In Spain, a book was published at the beginning of the 17th century that immediately attracted universal attention. The plot is witty - it's a funny parody of popular at that time chivalric novels.
It was with the advent of Don Quixote, written by Cervantes, that chivalric novels went into oblivion. But the parody of them remained to live. For many centuries, interest in the book has not faded, moreover, it is becoming more and more. A summary of Don Quixote will show that the names of its main characters have become common nouns, and some expressions from the novel have become proverbs.
Cervantes, Don Quixote: Summary of Chapter I
In a small town in Spain there was already an elderly hidalgo, whose name was Alonso Chihano. He loved to read chivalric novels and, inspired by them, imagined himself a knight. Hidalgo decided to travel the world, seek adventure and accomplish feats.
For himself, he chose the name Don Quixote, dressed in ancient armor, which he inherited from his ancestors, took a nag with the beautiful name Rocinante and went on his first trip. For him, the local peasant Sancho Panza became a squire. The newly-minted Don Quixote managed to convince the latter of the personal benefit of future campaigns.
Chapters II-XXII: summary. Don Quixote and his first adventures
As his lady of the heart, Don Quixote chooses some beautiful Dulcinea, since she appeared to him in dreams.
Having passed one day, they drive up to the inn, where they stop, taking it for an old castle. This is where the “initiation” of Don Quixote to the knights happened. The owner of the inn did this: he weighed Don Quixote the back of his head and shot him with a sword on the back.
The next adventure was a meeting along the way with a herd of sheep. His brave knight took for an enemy army, which he immediately began to destroy. For this, Don Quixote flew firmly from the shepherd.
Then our knight frees the convicts following to the place of imprisonment. He asks them to send greetings to his humble beloved Dulcinea of ​​Tobos. The liberated did not like the perseverance of their savior, and instead of fulfilling his instructions, they fairly beat him.
Chapters XXIII-XLIX: Summary. Don Quixote and the next feats
Everyone who met Don Quixote took him for a madman. And friends (the barber with the priest) tried by any means to force him to return home to cure him of madness there.
The brave knight himself believed that all the misfortunes sent to him, as well as the misunderstanding of people, are trials that fall only to the brave. Friends ask faithful Sancho to tell Don Quixote that his beloved Dulcinea demands that he return home. But for a brave knight it is worthless to return without having completed all the exploits, so Don Quixote refuses to turn to the house.
On the way, the barber and the priest meet the unfortunate lover of Cordeno and his companion Dorothea. Cordeno had a bride, Lucinda, who was kidnapped by a certain Fernando. This same Fernando once seduced and threw Dorothea. And now the two deceived decided to restore justice. They vowed to return their beloved, even if a duel was needed.
Friends of Don Quixote persuade Dorothea to impersonate the wandering princess of Mikomikonskaya. Allegedly, she came to him asking for help, since she heard a lot about his courage and exploits.
On the way to the fictional Mikikikona, the whole company met Lucinda, who was going to take refuge in a monastery. She did not want to live in a world without Cordeno. And now the once-separated lovers are reunited.
Dorothea managed to convince Don Quixote that without him, young people would never have met again. And he finally returned home. There, a niece took care of him for a month along with a housekeeper. And his mind began to clear up, the speeches were clear and reasonable. But as soon as he briefly touched upon the topic of chivalry, his madness returned with renewed vigor.
Chapters L-LII: Summary. Don Quixote and Governor Sancho Panza
A book was written about the adventures of Don Quixote, and the fame of his courage spread throughout the entire county. The neighbor’s son, who returned home after studying, said that the book is very popular and retold its summary. Don Quixote once again decided to go camping. This time they went to the knights tournament in the city of Zaragoza.
On the way there, they met the duchess with the duke, who were on a falconry. The Duchess respected Don Quixote (read about him in a published book). She invited him to her castle as an honored guest.
In the castle, without exception, everyone admired the mind of Don Quixote and the innocence of Sancho Panza. The duke even appointed the latter as governor of a small town. Only Sancho could not be in this position for a long time, and at the first opportunity he escaped from the city with Don Quixote.
The wandering couple returned home. Don Quixote decided to become a shepherd, but he was soon overcome by an ailment, and he died quietly, in a Christian way in his bed.