Information about The Hunchback Of Notre Dame

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

1831 illustration from the first edition of Hunchback
Author	Victor Hugo
Original title	Notre-Dame de Paris
Illustrator	Alfred Barbou (original)
Country	France
Language	French
Genre(s)	Romanticism
Publisher	Gosselin
Publication date	January 14, 1831

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (original French title, Notre-Dame de Paris) is an 1831 French novel written by Victor Hugo. It is set in 1482 in Paris, in and around the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. The book tells the story of a poor Gypsy girl (La Esmeralda) and a misshapen bell-ringer (Quasimodo) who are both victimized by a corrupt priest (Claude Frollo). The book is largely a work of social criticism.

Plot introduction

Hugo was one day exploring Notre Dame Cathedral, when in one of the bell towers he discovered the Greek word "ANAГKH" carved into the stone wall. This word means "need/necessity". Hugo became curious about who had carved this word and why. Unable to find any clues to the insriber, the story of The Hunchback of Notre Dame began to form in his mind.

Hugo began to write Hunchback in 1829. The agreement with his original publisher, Gosselin, was that the book would be finished that same year. However, Hugo was constantly forced to delay due to other projects. By the summer of 1830, Gosselin demanded the book to be completed by February 1831. And so begining in September of 1830, Hugo literally worked non-stop on the project. He bought a new bottle of ink, a woolen cloak, and cloistered himself in his room refusing to be bothered or to leave his house (except for nightly visits to the cathedral). The book was finished six months later.

Explanation of the novel's title

Hugo finished the book just as he was running out of ink. This tempted him to title the work What There Is in a Bottle of Ink.^[1] He eventualy decided against it and called the book Notre-Dame de Paris. English translations of the book are often entitled The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which have led some to believe that Quasimodo is the main character. Hugo never liked this title, prefering the original Notre-Dame de Paris''. He gave this title because he considered the cathedral itself to be the main "character" of the story. The story takes place around and inside the church, and Hugo spent much time describing the building as well as decrying its abandonment after the abuse it suffered during the French Revolution. (During the Revolution, the church had been viewed as a symbol of the old regieme and was pilaged and vandalized by angry mobs.)

Plot summary

In fifteenth century Paris, the townspeople are celebrating the festival of Epiphany where Quasimodo is elected the king of fools. His master Frollo ends his play, and as the two pass through the thieves quarter, Quasimodo attempts to kidnap the beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda, with whom Frollo is in love. Esmeralda is saved by Captain Phoebus, with whom she falls madly in love. Quasimodo is put on trial for the attempted kidnapping of Esmeralda, and he is flogged. Afterwards, Esmeralda has pity on Quasimodo and brings him water. At this time, we meet Sister Gudule, a recluse who blames all gypsies for the kidnapping of her child years ago.

Meanwhile, Phoebus seduces Esmeralda, in spite of his trying to marry someone else. During a rendez-vous between Phoebus and Esmeralda, Frollo watches in secret. In a jealous rage, Frollo stabs Phoebus and flees. Esmeralda faints, and she is ultimately accused of the crime. Esmeralda is brought to trial and convicted for Phoebus' attempted murder. Frollo visits her and confesses his love. He offers to help her escape, but she says she would rather die without Phoebus and pushes Frollo to the floor. Just before she is about to be hanged, Quasimodo dramatically storms down from the cathedral, takes her and runs back in, leading her to a sanctuary where the law cannot touch her. While at the cathedral, Esmeralda mistreats Quasimodo. Frollo tries to force himself on Esmeralda, but Quasimodo defends her. Esmeralda taunts Frollo.

The Parlement of Paris votes to strip Esmeralda of her sanctuary. In an attempt to save Esmeralda from the Parlement, the thief clans of Paris organize an assault on the cathedral. This leads to an enormous riot where Quasimodo defends the cathedral by flinging down stones, timber, and molten lead. Esmeralda escapes with the playwright Gringoire and Frollo in disguise. Frollo reveals himself and demands her love in return for saving her life. When she refuses, Frollo tosses her to Sister Gudule and storms off to Notre Dame. While she initially calls for the guards, Sister Gudule realizes that Esmeralda is actually her long-lost daughter. Before the two can leave Paris and start a new life together, the mother conceals Esmeralda in a dark corner. However, when the mention Phoebus' name, Esmeralda exclaims his name and thus exposes her presence. Phoebus witnesses part of the struggle, but does nothing. From the cathedral, Quasimodo sees Esmeralda hanged. He sees Frollo laughing at the scene, and pushes him off the balcony. Centuries afterwards, Esmeralda's and Quasimodo's skeletons are found in an embrace, Quasimodo's skeleton crumbling to dust when moved.

Characters in ''The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Pierre Gringoire is a struggling poet. He mistakenly finds his way into the "Court of Miracles", the secret lair of the Gypsies. In order to preserve the secrecy, Gringoire must either be killed or marry a Gypsy. Esmeralda is willing to marry him, although it turns out she did it only to save his life.

Clopin Trouillefou is the "King" of the band of the Gypsies and scalawags in Paris. He leads the attack on the cathedral in their attempt to liberate Esmeralda.

La Esmeralda is a Gypsy dancer. She is the center of the human drama within the story and is object of love (or lust) for both Quasimodo and Claude Frollo. She falls in love with Phoebus, and is later accused of murdering him.

Djali is Esmeralda's pet goat. She performs tricks that make people believe that Esmeralda is an enchantress.

Quasimodo is the hunchback of Notre Dame. He lives in the bell tower of Notre Dame and rings the bells, which have made him become deaf. He discovers that he is related to the Gypsies. When he was a hideous and abandoned baby, he was taken in by Claude Frollo. Quasimodo's life within the confines of the cathedral and his only two outlets - ringing the bells (which eventually deafens him) and his love for Frollo - are described.

Claude Frollo is the Archdeacon of Notre Dame. Despite his celibacy vows as a priest, he finds himself lusting after Esmeralda. He attempts to murder Phoebus. He is killed when he falls out of the cathedral. Frollo himself has only two outlets in life, his affection for his younger brother and his adopted son Quasimodo, and his love for sciences. These, as well as his depressing look and his refusal to be near women made the people of Paris shun him as a sorcerer.

Jehan Frollo is Claude Frollo's spoiled younger brother. He is a student at the university. Quasimodo kills him during the siege of the cathedral.

Phoebus de Chateaupers is the captain of the King's Archers. He is loved by Esmeralda, but he does not return her feelings. His "murder" is the crime that Esmeralda is executed for.

Fleur-de-Lys de Gondelaurier becomes engaged to Phoebus.

Sister Gudule is a recluse. She became so when she believed to have lost her only daughter. Her long lost daughter turns out to be Esmeralda.

Louis XI is the King of France.

Florian Barbedienne is the judge who sentences Quasimodo to be tourtured. He is also deaf.

Jacques Charmolue gets Esmeralda to falsely confess to killing Phoebus. He then has her executed.

Major themes

As stated by many critics and scholars, the Cathedral of Notre Dame appears to be the main setting, which is almost elevated to the status of a character. Indeed, the original French title of the book, Notre-Dame de Paris (literally, Our Lady of Paris) shows that the cathedral (and not Quasimodo) is the subject of the story. The book portrays the Gothic era as one of extremes of architecture, passion, and religion; which, despite being the cause of many problems, are seen by Hugo to be more authentic than the sentiments of his time. Like many of his other works, Hugo is also very concerned with social justice, and his descriptions of religious fanaticism are also examined. Another unique element of the book is the way in which Hugo changes the roles of protagonist and antagonist, hero and villain, between characters throughout the novel.

Literary significance and reception

The enormous popularity of the book in France spurred the nascent historical preservation movement in that country and strongly encouraged Gothic revival architecture. Ultimately it led to major renovations at Notre-Dame in the 19th century led by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Much of the cathedral's present appearance is a result of this renovation.

Allusions and references

Allusions to actual history, geography and current science

In The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Victor Hugo makes frequent reference to the architecture of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.

He also mentions the invention of the printing press, when the bookmaker near the beginning of the work speaks of "the German pest."

Allusions in other works

The name Quasimodo has become synonymous with "a courageous heart beneath a grotesque exterior." ^[2]

In an episode of The Sopranos, Bobby Baccalieri confuses world events and biblical prophecy by erroneously stating that "Quasimodo predicted all of this."

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

The Hunchback of Notre Dame has had a number of film adaptations:

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1911)
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923 film)
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939 film)
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1956 film)
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996 film)

It has also appeared on TV numerous occasions:

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1977)
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1982 film)
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1986)

It was adapted for the stage by Nicholas DeBaubien.^[3] A musical version was released in 1998. A second musical version, scored by Dennis DeYoung, will open in Chicago at the Bailiwick Reperatory in the summer of 2008 ^[4]

Publication history

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is widely available in English language editions.

• 1978, USA, Penguin Classics ISBN 0140443533, Pub date 26 October 1978, paperback
• 2001, USA, Signet Classics ISBN 0451527887, Pub date 10 April 2001, paperback
• 2002, USA, Modern Library Classics ISBN 0679642579, Pub date 8 October 2002
• 2006, USA, Ann Arbor Media ISBN 1587264021, Pub date 14 July 2006, hard cover

Sources, references, external links, quotations

References

Sources

• 1831, The Hunchback of Notre Dame from the Victor Hugo Website
• Hugo, Victor. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1996, Barnes & Noble Books. ISBN 0-7607-0168-7. 
• Rebello, Stephen. The Art of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1996, Hyperion. ISBN 0-7868-6208-4. 

External links

• at the French Wikisource
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame, available at Project Gutenberg.

Quotations

• A description of Quasimodo upon his election as the fool's pope: "We shall not attempt to give the reader an idea of that tetrahedron nose-that horse-shoe mouth-that small left eye over-shadowed by a red bushy brow, while the right eye disappeared entirely under an enormous wart-of those straggling teeth with breaches here and there like the battlements of a fortress-of that horny lip, over which one of those teeth projected like the tusk of an elephant-of that forked chin-and, above all, of the expression diffused over the whole-that mixture of malice, astonishment, and melancholy. Let the reader, if he can, figure to himself this combination." (p. 62)
• On the connection between architecture and culture: "When a man understands the art of seeing, he can trace the spirit of an age and the features of a king even in the knocker on a door." (p. 184)
• Quasimodo's reaction to Esmeralda's gift of a drink of water while he is being heckled on the pillory: "Then from that eye, hitherto so dry and burning, was seen to roll a big tear, which fell slowly down that deformed visage so long contracted by despair. Perhaps it was the first that the unfortunate creature had ever shed." (p. 322)
• Quasimodo, explaining why he won't enter Esmeralda's cell: "The owl goes not into the nest of the lark." (p. 502)
• After Esmeralda's execution: "Quasimodo then lifted his eye to look upon the gypsy girl, whose body, suspended from the gibbet, he beheld quivering afar, under its white robes, in the last struggles of death; then again he dropped it upon the archdeacon, stretched a shapeless mass at the foot of the tower, and he said with a sob that heaved his deep breast to the bottom, 'Oh-all that I've ever loved!" (p. 678)

•  • [ e] The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
Characters
Quasimodo • Esmeralda • Esmeralda (Disney) • Claude Frollo • Claude Frollo (Disney adaptation) • Captain Phoebus • Clopin Trouillefou
Adaptations
1923 • 1939 • 1956 • 1982 • 1996 • The Hunchback of Notre Dame II • Notre Dame de Paris (musical) • Hunchback of Notre Dame (musical)

Victor-Marie Hugo

Born: 26 February 1802

Died: 22 May 1885

Literary movement: Romanticism
Debut works: Nouvelles Odes et Poésies Diverses (New Odes and Various Poems) (1824)
Influences: Walter Scott
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In political geography and international politics, a country is a political division of a geographical entity, a sovereign territory, most commonly associated with the notions of state or nation and government.
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Motto
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"
Anthem
"La Marseillaise"

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See Language (journal) for the linguistics journal.

A language is a system of symbols and the rules used to manipulate them. Language can also refer to the use of such systems as a general phenomenon.
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French (français, pronounced [fʁɑ̃ˈsɛ]) is a Romance language originally spoken in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, and today by about 300 million people around the world as either
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Romanticism is an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated around the middle of the 18th century in Western Europe, during the Industrial Revolution. It was partly a revolt against aristocratic, social, and political norms of the Enlightenment period and a
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Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information – the activity of making information available for public view. In some cases, authors may be their own publishers.
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Gosselin is a surname, and may refer to:

• David Gosselin
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It is celebrated as New Year's Day by those still following the Julian calendar.
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18th century - 19th century - 20th century
1800s  1810s  1820s  - 1830s -  1840s  1850s  1860s
1828 1829 1830 - 1831 - 1832 1833 1834

:
Subjects:     Archaeology - Architecture -
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French (français, pronounced [fʁɑ̃ˈsɛ]) is a Romance language originally spoken in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, and today by about 300 million people around the world as either
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-1831- 1832 1833 1834  1835 ^.  1836 ^.  1837 ^.  1838  ^. 1839  ^. 1840  ^. 1841 

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Victor-Marie Hugo

Born: 26 February 1802

Died: 22 May 1885

Literary movement: Romanticism
Debut works: Nouvelles Odes et Poésies Diverses (New Odes and Various Poems) (1824)
Influences: Walter Scott
..... Click the link for more information.

14th century - 15th century - 16th century
1450s  1460s  1470s  - 1480s -  1490s  1500s  1510s
1479 1480 1481 - 1482 - 1483 1484 1485

:
Subjects:     Archaeology - Architecture -
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Notre Dame de Paris, known simply as Notre Dame in English, is a Gothic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in Paris, France, with its main entrance to the west. It is still used as a Roman Catholic cathedral and is the seat of the Archbishop of Paris.
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Romani people (Devanagari: रोमानी, as a noun, singular Rom, plural Roma; sometimes Rrom, Rroma) or Romanies are an ethnic group living in many communities all over the world.
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La Esméralda is a fictional character in Victor Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She is a gypsy girl from Andalusia. She constantly attracts men with her seductive dances, and is rarely seen without her clever goat Djali (pronounced Dahl-ya).
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Disfigurement is the state of having one's appearance deeply and persistently harmed medically, as from a disease, birth defect, or wound.

Disfigurement, whether caused by a benign or malignant condition, often leads to severe psychosocial problems such as negative body
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Quasimodo is a main character from the 1831 novel, Notre Dame de Paris, by French author Victor Hugo. Many English editions have changed the title to "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".
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Claude Frollo is a fictional character from the Victor Hugo novel Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre Dame - 1831). Frollo is the Archdeacon of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. He is the antagonist of the novel.
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Social criticism analyzes (problematic) social structures and aims at practical solutions by specific measures, radical reform or even revolutionary change.

About

The starting points of social criticism can be very different and the different forms of Socialism (Marxism,
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Writing system: Greek alphabet 
Official status
Official language of:  Greece
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recognised as minority language in parts of:
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Regulated by:
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Quasimodo is a main character from the 1831 novel, Notre Dame de Paris, by French author Victor Hugo. Many English editions have changed the title to "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".
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The French Revolution (1789–1799) was a period of political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal
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Epiphany (Greek: επιφάνεια, "appearance" or "manifestation") is a Christian feast intended to celebrate the "shining forth" or revelation of God to mankind in human form, in the person of Jesus.
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King of fools may refer to:

• King of Fools (album), the 1997 debut album by Christian rock group Delirious?.
• King of Fools (EP), the 2004 album by power metal band Edguy.

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Captain Phœbus de Châteaupers is a fictional character from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, an 1831 novel by Victor Hugo. He is the Captain of the King's Archers.
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Sanctuary has multiple meanings. A sanctuary is the consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar. An animal sanctuary is a place where animals live and are protected. In modern parlance the term is used to mean a place of safety.
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Parlement (pronounced in French) in ancien régime France developed out of the previous council of the king, the Conseil du roi or curia regis, and consequently had ancient and customary rights of consultation and delibration.
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La Esméralda is a fictional character in Victor Hugo's 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She is a gypsy girl from Andalusia. She constantly attracts men with her seductive dances, and is rarely seen without her clever goat Djali (pronounced Dahl-ya).
..... Click the link for more information.