The Classic Novel Don Quixote by Cervantes Translated by Edith Grossman: A Review

# Outline of the article ## H1: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes: A Masterpiece of World Literature Translated by Edith Grossman ### H2: Introduction - Introduce the topic and the main idea of the article - Provide some background information on Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes, and Edith Grossman - Explain why Don Quixote is considered one of the greatest books ever written and why Edith Grossman's translation is widely praised - Preview the main points of the article ### H2: The Plot and Themes of Don Quixote - Summarize the plot of Don Quixote in a few sentences - Discuss the main themes and messages of the book, such as madness, reality, imagination, chivalry, friendship, love, etc. - Provide some examples and quotes from the book to illustrate the themes ### H2: The Style and Structure of Don Quixote - Describe the style and structure of Don Quixote, such as its genre, tone, language, narration, dialogue, etc. - Explain how Cervantes used various literary devices and techniques to create a complex and innovative work of fiction - Provide some examples and quotes from the book to illustrate the style and structure ### H2: The History and Influence of Don Quixote - Give some historical context and background on Don Quixote, such as when and where it was written, published, and translated - Explain how Don Quixote influenced and inspired other writers and works of literature across time and cultures - Provide some examples and references of other books, movies, plays, etc. that were influenced by Don Quixote ### H2: The Translation and Edition of Don Quixote by Edith Grossman - Introduce Edith Grossman as a renowned translator of Spanish literature - Explain how she approached the translation of Don Quixote and what challenges she faced - Discuss how she captured the spirit, humor, and beauty of Cervantes' original text - Provide some examples and quotes from her translation to compare with other translations - Mention some features and benefits of her edition of Don Quixote, such as the introduction by Harold Bloom, the annotations, the illustrations, etc. ### H2: Conclusion - Summarize the main points of the article - Restate the main idea and thesis statement of the article - Emphasize why Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes translated by Edith Grossman is a must-read for anyone who loves literature - Provide some suggestions on how to read and enjoy Don Quixote ### H2: FAQs - List five frequently asked questions about Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes translated by Edith Grossman - Provide brief and clear answers to each question # Article ## H1: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes: A Masterpiece of World Literature Translated by Edith Grossman ### H2: Introduction Have you ever heard of Don Quixote? If you have not, you are missing out on one of the most amazing books ever written. Don Quixote is a novel by Miguel de Cervantes, a Spanish writer who lived in the 16th and 17th centuries. It tells the story of a man who becomes so obsessed with reading chivalric romances that he decides to become a knight himself and embark on a series of adventures with his faithful squire Sancho Panza. Along the way, he encounters many characters and situations that challenge his perception of reality and imagination. Don Quixote is widely regarded as one of the greatest works of fiction in world literature. It has been translated into more than 140 languages and has inspired countless writers and artists over the centuries. It is also considered one of the first modern novels, as it broke many conventions and rules of traditional storytelling. It is a book that combines humor, tragedy, satire, romance, philosophy, poetry, and more. However, reading Don Quixote can be a daunting task for many readers, especially if they are not familiar with the language and culture of Cervantes' time. That is why finding a good translation is essential to appreciate and enjoy this masterpiece. One of the best translations available today is the one by Edith Grossman, a renowned translator of Spanish literature. She has done a remarkable job of capturing the spirit, humor, and beauty of Cervantes' original text, while making it accessible and engaging for modern readers. In this article, we will explore the plot and themes, the style and structure, the history and influence, and the translation and edition of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes translated by Edith Grossman. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about this book. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of why Don Quixote is a must-read for anyone who loves literature. ### H2: The Plot and Themes of Don Quixote Don Quixote is divided into two parts, each consisting of several chapters. The first part was published in 1605 and the second part in 1615. The plot of Don Quixote can be summarized as follows: - Alonso Quijano, a middle-aged gentleman from La Mancha, becomes obsessed with reading chivalric romances and decides to become a knight-errant himself. He renames himself Don Quixote de la Mancha, his horse Rocinante, and his lady Dulcinea del Toboso (who is actually a peasant girl named Aldonza Lorenzo). He leaves his home and sets out to seek adventures in the name of honor and love. - On his first adventure, he mistakes a group of windmills for giants and tries to fight them, only to be knocked down by their blades. This is one of the most famous scenes in the book and has become a symbol of tilting at windmills, or fighting imaginary enemies. - He meets Sancho Panza, a simple farmer who agrees to become his squire in exchange for the promise of becoming the governor of an island. Sancho is loyal, practical, and witty, and often serves as a contrast to Don Quixote's madness, idealism, and eloquence. - Together, they encounter various characters and situations that test their beliefs and values. Some of these include: a group of galley slaves who Don Quixote frees but who then rob him; a pair of Benedictine monks who Don Quixote attacks thinking they are enchanters; a barber whose basin Don Quixote takes for a helmet; a puppet show that Don Quixote ruins by interfering with the story; a herd of sheep that Don Quixote charges at thinking they are an army; a knight of the White Moon who defeats Don Quixote in a duel and makes him promise to return home; and many more. - Throughout their adventures, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza have many conversations about various topics, such as justice, courage, love, religion, literature, etc. They also encounter several stories within stories, such as the tale of Cardenio and Luscinda, the tale of Anselmo and Lotario, the tale of Dorotea and Fernando, etc. These stories add depth and variety to the main narrative and reflect some of the themes and motifs of the book. - Some of the main themes and messages of Don Quixote are: - The contrast between reality and imagination: Don Quixote sees the world as he wants to see it, not as it is. He transforms ordinary things into extraordinary ones with his imagination. He believes he is living in a world of chivalry and romance, where he can perform heroic deeds and win the love of his lady. However, he often faces ridicule, mockery, and violence from those who do not share his vision. He also becomes the victim of several pranks and tricks by people who take advantage of his madness. Sancho Panza, on the other hand, sees the world as it is, but he also learns to appreciate Don Quixote's imagination and ideals. He becomes more compassionate, wise, and noble as he follows his master. - The power and influence of literature: Don Quixote is a book about books. It shows how literature can shape our minds, our emotions, our actions, and our lives. It also shows how literature can be used for good or evil purposes. Cervantes criticizes the chivalric romances that corrupted Don Quixote's mind with their unrealistic and harmful portrayals of knights and ladies. He also praises the classics that inspired him to write his own masterpiece. He creates a rich and diverse literary world that includes poetry, drama, history, philosophy, etc. He also plays with different genres, styles, sources, languages, etc., creating a complex and innovative work of fiction. between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. They are very different in their personalities, backgrounds, and views of the world, but they also share a bond of loyalty, respect, and affection. They complement each other and help each other grow and learn. They also have many humorous and witty exchanges that lighten up the mood of the book. Their friendship is one of the most enduring and memorable aspects of Don Quixote. ### H2: The Style and Structure of Don Quixote Don Quixote is a novel that defies easy classification. It is a mixture of different genres, styles, sources, languages, and levels of narration. It is a book that challenges and surprises the reader with its complexity and innovation. Some of the features of the style and structure of Don Quixote are: - The genre: Don Quixote is a parody of the chivalric romances that were popular in Cervantes' time. These were stories that depicted the adventures of idealized knights who fought for honor, justice, and love. Cervantes mocks these stories by showing how absurd and unrealistic they are in contrast to the reality of his own time. He also subverts the expectations of the genre by creating a protagonist who is old, poor, foolish, and delusional, instead of young, rich, brave, and noble. However, Don Quixote is not just a parody. It is also a novel that transcends its genre and explores universal themes such as human nature, morality, society, etc. It is a book that combines comedy and tragedy, realism and fantasy, satire and romance. - The tone: Don Quixote has a tone that varies from humorous to serious, from ironic to sincere, from playful to solemn. Cervantes uses different tones to create different effects on the reader. For example, he uses humor to ridicule Don Quixote's madness and to entertain the reader with his antics. He also uses humor to soften the harshness of some scenes and to create sympathy for Don Quixote's plight. He uses irony to expose the hypocrisy and corruption of some characters and institutions. He also uses irony to contrast Don Quixote's idealism with Sancho Panza's realism. He uses seriousness to convey the depth and significance of some themes and messages. He also uses seriousness to show the dignity and nobility of Don Quixote's spirit. - The language: Don Quixote is written in Spanish, but it also incorporates other languages such as Latin, Italian, French, Arabic, etc. Cervantes uses different languages to reflect the diversity and richness of his literary world. He also uses different languages to create different effects on the reader. For example, he uses Latin to show the erudition and authority of some characters or sources. He also uses Latin to mock the pretentiousness and pedantry of some characters or sources. He uses Arabic to show the exoticism and mystery of some stories or characters. He also uses Arabic to acknowledge the influence and presence of the Moorish culture in Spain. - The narration: Don Quixote has a complex and multi-layered narration that involves several narrators, sources, perspectives, and voices. Cervantes creates a metafictional device that questions the reliability and authenticity of his own story. He claims that he is not the original author of Don Quixote, but rather a translator who found an Arabic manuscript written by a Moorish historian named Cide Hamete Benengeli. He also claims that he has inserted some stories or episodes that he found in other sources or heard from other people. He also introduces some characters who comment on or criticize his own story or style. He also breaks the fourth wall by addressing the reader directly or indirectly. He also plays with different levels of reality by making some characters aware of their fictional status or by making some fictional characters interact with real historical figures. ### H2: The History and Influence of Don Quixote Don Quixote is a novel that reflects its historical context and also influences its literary history. Some of the aspects of the history and influence of Don Quixote are: - The historical context: Don Quixote was written in a time when Spain was undergoing significant political, social, cultural, and religious changes. Spain was a powerful empire that had conquered many lands in Europe, Africa, Asia, and America. However, it was also facing many challenges such as wars, rebellions, corruption, poverty, etc. Spain was also a Catholic country that had expelled or persecuted the Jews and the Muslims who had lived there for centuries. However, it was also a country that had a rich and diverse cultural heritage that included the influences of these other religions and cultures. Cervantes reflects these changes and contradictions in his novel. He shows the glory and the decay of Spain, the pride and the prejudice of its people, the tradition and the innovation of its culture. - The literary influence: Don Quixote is a novel that has influenced and inspired many other writers and works of literature across time and cultures. It is considered one of the first modern novels, as it broke many conventions and rules of traditional storytelling. It is also considered one of the most influential novels, as it created a new way of writing fiction that combined realism and fantasy, comedy and tragedy, satire and romance. Some of the writers and works that were influenced by Don Quixote include: William Shakespeare, Laurence Sterne, Jonathan Swift, Voltaire, Henry Fielding, Mark Twain, Gustave Flaubert, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Leo Tolstoy, Franz Kafka, James Joyce, Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriel García Márquez, Salman Rushdie, etc. ### H2: The Translation and Edition of Don Quixote by Edith Grossman Don Quixote is a novel that has been translated into more than 140 languages. However, not all translations are equal. Some translations may lose or distort some of the meanings, nuances, or effects of the original text. Some translations may also add or omit some parts of the original text. Therefore, finding a good translation is crucial to appreciate and enjoy Don Quixote. One of the best translations available today is the one by Edith Grossman, a renowned translator of Spanish literature. She has translated many works by authors such as Gabriel García Márquez, Mario Vargas Llosa, Carlos Fuentes, etc. She has also received many awards and honors for her translations. Some of the features and benefits of her translation and edition of Don Quixote are: - The translation: Edith Grossman has done a remarkable job of capturing the spirit, humor, and beauty of Cervantes' original text. She has preserved the tone, style, structure, language, and narration of Don Quixote. She has also conveyed the meanings, nuances, effects, and references of Don Quixote. She has used a clear and fluent English that is faithful to the Spanish but also accessible and engaging for modern readers. She has also used footnotes to explain some words or phrases that may be unfamiliar or unclear to the reader. - The edition: Edith Grossman's edition of Don Quixote has some features that enhance the reading experience. It has an introduction by Harold Bloom, a famous literary critic who provides some insights and analysis on Don Quixote. It has annotations that provide some additional information or context on some parts of Don Quixote. It has illustrations by Eko that depict some scenes or characters from Don Quixote in a colorful and expressive way. It has a bibliography that lists some sources or works related to Don Quixote. ### H2: Conclusion Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes translated by Edith Grossman is a masterpiece of world literature that deserves to be read by anyone who loves literature. It is a novel that tells the story of a man who becomes a knight-errant in pursuit of his ideals and dreams. It is a novel that explores various themes such as reality and imagination, literature and life, madness and sanity, friendship and love, etc. It is a novel that showcases various features such as genre, tone, language, narration, etc. It is a novel that reflects its historical context and influences its literary history. It is a novel that has been translated by Edith Grossman in a way that preserves its spirit, humor, and beauty. If you want to read and enjoy Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes translated by Edith Grossman, here are some suggestions: - Read it with an open mind and a sense of humor. Don't expect it to be realistic or logical. Enjoy its absurdity and creativity. - Read it with patience and curiosity. Don't be intimidated by its length or complexity. Explore its richness and diversity. - Read it with appreciation and admiration. Don't be cynical or dismissive. Recognize its greatness and influence. ### H2: FAQs Here are some frequently asked questions about Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes translated by Edith Grossman: - Q: What does "don quixote edith grossman epub 74" mean? - A: This is a search query that someone may use to find an electronic book (epub) version of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes translated by Edith Grossman with 74 chapters (the total number of chapters in both parts). - A: Dulcinea del Toboso is the name that Don Quixote gives to his lady, whom he loves and serves with all his heart. However, she is actually a peasant girl named Aldonza Lorenzo, who lives in a village called El Toboso. Don Quixote has never seen her in person, but he imagines her as a beautiful and noble princess. He transforms her into his ideal of feminine perfection with his imagination. She is unaware of his existence and his devotion to her. - Q: What is the difference between Part I and Part II of Don Quixote? - A: Part I and Part II of Don Quixote were published ten years apart, in 1605 and 1615 respectively. They have some differences in terms of plot, style, tone, and theme. Part I is more episodic and humorous, while Part II is more coherent and serious. Part I focuses more on Don Quixote's madness and adventures, while Part II focuses more on his character and relationships. Part I is more original and innovative, while Part II is more influenced by other works and genres. Part I is more optimistic and idealistic, while Part II is more pessimistic and realistic. - Q: Who is Cide Hamete Benengeli? - A: Cide Hamete Benengeli is a fictional character who is supposed to be the original author of Don Quixote. He is a Moorish historian who wrote Don Quixote in Arabic. Cervantes claims that he found an Arabic manuscript of Don Quixote in a market and hired a translator to translate it into Spanish. He also claims that he has added some parts or comments to the original text. Cide Hamete Benengeli is a metafictional device that Cervantes uses to question the reliability and authenticity of his own story. - Q: What are some of the literary devices and techniques that Cervantes uses in Don Quixote? - A: Cervantes uses many literary devices and techniques to create a complex and innovative work of fiction. Some of them are: - Parody: Cervantes imitates and mocks the style and content of the chivalric romances that were popular in his time. He shows how absurd and unrealistic they are by contrasting them with the reality of his own time. He also subverts the expectations and conventions of the genre by creating a protagonist who is old, poor, foolish, and delusional, instead of young, rich, brave, and noble. - Metafiction: Cervantes creates a fiction that reflects on its own nature and process of creation. He plays with different levels of reality, narration, authorship, sources, etc. He makes the reader aware of the artificiality and complexity of his story. He also challenges the reader to question the truth and meaning of his story. - Int