The novel opens by briefly describing and his fascination with chivalric stories. With his “wits gone”, decides to become a knight and ream the country side righting wrong and rescuing damsels in distress. He outfits himself in some old armor and professes his love and service to Aldonsa Lorenzo whom he refers to as Dulcinea Del Toboso. After a long hot ride on his horse he comes upon an inn which he thinks is a castle and the innkeeper whom he believes to be the king. That evening Don begs the innkeeper to knight him and th ....