What proportion of Spanish-speakers have read Don Quixote?

Question

I've always thought that English-speakers have it easy: our greatest writer wrote plays, so you can experience Shakespeare just by sitting in front of the telly. Spaniards and Spanish-speakers, on the other hand, who wanted to experience the greatest work in their language, would have to get a copy of Don Quixote and put in the effort of reading 400 year-old prose. What percentage do or have done so? Is Cervantes taught in school?

Reading it in English or in a modern-language version doesn't count.

Answer 1

I'm Spanish. Yes, we study it at high school, but personally I've never read the whole thing. We just read and analysed what Cervantes meant in some chapters and the most important features of the characters. I think that almost the 90% of Spaniards have the book at home, but not so many of us have read it, even though we all know about the story and we all know the famous first line of the book ( "En un lugar de la Mancha de cuyo nombre no puedo acordarme..."). But I also have to say that I know people who have read it and they consider it a masterpiece. By the way, most kids know Don Quixote's story because in the late 70s the national Spanish tv ( TVE) created a cartoon series and they became very successful. In fact one day early in the morning, not a lot of time ago, I found them on tv by chance. I hope this explanation helps you to solve your doubts.

Answer 2

I am from Argentina and I've read a short version of Don Quijote at school when I was younger. We don't need much concentration to do it... It is taught in school.
But I prefer reading in English, to be honest.
I've read some classics, unluckily I didn't have the chance of reading Shakespeare, but I will on my holidays, though other Spanish-speakers say they find it difficult, I'll try...

Answer 3

The book "Don Quixote" [Don Quijote de la Mancha] was banned by the Catholic Church in Spain when it was first published. It was widely read in Purtitan/Protestant England, which leads me to believe that it was not been very widely read in Spain and probably not very well received in the past.

Don Quixote - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaDon Quijote de la Mancha (IPA: [don ki'xote ð̞e la 'manʧa], but see spelling and pronunciation below), fully titled El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la ...
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Quixote

The Don Quixote Exhibit Welcome to this digital exhibit of translations and illustrations of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra's novel Don Quixote de la Mancha. The exhibit features the ...
http://www.quixote.mse.jhu.edu

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. Search, Read, Study, Discuss."Oh Dulcinea de Tobosa, day of my night, glory of my suffering, ... The hero returns to La Mancha, and only at his deathbed Don Quixote confesses the folly ...
http://www.online-literature.com/cervantes/don_quixote

Don Quixote Arming himself with rusty old weapons retrieved from his barn and riding a decrepit farm horse, he renames himself Don Quijote de la Mancha and sets out in ...
http://www.fajardo-acosta.com/worldlit/cervantes/quixote.htm

According to the Times, the Spanish are or were, reading such as "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Mary Poppins" plus an interest in "Don Quixote".

Don Quixote plots to bring Spanish tourists to book - Times Online - Little Red Riding Hood, Mary Poppins, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza are just ... "Spanish readers number has risen steadily since the country emerged from ...
http://www.entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article2246472.ece

Answer 4

Well, Don Quixote is recommended reading for English speakers too.
I had to read parts of it for AP Spanish. However, I also read it (in English) for both History and English classes.

Answer 5

i don't even speak Spanish and i don't think the prose of Don Quixote is that bad, however, in answer to your question, yes, they do study Cervantes in school, at least in Mexico, i know for sure that they do. they read a lot more 'heavy' books than us in school, actually.

Answer 6

I confess I am reading that book currently. It is by choice in my spare time. I like reading one "modern novel" then going back and grabbing a classic. Though I am reading it in English. I did read LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE in Spanish.

Being that I live and was born and raised in the USA, I don't know of any famous play writers of the Spanish language. but I bet there are a few.

Answer 7

Yes Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra was thought in spanish school at least in panama , where ia'm from, at least 90% in central and south america. we beging to learn of the life of this famous spanish writer. in the 7th grade; Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra was born in 1547 and died in 1616. He is the most famous of all spanish language writers of all times and perhaps the most famous writer of all time in any language rivaling his contemporary Shakespeare. his birthday was in 1547 in the city of Alcala de Henares near madri d(spain) he served in the armed forces for the naval battle of lepanto in 1571. Against the turks he got injured on his left hand but continued as a soldier and his return to spain in 1575 he was captured by the turks and spent 5 years in prision as a priso.ner of war in Algiers until his return to madrid, in 1584 he married to Catalina de salazar, he published the novel la galatea and some comedy wth out much success. he was a public official and did a lot of traveling through andalucia collecting rents and gathering goods for the spanish armada 13 years later he was put in jail, in sevilla stayed 3 months accused of corruption was set free before going to trial publish Don quijote de la mancha the most famous ,book after the bible, ever published he settle in madrid , he did nothing but literature work his fame extended throught europe, he lived a simple life , i forgot to say he wrote the novel Don quijote de la mancha while he was im prison. and it was about his pretend girl friend dulcinea and his friend sancho panza he died on the 23 of april 1616 williams shakespeare died on that same dayto. .take care. joyce.

Answer 8

TV is produced to the cheapest common denominator - i.e., the common IQ of everyone, whereas a written booklet is written to the highest common denominator

Answer 9

1

Answer 10

I love viewing television, The animal is cherished by me shows, the medical shows and the Judges and courtroom shows