Don Quixote's Early Adventures: Chivalry and Misadventures

Chapter 1: The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha

In this chapter, we are introduced to a man named Alonso Quijano, a 50-year-old gentleman of limited means. He is an avid reader of chivalric novels, and his favorite author is Feliciano de Silva. He is so enamored with these romances that he decides to become a knight-errant himself. Like all knights, he needs arms, so he retrieves his great-grandparents' old armor to prepare. To be a proper knight, he requires three things:

• First, he needs a special knightly name, so he decides to call himself *Don Quixote de la Mancha*.
• Second, he needs a name for his horse, which he names *Rocinante*.
• Finally, he needs a lady to whom he can dedicate all his accomplishments, as a knight is expected to have a lady love to whom he dedicates his triumphs and glories.

Chapter 2: Don Quixote's First Sally

As Don Quixote embarks on his first journey, he begins to question himself and realizes that he has not been properly knighted, as he lacks the proper knighthood like the gentlemen in his novels. However, he continues to convince himself that he is indeed a knight. As he rides, he imagines that he will become a famous knight, recognized for his great deeds. As night falls, Don Quixote arrives at an inn where he intends to spend the night. Two women at the inn are amused by Don Quixote's archaic speech and mannerisms, and they laugh at him. Don Quixote becomes angry, but the innkeeper intervenes, offering him food and a place to stay for the night.

Chapter 3: The Dubbing of Don Quixote

In this chapter, Don Quixote, dressed as a knight, asks the innkeeper to dub him a knight. The innkeeper, realizing that Don Quixote is mad, sees an opportunity to make some money. He tells Don Quixote that to be knighted, he must stand vigil over his armor in the chapel. However, since the inn's chapel is under construction, Don Quixote places his armor in the yard and watches over it all day to ensure it is not stolen. He gets into a fight with two thieves who try to take his armor until the innkeeper intervenes and restores peace. After this, Don Quixote is finally "knighted." The two women who had previously laughed at him are now surprised and tell Don Quixote that they will serve him for life. The next day, Don Quixote departs early in the morning.

Chapter 18: Armies or Sheep?

Don Quixote believes that the inn was haunted, but Sancho corrects him, saying it was not, as he had heard human voices while he was being tossed in a blanket. As Don Quixote and Sancho continue their journey, they see two large clouds of dust in the distance. Don Quixote concludes that these are two great armies about to engage in battle. They climb a hill to get a better view, and Don Quixote begins to name famous knights, describing the battle and the weapons each army possesses. As they get closer, Sancho realizes that the dust clouds are actually coming from two herds of sheep. He tries to tell Don Quixote, but the knight insists that they are armies and charges at the sheep. The shepherds begin throwing stones, injuring Don Quixote and knocking out some of his teeth. Don Quixote asks Sancho if he has any broken teeth and, upon seeing him, begins to vomit. Later, as they prepare to eat, they find that they have no saddlebags with food and cannot satisfy their hunger. Don Quixote then asks Sancho to choose a path to continue their adventures.