Maharashtra State Board | Standard X | English
Joan of Arc
by George Bernard Shaw · Chapter 1.5
📜 Summary of the Lesson
The scene begins against the background of the Hundred Years’ War between England and France. Captain Robert, the military officer, is discussing Joan, a teenage girl whom he clearly dislikes. We see the steward being full of praise for Joan, who has managed to inspire the French soldiers to fight against the English.
In the meantime, Joan enters to meet Captain Robert and narrates her plans to him. Robert threatens to put her behind bars, but she is unabashedly bold and straightforward. She informs Robert that Poulengey, Jack, Godsave, Dick, and their servants, John of Honecourt and Julian, will accompany her to fight the English.
Robert thinks that she has lost her mind because, according to him, his men can get the job done better. Robert sends for Monsieur de Poulengey and inquires if he is taking Joan seriously. Poulengey explains that there is something about Joan, and he thinks that it is a good idea to let Joan meet the Dauphin in Chinon, as the Dauphin is scared and would not fight to stop the English. He believes that Joan herself is a bit of a miracle and could miraculously free Orleans. However, Robert is not convinced.
He tries to scare Joan, but she seems unafraid and tells him that if God is on your side, nothing is difficult. Joan points out that the French soldiers would run away to save their lives, but she would teach them to fight for France. Finally, Robert decides to take a risk at the insistence of Poulengey and gives Joan a chance, as there is something about her that is extremely convincing.
📚 Word Meanings
- grimly — seriously
- squire — a person of high rank
- armour — protective clothing of metal or leather worn by soldiers in battles in former times
- blockhead — a stupid person
- assuming — taking for granted
- Dauphin — the oldest son of the King of France, who would become the king after his father
- Monsieur — a French word for ‘Mr.’
- retreats hastily — moves away in a hurry
- Chinon — one of the cities in France where the Royal family resided; during the Hundred Years’ War, the Dauphin took refuge in Chinon
- cowed — frightened
- wavering — hesitating
- have put fire into me — have inspired or motivated
- obstinately — in a stubborn and firm manner
- gravely — seriously
- raising a siege — surrounding a place from all sides and attacking it; or removing the forces surrounding a place
- plundering — looting
- to save their skins — to save their lives
- let come what may — let anything happen
- wash one’s hands off it — not to take any responsibility for it
🔥 Warming Up!
Q1. Discuss in groups/pairs and make a list of the weapons used in old times and in the present times.
Ans:
| Weapons Used in the Past | Weapons Used Nowadays |
|---|---|
| Battleaxe | Machine gun |
| Catapult | Cannon |
| Crossbow | Grenades |
| Cutlass | Mortars |
| Dirk | Rockets |
| Halberd | Rifle |
| Javelin | Pistol |
| Lance | Carbine |
| Longbow | Howitzer |
| Mace | Missile |
| Pike | Drone |
Q2. Imagine that you are the captain of your school Kabaddi team. Your final match is against a very strong team. Your team members are sure that you will lose. How will you boost their morale? Work in groups and prepare a short list of what can encourage the team.
Ans:
- Motivate them to believe in themselves.
- Ask them to understand their apprehensions and fears.
- Instil team spirit and encourage them to fight for the team.
- Remind them of their strong preparation and previous victories.
- Make them visualise the victory.
- Remind them that even the smallest of creatures — the ant — can do wonders when they come together.
- Tell them that I believe in them.
- Give a call of victory and ask them to seize it.
Q3. Adding different prepositions to the same action verb changes the meaning of the phrases thus formed. Guess the difference in meanings of the underlined phrases.Ans:
| Phrase | Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| look into | He promised to look into the matter. | To investigate |
| look for | He asked me to look for his lost book. | To search for something |
| look forward to | I shall look forward to your arrival. | To await eagerly |
| broke out | An epidemic of cholera broke out in the village. | Began suddenly |
| broke into | The thieves broke into the locked house. | To enter forcibly |
| broke up | They broke up their friendship. | Ended |
| carry out | You must carry out your duty faithfully. | To perform or do |
| carry on | Please carry on with your work. | To continue |
| carried off | They carried off the trophy in the football matches. | To succeed in achieving |
| carry forward | Carry forward the remaining balance to the next page. | To transfer or move something ahead |
Note: A phrasal verb is a verb that is made up of a main verb together with an adverb, a preposition, or both.
💬 In Between the Lesson
Q1. Why had Joan wanted to meet Captain Squire?
Ans: Joan wanted to meet Captain Squire to receive orders from him to raise a siege. She also wanted him to give her some of his soldiers, a horse, and armour so that she could go and fight against the English.
Q2. Name the persons who Joan needed to free Orleans.
Ans: Joan needed Monsieur de Poulengey, Squire Jack, John Godsave, Dick the Archer, and their servants John of Honecourt and Julian, to free Orleans.
Q3. Was the Dauphin fit to be a Prince and heir?
Ans: No, the Dauphin was not fit to be a Prince and an heir. He was frightened and unwilling to fight to stop the English from advancing.
Q4. What was the Squire’s opinion about miracles?
Ans: The Squire felt that miracles were all right in theory, but according to him, they were not happening in those days.
Q5. What did Robert accuse Poulengey of?
Ans: Robert accused Poulengey of being as mad as Joan.
Q6. What shows Joan is a person of immense faith?
Ans: Joan believed that if God was on their side, they could easily fight their enemies and drive them away. This shows her immense faith in God. In addition, she displays immense faith in herself when she confidently declares that she would inspire the soldiers to fight for France, and that there would not be a single English soldier left on the soil of France.
Q7. Why were the French soldiers always beaten?
Ans: According to Joan, the French soldiers were always beaten because they fought for themselves and ran away to save their own lives. She believed that she would make a difference by teaching them to fight for France, after which they would be successful.
Q8. What dress did Joan want?
Ans: Joan wanted a soldier’s dress. She did not need a beautiful armour made to her special measurements; she said she could find a soldier’s armour that would fit her well enough.
Q9. What made Robert finally agree to the plan?
Ans: Robert felt that there was something extraordinary about Joan that made him believe in her. He felt that he could take a chance and send her to free Orleans. It was this inexplicable conviction, reinforced by Poulengey’s support, that made him finally agree to the plan.
🛠️ English Workshop
Q1. Read the extract from G. B. Shaw’s play on Joan of Arc and fill in the Tree Diagram showing the key characters and their roles.
Ans: The central figure of the extract is Joan of Arc. She interacts with Captain Robert (Squire Robert), the military officer who is initially unwilling to help her. The Steward supports Joan and urges Robert not to anger her. Monsieur de Poulengey is the soldier who believes in Joan’s mission and convinces Robert to give her a chance. Other soldiers named — Squire Jack, John Godsave (Godsave), and Dick the Archer — along with their servants John of Honecourt and Julian, are mentioned as willing to accompany Joan. In Chinon, the Dauphin — the heir to the French throne — is the person whom Joan intends to meet to get further help to free Orleans.
Q2. (A) Pick out from the extract of the play two lines that provide evidence for each of the following traits of Joan of Arc.
Ans:
⚡ Confidence
- She speaks confidently to the Captain without any hesitation.
- “They will drive the soldiers before them like sheep.”
🛡️ Courage
- “She really doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything.”
- The Squire’s glare neither frightens her nor stops her.
🌟 Optimism
- “Her words have put fire into me.”
- “You and Polly will live to see the day when there will not be a single soldier on the soil of France.”
🎯 Determination
- “I have arranged it all. You have only to give the order.”
- “I will teach them all to fight for France.”
Patriotism
- “I will teach them all to fight for France.”
- “You and Polly will live to see the day when there will not be a single English soldier on the soil of France.”
Q2. (B) Using the above points, frame a character-sketch of Joan of Arc, in your own words. Suggest an attractive title for the same.
Ans: ⚔ Joan — The Miracle Girl ⚔
Joan of Arc is a simple peasant girl who is a shining example of courage, grit, and determination. Her belief in God and in herself is her greatest strength. We see her patriotism in the way she convinces Captain Robert to give her orders to raise a siege. Her courage is so contagious that soldiers like Poulengey, Squire Jack, and Dick willingly offer to join her in battle.
She is straightforward and truthful. Filled with optimism, she believes that when God is on their side, nothing can beat them. She is not afraid of putting forth her views boldly and is completely loyal to France. She is foresighted and a good planner. She understands the weaknesses of the French soldiers and is willing to train them. Joan is a model of what a true patriot can do for his or her beloved motherland. She inspires others powerfully through her words. She is so determined to free Orleans that even the initially stubborn Captain Robert agrees to let her join the battle. She has a rare spark in her that makes others believe that she cannot only work miracles for France — but that she herself is a bit of a miracle.
Q3. From the extract, find what the following are compared to and why.
Ans:
| Expression | Completed Comparison | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| (a) as easy as… | chasing a cow out of a meadow | Because the English soldiers were so cruel that they would plunder, burn, and turn the countryside into a desert, making them easy targets for a determined army. |
| (b) as mad as… | Joan | Because Poulengey believes that Joan could free Orleans and that they should give her a chance — something Robert finds unbelievable. |
| (c) The Dauphin in Chinon is like… | a rat in a corner | Because, although the Dauphin is present in Chinon, he is too frightened to fight and will not be able to stop the English from taking Orleans. |
| (d) The enemy soldiers will be driven away like… | sheep | Because Joan would teach the French soldiers to fight bravely for France, and their determination and courage would drive out the enemy easily. |
| (e) Joan of Arc is a bit of… | a miracle | Because Joan has been able to convince Poulengey that she can free Orleans. She has motivated him not to give up and to fight the English soldiers with renewed spirit. |
Q4. Say WHY? Write the reasons in your notebook.
Ans:
(a) Joan wanted to meet Captain Squire.
Joan wanted to meet Captain Squire to get orders from him to raise a siege. She wanted him to order some of his soldiers to accompany her in the battle and also to give her armour and a horse.
(b) Joan did not ask for many soldiers from Captain Squire.
Joan did not ask for many soldiers from Captain Squire because she planned to meet the Dauphin in Chinon, who would give her all the soldiers and resources she needed to free Orleans.
(c) Poulengey, Jack, and Dick had offered to accompany Joan.
Poulengey, Jack, and Dick had offered to accompany Joan because they believed in her mission and were inspired by her extraordinary courage, faith, and determination to fight for France.
(d) French soldiers were always beaten in war.
French soldiers were always beaten in war because they fought to save themselves and not for France. As a result, to protect their own lives, they would run away from the battlefield rather than stand and fight.
(e) Captain Squire Robert said, “I wash my hands off it.”
Captain Squire Robert said, “I wash my hands off it,” because he was not fully convinced that Joan could free Orleans. He wanted no responsibility for her actions. The most he could do was to send Joan to Chinon and let her say that he had sent her — he wanted to let her do what she liked entirely at her own risk.
Q5. Using a dictionary, find the difference between the following pairs of phrases. Make sentences of your own with each of them.
Ans:
| Phrases | Meaning | Own Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1. cut in | to interrupt someone | I was speaking to the teacher when my friend cut in suddenly. |
| cut out | to stop working suddenly / to be suitable for something | The machine cut out due to a power failure. / She is cut out for the role of a leader. |
| 2. be held by | to be conducted by someone | The meeting was held by the Principal. |
| be held up | to be delayed | The bus was held up due to heavy traffic. |
| 3. run away | to escape from a place | The thief tried to run away from the police. |
| run for | to run towards something / to contest an election | He ran for shelter when it started raining. |
| 4. be known as | to be called by a particular name | Mumbai is known as the financial capital of India. |
| be known for | to be famous for something | She is known for her excellent singing. |
| 5. go with | to agree with something | I will go with your idea. |
| go after | to chase or follow someone | The police went after the criminal. |
| 6. put fire into | to inspire or motivate | The teacher put fire into the students with her speech. |
| put fire out | to extinguish fire | The firefighters put the fire out quickly. |
Q6. From an Indian History Book or the Internet, find out information about Indian women (queens) who led battles. Write 3 points of similarity and 3 points of contrast between any one of the above Indian Queens and Joan of Arc.
Ans: Comparison: Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi and Joan of Arc
✅ Similarities
- Rani Laxmibai and Joan of Arc are both symbols of bravery, patriotism, and honour.
- Both were excellent at horse riding and led their troops fearlessly into battle.
- Rani Laxmibai led the Indian Rebellion of 1857 as a symbol of resistance to British rule, while Joan of Arc led a troop of French soldiers as a focus of resistance to the English in the last phase of the Hundred Years’ War.
⚡ Contrasts
- Rani Laxmibai was the queen of the princely state of Jhansi, while Joan of Arc was born into a simple peasant family.
- Rani Laxmibai was trained in shooting, horsemanship, and fencing, while Joan of Arc grew up doing ordinary household tasks such as sewing and spinning.
- Rani Laxmibai died while fighting the British troops near Gwalior, while Joan of Arc was captured and burned at the stake as a heretic by the English and their French collaborators.
Q7. Read the script from Joan’s greeting to Captain Squire up to “Polly and Jack have promised to come with me.” Write a summary of that part of the script (in indirect speech) in 15 to 20 lines. Do it in your notebook.
Ans: Joan greeted Captain Squire and told him that he was to give her a horse, armour, and some soldiers, and send her to the Dauphin. Captain Robert rebuked the steward, calling him a blockhead, and angrily asked him why he had not told him that Joan was mad. The steward advised Captain Robert not to anger her and urged him to give her what she wanted.
Captain Robert then threatened Joan that he would send her back to her father and order him to put her under lock and key. However, Joan replied calmly that, although he thought he would do that, it would not happen that way. She reminded him that he had previously said that he would not see her, and yet, there she was standing before him. Captain Robert asked her whether she assumed that he would simply give her what she wanted. Replying in the affirmative, Joan continued matter-of-factly, saying that the horse would cost sixteen francs, which was a large sum of money, but that she could save money on the armour. She explained that she did not need a beautiful armour made to her measurements, and that she could find a soldier’s armour that would fit her well enough. She further told him that she would not need many soldiers, as the Dauphin would give her all that she needed to free Orleans. Finally, Joan informed the Captain that Polly and Jack had already promised to go with her.
Q8. (A) Make the following sentences affirmative without changing the meaning.
Ans:
| Negative Sentence | Affirmative Sentence |
|---|---|
| I am not so sure, now. | I am unsure now. |
| He will not be able to stop them. | He will be unable to stop them. |
| I don’t remember. | I fail to remember. / I forget. |
| I can do no more. | I can do only this much. |
| Sir, do not anger her. | Sir, refrain from making her angry. |
| I shall not want many soldiers. | I shall want only a few soldiers. |
(B) Fill in the gaps in the table (verb forms — affirmative, negative, interrogative, etc.).
Ans:
| Noun | Verb | Adjective | Adverb |
|---|---|---|---|
| success | succeed | successful | successfully |
| inspiration | inspire | inspirational | inspirationally |
| safety | save | safe | safely |
| harm | harm | harmful | harmfully |
| thought | think | thoughtful | thoughtfully |
| brightness | brighten | bright | brightly |
| courage | encourage | courageous | courageously |
| haste | haste | hasty | hastily |