Victor Hugo

The Hunchback of Notre Dame Victor Hugo

The novel is set in the year 1482 in Paris. The citizens are reveling, as it is "The Festival of Fools." In the midst of the celebration the struggling playwright, Pierre Gringoire, is trying to launch his play but the crowd loses interest, instead holding an impromptu contest for "The Ugliest Pope of Fools" where the award the ugliest person they can find. The "award" goes to Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral. The disheartened playwright leaves the contest where he comes upon the extremely beautiful gypsy performer Esmeralda as she is performing. Two critics, an old, bald priest and a crazy old hag, berate her as she presents. Suddenly, the procession of the Pope of Fools makes its way into Esmeralda's performance area, with Quasimodo being paraded as their showpiece. The procession comes to a grinding halt however when the bald priest suddenly begins scolding the "Pope" and calling for the cessation of festivities. The old, bald priest turns out to be Archdeacon Claude Frollo, no less than Quasimodo's patron. The two quickly leave the scene.