The Man in the Iron Mask: Resumen de Capítulos, Personajes y Preguntas de Comprensión Lectora

1. The Man in the Iron Mask: Capítulo 1

What do we know about Aramis?
He was the Bishop of Vannes. He visited the prison to free the prisoner.

How did Philippe receive Aramis' message?
He found the Bishop's messages hidden in his bread.

Describe Philippe's living conditions before he came to the Bastille.
He lived with his nurse and his teacher. He didn't see anyone and he only received some visits.

Why was the letter in the well significant for Philippe?
Because the Queen had written that letter. The letter spoke about him.

How did Louis XIII react to the birth of his second son?
He wasn't happy about the second birth.

2. Colbert, Fouquet y el Plan de Aramis

Who was Colbert and why was he envious of Fouquet?
Colbert was the assistant Minister of Finance. He was envious of Fouquet because Fouquet was the Minister of France, and he wanted his job.

What information did Colbert give the King about Fouquet?
Colbert told the King that Fouquet had taken some money from the Government to pay for his new house.

Why did Aramis really want the party at Vaux?
Because it was a very good house to change the kings. It had many doors and tunnels.

Why did Aramis need the portrait of the King in his new clothes?
Because he wanted to make the same clothes for Philippe.

3. La Carta de Aramis y la Prueba de Philippe

What favour did Aramis need from Fouquet?
Aramis needed Fouquet to write a letter stating that Seldon is free.

What did Aramis do while the Governor wasn't looking?
He changed the letter. He caught the letter, hid it in his clothes and put another letter on the table.

Why did Aramis test Philippe in the carriage?
Because Aramis wanted Philippe to know all about the King, his life and his family.

What reason did Aramis give for helping Philippe?
Aramis wanted to help the country, and later Philippe would make him the pope.

Why did Aramis put Philippe in the room directly above the King's room?
Because there was an opening in the floor, so they could see the King and how he acted.

4. Los Celos del Rey y la Sustitución

How did the King feel when he was walking in the gardens?
The King was very envious of Fouquet. His house and gardens were more beautiful than the royal palace.

Why was D'Artagnan upset?
Because he knew and respected Fouquet. He didn't like what Colbert had said.

What did Philippe do after the King, Aramis and Porthos left the room?
Philippe put on the King's identical clothes. He went quickly to the King's room and lay down on the bed.

What did Aramis say to the Governor to explain Marchiali's strange behaviour?
He said that Marchiali was crazy and imagined that he was the King. He dressed and looked like the King.

5. La Furia del Rey y la Huida de Aramis y Porthos

How did Louis show that he was furious?
He broke the furniture and dishes, tore his clothes and hit the walls with his hands. He shouted angrily.

Why did D'Artagnan's suspicions about Aramis become stronger?
He was surprised that Aramis was bringing him the King's orders.

How did Fouquet react when he heard about the exchange?
He disagreed. He wanted to free Louis, although he wanted to send him to prison.

How did Fouquet help Aramis and Porthos?
He sent them to a house on the island of Belle-Isle, in the north-west of France.

How did Fouquet help the King?
He wanted to be his friend.

6. La Amenaza de Fouquet

What will Fouquet do if the Governor doesn't take him to the prisoner?
He will bring 10,000 soldiers to arrest the Governor and his guards and destroy the Bastille.

What reasons did Fouquet give the King for not killing Aramis and Porthos?
Fouquet said that they didn't want to kill him when he was their prisoner. Porthos and Aramis were Fouquet's friends.

7. El Reencuentro y el Castigo de Philippe

How did Philippe feel when he saw his mother?
He was very nervous. He trembled when he saw his mother. His heart was full of emotion.

Why was everybody shocked when the door opened?
Because Louis entered the room and the twin brothers were together.

How did D'Artagnan decide which man was the real king?
By their face colour. Philippe's face was white because he had stayed in prison for many years.

What was Philippe's punishment?
Philippe was sent to the prison on the island of Sainte-Marguerite, where he had to cover his face with an iron mask.

8. La Persecución de Fouquet

Why did Aramis and Porthos go to Athos' house?
Because their horses were tired and they needed fresh horses.

Why was Fouquet worried when he travelled to Nantes?
Because he thought that the King wanted to arrest him there.

What did Fouquet decide to do after his meeting with the King, and why?
He decided to escape because he thought that the King wanted to arrest him.

Describe briefly the end of the chase.
The King arranged for D'Artagnan to arrest Fouquet and bring him to the Bastille. D'Artagnan caught him and brought him there. Later the King ordered D'Artagnan to go to Belle-Isle and kill Aramis and Porthos. D'Artagnan disagreed and decided to go there anyway to make a plan with them.

9. Belle-Isle: Traición y Plan de Escape

What did Porthos and Aramis see while they were walking along the beach in Belle-Isle?
They saw a ship coming towards Belle-Isle, with seven other ships behind it.

Why didn't Aramis want to go to D'Artagnan's ship?
Because he thought it was a trick. He ordered the officials that D'Artagnan had to go to the island.

How did Porthos react when Aramis finally told him the truth?
Porthos was very angry because Aramis had become a traitor. He didn't abandon him, because he was his friend.

What was D'Artagnan's plan to help Aramis and Porthos?
He planned to resign. This way his ship and most of the ships would return with him, and only two ships would stay to guard the island. Then they could escape to England or Spain.

What happened after D'Artagnan left for France?
The King's soldiers attacked Belle-Isle.

10. El Engaño a los Isleños y la Muerte de Porthos

How were the islanders tricked?
While the islanders were fighting on one side of the island, other soldiers were attacking the other side.

Describe briefly Aramis' plan to escape from Belle-Isle.
Aramis planned to exit through a cave. They would exit on the beach and hide behind bushes. In the cave, three islanders were hiding with a strong boat, food and drink. They would push the boat into the sea and go to Spain.

How many soldiers did Porthos kill and how did he kill them?
He killed ten soldiers. He hit the soldiers on the head with a rock and they died.

What happened to Porthos?
When Porthos was running to the back of the cave, a huge rock fell on him. He died.

11. El Desenlace de la Historia

How do we know that the King now wanted to be a good, generous king?
We know this because he freed the islanders and pardoned Aramis and Porthos.

Why didn't the King tell D'Artagnan the truth about his friends?
Because he thought it was better for him to hear the news directly from Aramis.

What happened to D'Artagnan?
D'Artagnan served the King for four more years as Captain of the Musketeers. Then the King made him a General in the French Army. He died while fighting in Holland.

What happened to Aramis?
Aramis became an important person at the court of the Spanish King.

What happened to Fouquet?
Fouquet remained a prisoner in the Bastille until he died.