The Poem of the Cid (The Song of the Cid)

How would you characterize the Cid’s interactions with the Moors? Give two to three examples.

What are the Cid’s motivations throughout the epic? How do they shape his interactions with friends and enemies?

How is masculinity defined in The Cid? What physical and personal attributes are considered honorable for a noble man like the Cid?

In the episode with Count Ramón of Barcelona at the end of Canto 1, how does the Cid gain his loyalty? What is the overall tone of this encounter and how does it reflect on the Cid’s reputation?

Consider the role of social class and hierarchy in the text. How are various social classes depicted, including peasants, merchants, aristocrats, and nobles? How is social hierarchy an important factor in forming and breaking the marriages?

Define the role of women in the text. Do female characters have an active part in the text? When women speak, what is being communicated through their voices?

The Cid is the quintessential warrior of the text, but his abilities go beyond the battlefield. How does he embody the best qualities of a leader for the medieval reader?

The Cid is an epic that travels beyond the borders of Castile into “foreign” lands under Muslim rule, with messengers often passing between the two worlds. How does the Cid’s exile in this unknown space present opportunity? How do these new lands and communities compare and contrast to the Cid’s home culture in Castile?