The Hunchback of Notre Dame

 Published in 1831, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a novel
written by Victor Hugo that follows both the Gothic and

Romantic literary traditions. Overall, this means the novel
uses fiction to display aspects of horror, death, and
romance. In addition to those traits, Hugo also includes
other major themes, like the negatives of the legal system of
the day and capital punishment. This viewpoint can clearly
be seen in some of the heartbreaking events in the novel
that come from wrongful convictions. Overall, the tragic
end falls in line with the Gothic tradition.
 VictorMarie Hugo was born on
February 26, 1802, in Besançon, France.
And was a French poet, novelist, and
dramatist of the Romantic movement.
Hugo is considered to be one of the
greatest and best-known French
writers. Outside France, his most famous
works are the novels Les Misérables,
1862, and The Hunchback of Notre-
Dame, 1831.
EXPLOSITION:
› The story is set in Paris, 1482. Esmeralda, a lovely gypsy,
caught the attention of several people, including
Captain Phoebus and the titular character; the
hunchback, Quasimodo. Archdeacon Frollo,
Quasimodo's guardian, who lusts for Esmeralda, despite
his duties in the Notre Dame Cathedral, orders
Quasimodo to kidnap her, which failed when the
hunchback was captured by Phoebus. Quasimodo was
then sentenced to be whipped and flogged, then put to
the pillory as punishment for the 'kidnapping'.
RISING ACTION:
›Esmeralda was then arrested and
charged with the attempted murder
of Phoebus, which Frollo set up out of
jealousy of the blossoming relationship
of Esmeralda and Phoebus.
CLIMAX:
› As Esmeralda is being taken to the gallows to wait for her
execution by hanging, Quasimodo comes to her rescue and
takes her to the cathedral, protecting her with the law of
sanctuary. Frollo then voted to remove Esmeralda's right to the
sanctuary so she will not be safe in the cathedral. Clopin, a
companion from Esmeralda's band of gypsies, hears about the
execution and charges the cathedral to rescue Esmeralda.
However, Quasimodo assumed that the gypsies are hostile, so he
drives them off. Still unaware of Frollo's ploy, Quasimodo informs
him of Esmeralda's location. Frollo attempted to win Esmeralda's
heart once again. Once Esmeralda rejects his love for her, Frollo
ordered her to be hanged out of hatred.
FALLING ACTION:
› Frollo was present during Esmeralda's execution, laughing
while the gypsy struggles and finally succumbs to her
death. Quasimodo then pushes the Archdeacon from the
heights of Notre Dame to his death, avenging Esmeralda's
untimely death. He then goes to the graveyard in Paris the
condemned lies, staying with Esmeralda's body until
death. Several months pass, the tomb was reopened, and
both Quasimodo's and Esmeralda's skeletons are found.
As the men try to separate the skeletons from each other,
it crumbles to dust.
RESOLUTION:
› Ends in tragedy when Quasimodo, after trying
to save La Esmeralda’s life, realizes that he has
still lost her. Since he no longer has any reason
to live for, he then kills Claude Frollo who is the
one responsible for the death of La Esmeralda.
Quasimodo
› the deformed hunchback who
lives in the cathedral. Quasimodo
was abandoned as a baby and
rescued by Claude Frollo, whom
he follows unquestionably.
Quasimodo was kept in isolation
his whole life, spending his time
playing the bells of the cathedral,
which eventually caused him to go
deaf.
 Archdeacon Claude Frollo
› who lives in Notre Dame and is Quasimodo's
only connection to the outside world. He
keeps the hunchback isolated and rules
over him with a hard heart. Frollo becomes
infatuated with the gypsy Esmeralda, but
blames his lust on witchcraft and sorcery.
Regardless, he repeatedly tries to convince
Esmeralda to give herself to him, but is
always refused.
Esmeralda
› the beautiful gypsy girl with a
heart of gold. She is admired
throughout the city for her
beauty. She treats others with
compassion, which is shown
when she gives Quasimodo
water during a time of suffering.
Captain Phoebus
› who leads the king's archers. He also
lusts after Esmeralda and is able to
seduce her. When he is stabbed by
the jealous Frollo, he disappears
and does not show himself even
when Esmeralda is convicted of his
murder.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is set in Paris
during the 15th century.
A part of the Cour de Miracles was enclosed by
the ancient wall which surrounded the city, a
goodly number of which had begun, even at the
epoch, to fall o ruin.
Mood/Tone
› The entire story makes the mood of the setting and
events of Gothic Paris out to be very eerie and dark.
There is the town hall, and the pope at the main
cathedral, but those on the out-skirts of Notre
Dame fall victim to murder, torture, and social
injustices. The Tone is also very menacing and much
of the language used and the allusion/alonogies
play into superstitions and the devil.
True love requires sacrifice. – all the
main cast of characters end up injured
or killed while trying to express their love
for La Esmeralda.
The major conflict is the love triangle
between Esmeralda, the handsome
Captain Phoebus, and the sinful Claude
Frollo. It is this love triangle that sets off
most of the plot developments.

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 Published in 1831, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a novel

written by Victor Hugo that follows both the Gothic and

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