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Picture this: you grab a novel, eager for some excitement. As you crack it open and read that first paragraph, a stunning revelation hits you like a ton of bricks…the protagonist is none other than you!

Can you even imagine the sensation?

It’s certainly a thought-provoking prompt for your students. In this age of boundless possibilities, they’ll likely observe that stranger things have indeed become the norm. You could effortlessly stumble upon yourself in a blog post, go viral in a video, or even grace the small screen unexpectedly – often in the most undesirable circumstances.

Moreover, this discussion sets the stage to explore two of the most iconic figures in world literature: Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, the stars of Miguel de Cervantes’ 17th-century masterpiece, Don Quixote. These two unforgettable characters found themselves in this exact predicament.

At the onset of Part 2 of Don Quixote, the deluded “Knight of the Woeful Figure” and his down-to-earth squire discover that they have unintentionally become the protagonists of Part 1 of the novel. Now, they must contend with the repercussions of their newfound fame. Later on, in Part 2, just like Cervantes himself realized to his dismay, the duo unearths the existence of an imposter second part published by an anonymous hack striving to capitalize on the triumph of Part 1. In the characters’ reactions to this sham work, Cervantes skillfully mocks his unidentified antagonist’s rendition. Don Quixote and Sancho’s presence within the realm of fiction assumes an even more vivid and genuine quality.

As for the unfortunate fate of Cervantes, he discovered that fame doesn’t necessarily equate to fortune. He penned Don Quixote largely out of financial desperation, hoping it would become a bestseller. Once it hit the presses, the book went viral (a term we’d use today), leading to numerous pirated editions. Cervantes had indeed written a monumental blockbuster, and his name resonated internationally, but he remained destitute. At least his fame endured far longer than the mere fleeting moments allocated to the majority of us!

“Just remember, a classic is something that everybody claims to have read but nobody actually reads,” uttered the sage words of Mark Twain. Now, personally, I’ve devoured Walter Starkie’s colossal 1000+ page translation twice. However, I concede that this gargantuan volume isn’t for everyone, especially not children in grades six through ten. Nevertheless, how can anyone navigate through life without even a modicum of familiarity with Don Quixote and Sancho Panza? These captivating characters have been immortalized through drawings, paintings, sculptures, plays, films, songs, symphonies, operas, and even a Broadway musical. Cervantes’ masterpiece has enriched the very fabric of language, gifting us with memorable idioms like “quixotic” and “tilting at windmills.”

So, how can you effectively introduce your students to the unparalleled duo of Don Quixote and Sancho in a single class period? One approach is to have them craft a story or improvise a scene that captures the essence of suddenly finding themselves as the main character in a tale. They could theatrically enact that profound experience or even produce a video. In 2006, I had the pleasure of tackling this very challenge for READ magazine. My solution? Embrace the power of drama.

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Ihab Salloum