On My Honor

When All is Said and Done...

 

 

Introduction

Cyrano de Bergerac is a character who holds his personal honor above all else. As a result of this belief, Cyrano's life is one of triumph as well as one of  personal sadness. Though he "wins some, and loses some," in the end, he suggests that he is absolutely satisfied with his life as he has lived it because he has lived it honorably. You, my friend, have been asked to participate in a celebration of this honorable life by delivering his eulogy.

 

The Task

In this activity, you will be researching ideas in order to write a eulogy that might have been given at Cyrano's funeral.  The eulogy will be written at a later day, so keep your notes.

 

The Process

 

  1. Visit Welcome to Merriam-Webster, and look up the word "honor." Notice that the words in RED indicate several of the different facets of meaning for honor.
    • Pay particular attention to portions of the definition that relate to your sense of Cyrano's concern for honor.
    • Take appropriate notes remembering that your project must include reference to denotative meaning of the word honor.

 Welcome to Merriam-Webster

http://www.m-w.com/

Comments: This site provides several synonyms for search words. Each synonym is linked to extensive information about the connotations of the word. 

 

  1. Visit Roget's Thesaurus and collect 3-5 synonyms for "honor" that are appropriate to the sense of the word "honor" as Cyrano would have seen it. 

Roget's Thesaurus

http://www.thesaurus.com/

Comments: This site provides several synonyms for search words. Each synonym is linked to extensive information about the connotations of the word. 

 

 

 

  1. Visit Quote Search and collect at least 5 quotations about honor that are appropriate to Cyrano's sense of honor and how it guided his decision making.

Be sure to take note of the original speaker of the quotes you collect.

Quote Search

http://www.starlingtech.com/quotes/search.html

Comments: This site provides several searchable databases of quotations, both "classic" and "contemporary."

 

 

  1. Collect quotes from the play attributable to Cyrano where he speaks of his own sense of honor.
    • It may be helpful to use an online text of Cyrano de Bergerac. You can use your browser's FIND button to search the text for any key words from the play. For example, you might remember that Cyrano mentioned something about not wanting to spend his life on his knees "kissing up" in order to get his play published. Search for the word "knee" and the find function will take you right to that speech!
    • HINT: don't forget to search for the word HONOR.
    • NOTE: This translation may be different from the translation you read in class so you may not find the quotes to be phrased exactly as you remember them.

Cyrano de Bergerac

http://ftp.sunet.se/ftp/pub/etext/gutenberg/etext98/cdben10.txt

Comments: This site provides a complete online version of the play. Students can use the FIND (within site) function built into most browsers to search for specific lines.

 

 

  1. Collect evidence from the play where Cyrano's actions reveal his sense of honor.

 

  1. The eulogy will be written in class at a later date.   

A eulogy might use emotional language, but it would probably not include too much that is critical of the "dearly departed." Visit Eulogies with Love for ideas on how to write a fitting eulogy.  Take notes on how to write a eulogy.

 

Eulogies with Love

http://www.funeralswithlove.com/eulogy.htm

Comments: This site provides some basic suggestions on what to include in a eulogy.

 

   

How You Will Be Graded

Your project will be graded using the following criteria:

  • Successful inclusion of the required elements listed below
    • a brief statement referring directly to the connotative and denotative meanings of the word "honor" as they apply to Cyrano.
    • 3-5 synonyms for "honor" used appropriately within the context of your presentation
    • at least two quotations from real historical thinkers who have commented upon the nature of honor.
    • at least three "fictitious" comments, that might have been attributed to Roxanne, LeBret, and/or Comte deGuiche upon hearing the news of Cyrano's death.
    • at least two quotes taken from the words of Cyrano (from the play)
    • at least two references to specific deeds of Cyrano (from the play)
    • some sort of call to your "audience" to consider the role that honor should play in their own lives
  • Quality of presentation

 

 

Eulogy Writing ... 5 Quick Tips

The term eulogy sounds stiff and formal, but eulogies can include simple reminiscences, war stories, or favorite jokes. Here's how to put it together.

1. Gather your material

First, collect the biographical facts: age, marriage dates, places lived, children, and so on. Now think about the stories you remember, or the turn of phrase or typical behavior that captures your loved one's character so well. Talk with other survivors, so the picture you present will include their ideas as well.

2. Come up with a theme

A theme gives unity to the eulogy, helping your listeners to see the rich patterns of this life. For example, let's say you are giving the eulogy for your late mother. As your theme, you decide to talk about your mother's ability to make a home wherever she hung her hat.

Using this theme, you describe her English childhood, her eager arrival in Montreal as a shy, young war bride, and then how she made a warm and welcoming home in every new army base to which your father's career took them.

Another example: When speaking of a friend, you might mention the various roles your friend successfully played: Raymond the Businessman, Raymond the Family Man, and Raymond the Winning Soccer Coach.

3. Organize the material

Write your notes in point form on sheets of paper or on 3x5 file cards - one idea to a card. Now group the cards into piles of similar topics. Then sort each pile of cards into a logical order.

4. Draft your speech

Write out the first draft. (If you have access to a computer, use it to make your editing job easier.) Use linking sentences to make each topic flow easily into the next. Pay most attention to your beginning and ending.

As you write and polish, keep the words "celebration" and "thanksgiving" in your mind. If it is appropriate, include a few moments of humor or lightheartedness.

5. Practice your delivery

If you are not used to speaking in public, borrow a book on this topic from the library and quickly skim it to pick up some tips. Read the speech into a tape recorder and then play it back. You'll be able to polish some more. Now stand in front of a mirror and imagine you are talking to your audience.

Above all, remember to breathe. If you are afraid you might break down while reading the eulogy, ask someone ahead of time to be ready to take over at a signal from you. Just knowing you have a backup speaker will probably be all you need to stay calm.