<P> The story follows the adventures of a noble ( hidalgo ) named Alonso Quixano who reads so many chivalric romances that he loses his sanity and decides to become a knight - errant ( caballero andante ) , reviving chivalry and serving his country , under the name Don Quixote de la Mancha . He recruits a simple farmer , Sancho Panza , as his squire , who often employs a unique , earthy wit in dealing with Don Quixote 's rhetorical orations on antiquated knighthood . Don Quixote , in the first part of the book , does not see the world for what it is and prefers to imagine that he is living out a knightly story . </P>
where did don quixote get his idea of knighthood
reads so many chivalric romances that he loses his sanity and decides to become a knight - errant