believes that he can change the world

around him if he believes in his principles strongly enough. I believe he wanted to show people the

best way to live and to treat others in his eyes.

The Odyssey is an epic poem written around the 7th century BC. It tells the story of hero

Odysseus and how he tries to get back home after the Trojan War. Odysseus is characterized as a

leader and courageous. Half the book is about his travels and the dangers he encounters such as

witches, monsters etc. The Iliad is also an epic poem and consists of some significant events during

the final weeks of the Trojan War. The Iliad breaks down the bravery and great wrath of Achilles.

Throughout the poem, Achilles is shown as an undefeated warrior and a true hero. Beowulf is an

Old English heroic poem about an epic hero who never backs down from a fight and is shown to be

a perfect leader. Beowulf fought numerous monsters and he brings prosperity and riches to his

kingdom. Additionally, his success as a king also reveals him to be wise as well as strong. All of these

mean including Don Quixote was created around the same time, yet Don Quixote was the only

character that was characterized as a fool. Back then, men were described as being brave, having

honor, and doing their duty. Don Quixote is willing to be different regardless of the circumstances.

Heroes who were different are left to be made fun of. Amongst all these leaders, Don

Quixote, was determined to save the world through chivalry as knights and served humanity during

medieval times. Don Quixote’s idealistic quest is misjudged by the changes in time and culture.

People do not recognize Don Quixote as a hero. On one of his first journeys, Quixote tries to save a

servant boy from being tortured. Because of Quixote’s chivalric personality, he is a hero. Don

Quixote has inspired many artists in different fields and is considered an idol because he never

stopped believing. Quixote inspires many to believe in their dreams and everyone should value this

pursuit of true goodness despite the change in time.

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