El cid reading questions

1. What is the relationship between the Cid and the men who follow him? What does he promise them? What do they do for each other?

2. How are the battles portrayed in the poem? How do they shape the life -- social roles, the economy, gender roles -- in the borderlands?

3. How does the Cid treat the Muslims (Moors)?  Does he appear as a religious crusader against them?

4. The author introduces a character, Don Jerome a cleric, in the following passage:

He was going round enquiring about the Cid’s exploits and longing to come to grips with the Moors himself.  He said that, if he could have his fill of fighting, Christians need never mourn his death. (Second Cantar, passage 78, line 1288, page )

Why do you think the author creates this character?  How does he differ from El Cid?