The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo. Short summary

5 seconds

In honor of the Feast of the Epiphany in Paris, there are festivities. After the play is over, the new buffoon daddy, the hunchback Quasimodo, kidnaps the gypsy Esmeralda.

1 minute

On January 6, 1482, festivities were held in Paris in honor of the Feast of the Epiphany and the ancient pagan festival of jesters. Cardinal Bourbon ordered a play to be performed in the central hall of the Palais de Justice. Characters from the Bible were to be present.

The production was dedicated to the marriage of the «son of the lion of France,» the dauphin Charles and Margaret of Austria. After it was over, the chief comedian of the city, the pope of the buffoonery, was to be elected.

Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bellringer of Notre Dame de Paris, becomes the buffoonish pope. The author of the play ran away from the palace. He had nowhere to sleep, as he wanted to pay for his lodgings with the proceeds from the performance. He goes to the fire in the square, where he spots the beautiful gypsy dancer Esmeralda.

After the gypsy girl collects the money for her dance and goes home, Pierre follows her. He hopes that the girl will help him with a place to live. Pierre sees Esmeralda kidnapped by the hunchback Quasimodo and an unknown man with a covered face.