Rostand's 1895 play, The Princess Far Away, tells the story of Joffroy Rudel, a troubadour who embarks on a journey to meet the stunning Countess of Tripoli before he passes away, even though they have never met in person. Much like Cyrano, Joffroy is an idealist who dedicates himself to a course of action in pursuit of his dream.

Rostand's 1910 play, Chantecler, revolves around a barnyard rooster who, similar to the character in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, strives to maintain his dignity among the other "animals" in the world.

Miguel de Cervantes's novel, Don Quixote (published in 1605 and 1615), is a celebrated work that chronicles the escapades of an idealist who rebels against a materialistic society by immersing himself in various chivalric (and often delusional) adventures. When questioned if he has read Don Quixote, Cyrano responds, "I have — and found myself the hero."