Quick Summary of El Cid

There are three parts or cantos to the Poema del Cid.  In the first part, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, called Cid "El Cid Campeador" by the Moors(Sidi means My Lord in Arabic), is accused by Count García Ordóñez of holding back for himself tributes he was sent to collect from the Moors for his king Alfonso VI of León.  Alfonso exiles Rodrigo from Leon and Castilla.  He gave him 9 days to exile.  El Cid needed money to live and support his troops in exile, so he faked a chest full of sand and adorned with gold nailds and leather red skins.  He pawned it with Raquel and Vidas, rich Jew moneylenders from Burgos.  They gave him 600 marcos as a loan since they knew he had gained a lot of money and riches in his battles against the moors.  El Cid places his wife and two daughters in the Monastery of Cardeña for sefekeeping with Don Sancho.  , and takes leave of them hoping that some day he will be able to marry his daughters well.  They announced his departure and 115 horseman lerft their homes to accompany him.  The ArcAngel San Gabriel told el Cid that as long as he lives, he will have a good ending to everything he does.  El Cid and his followers make raids to the southwest of Zaragoza into Moorish territory gaining fame and enriching themselves.  His companion, Minaya Alvar Fañez is the chief tactician of his troops and first cousin to el Cid's daughters.  Alvar Fañez was offered some of the money from el Cid, but he just wanted to boast about killing the Moors.  El Cid shows his compassion for the moors by giving prisoners their liberty.  They blessed el Cid for his generosity.  Although they won many battles and booty from the moors, and although el Cid sends King Alfonso gifts, he still doesn't forgive el Cid for his alleged betrayal.  El Cid fought with the Conde de Barcelona, don Ramón de Berenger.  He was still mad at el Cid for hurting a nephew of his.  El Cid won the battle against him and one of his famous swords Colada.  Don Ramón was held prisoner, refused to eat, and El Cid promised to release him until he ate.  He did and was set free.
In the second canto, the Cid advances towards the Mediterranean coast where he captures the famous city of Valencia.  Raquel and Vidas complain that el Cid has left them poor.  He now brings his wife and daughters there to live with him.  (A moor, Abengalbón, escorted Jimenas entourage.  They decide to reside in Valencia in a castle where you could see the sea and the sights of the city.  Yusuf, the moorish king of Merruecos, atacks el cid  because he conquered Valencia.  They arrived, sounded the battle drums which scared  doña Jimena dn her daughters.  El cid battled him, sent gifts to Alfonso and Alfonso became happier with el Cid.  Alfonso decided is was soon time to forgive el Cid.  Meanwhile, the nephews of the enemy who caused the Cid's exile, the Infantes de Carrión, scheme to marry the Cid's daughters to get a share of the now great wealth of the Cid.  Alfonso VI and El Cid meet on the banks of the river Tajo, now on friendly terms.  The king pardons El Cid and arranges his daughers' marriages with the Infantes. the Cid is hesitant, however he defers to his king.  This way the king is also responsible for his daughters' futures.  The marriages take place in Valencia.  El cid sends Pedro y Muñ to take care of and attend to the Infantes of noble lineage.  They went to the church Santa Maria where don Jeronimo, the bishop gave his blessing.  The festivities lasted 15 days.
The third canto shows the cowardice of the Infantes in battles against the Moors.  the men of El Cid soon take notice of this and mock the Infantes.  the Infantes react by taking revenge on their wives, the daughters of El Cid.  They take leave of El Cid, carrying with them all their share of the Cid's wealth, which included two priceless swords, Colada and Tizón.  The Infantes, don Fernando and don Diego, set of for Carrión and upon reaching the oak grove of Corpes, they order their escort to precede them and they then attack their wives savagely by whipping them and leave them for dead.
A relative of the girls, a cousin, who was sent to follow from a distance, takes the young women to safety.  The Cid demands justice from the king and the nobles from Spain are summoned to Toledo.  The Cid demands the return of his swords, his wealth and finally the most important part, a judicial duel between his champions and the Infantes de Carrión.  The Cid's men defeat the treacherous Infantes, and the daughters are married to two princes, heirs of Aragón and Navarra.
El Cid is the only Spanish epic preserved in an original form, in one manuscript.  the poem was written in verse, but in those days few people knew how to read.  The minstrels chanted the epic poems before audiences composed sometimes of nobles in the castles, and sometimes of peasants in the market place.  These performances were very popular. 
One outstanding aspect of the book is the characterization of the Cid.  He is real, talks and jokes, cries, shows off.  He loves his family and is loved by all.  He is generous with his friends and enemies.  He is loyal and quick to forgive.  He is just, deeply religious, a little superstitious.  Finally, his courage is unsurpassed, and he is a tender husband and father.  el Cid embodies the typical medieval virtues which make him the perfect medieval knight. 

** Useful information taken from El Cid, an adaptiation in the prose for intermediate students