Std 10 English · Unit One

1.5 Joan of Arc

Complete textbook exercise solutions — Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade 10 English.

English Workshop

1Read the extract from G. B. Shaw's play on Joan of Arc and fill in the Tree diagram.

Setting -> Period: The year 1429 (During the Hundred Years War).
Setting -> Location: A military office and courtyard in a French city.
Scene of the given play: Captain Robert de Baudricourt's military office.
Characters: Captain Robert de Baudricourt, Steward, Joan of Arc, Bertrand de Poulengey.
Main Plot: A 17-18 year old peasant girl named Joan successfully convinces a skeptical military captain, Robert, to give her a horse, armour, and an escort of soldiers to go to the Dauphin, so she can lead the French army to free Orleans from the English.

2 APick out from the extract of the play two lines that provide evidence for each of the following.

(a) Her confidence:
(1) "I don't need beautiful armour made to my measure."
(2) "The Dauphin will give me, all I need, to free Orleans."
(b) Her courage:
(1) "She really doesn't seem to be afraid of anything."
(2) "I don't think it can be very difficult if God is on your side."
(c) Her optimism:
(1) "Three men will be enough for you to send with me."
(2) "You and Polly will live to see the day when there will not be a single English soldier on the soil of France."
(d) Her determination:
(1) "You said you would not see me. But here I am."
(2) "I will teach them all to fight for France."
(e) Her patriotism:
(1) "I will teach them all to fight for France."
(2) "there will not be a single English soldier on the soil of France."

2 BUsing the above points, frame a character-sketch of Joan of Arc, in your own words. Suggest an attractive title.

The Unshakable Maid of France

Joan of Arc emerges as a deeply inspiring and formidable character in the play. Though she is merely a peasant girl of 17 or 18, she possesses extraordinary courage and does not flinch before high-ranking military officers. Her supreme confidence is evident when she boldly demands a horse and armour, completely certain that the Dauphin will aid her. Joan's unwavering optimism and faith in God make her believe that raising a siege is not a difficult task at all. She is fiercely determined; despite being initially rejected by Captain Robert, she stands her ground until he yields. Above all, her heart is filled with pure patriotism. She refuses to accept the cowardly ways of the French soldiers and is fiercely resolved to drive every single English soldier out of her beloved motherland.

3From the extract, find what the following are compared to and why:

(a) as easy as: chasing a cow out of a meadow. Captain Robert uses this comparison to mock Joan's naive and simplistic view of how easy it would be to defeat the English and raise a military siege.
(b) as mad as: she is. Robert says this to Poulengey, comparing Poulengey's sudden belief in Joan's plan to Joan's own "crazy" and impossible-sounding ideas.
(c) The Dauphin in Chinon is like: a rat in a corner. Poulengey compares the Dauphin to a trapped rat to emphasize that the Dauphin is frightened, cornered by the English, and too cowardly to even fight back.
(d) The (enemy) soldiers will be driven away like: sheep. Joan makes this comparison to show how effortlessly a motivated and fearless French army will scatter and defeat the English troops.
(e) Joan of Arc is a bit of: a miracle. Poulengey compares her to a miracle because her mere words possess an unnatural, divine power to inspire and "put fire" into defeated men.

4Say WHY? Write it in your notebook.

(a) Joan wanted to meet Captain Squire.
Joan wanted to meet him to officially request a horse, a soldier's armour, and a small military escort so she could travel to the Dauphin and lead the mission to free Orleans.

(b) Joan did not ask for many soldiers from the Captain Squire.
She believed firmly that God was on her side, and therefore, she did not need a massive army. She felt that just a few brave men, like Polly and Jack, would be enough for the journey.

(c) Poulengey, Jack and Dick had offered to accompany Joan.
They offered to accompany her because her absolute conviction and inspiring words had "put fire" into them. They felt she was a miracle and worth taking a chance on when all other hope was lost.

(d) French soldiers were always beaten in war.
According to Joan, the French soldiers lost because they fought with the sole intention of saving their own lives, and the quickest way to save oneself in a battle is to turn around and run away.

(e) Captain Squire Robert said, "I wash my hands off it."
He said this because he was taking a massive risk by sending a young girl to the Dauphin in a soldier's uniform. By saying this, he meant he would take no personal responsibility for whatever disaster or consequence might happen to her next.

5Using a dictionary, find the difference between the following pairs of phrases. Make sentences of your own with each of them.

Phrases	Meaning	Own Sentences
1. cut in cut out	to interrupt someone who is speaking. to remove something by cutting / to be suited for.	Please do not cut in while the teacher is explaining the lesson. He is simply not cut out for a job in the military.
2. be held by be held up	to be occupied or controlled by someone. to be delayed.	The old fort continues to be held by the enemy forces. I apologize for the delay; I was held up in heavy traffic.
3. run away run for	to escape or leave a place suddenly. to compete in an election / to hurry toward.	The timid soldiers decided to run away from the battlefield. She has decided to run for the post of the class monitor.
4. be known as be known for	to be called by a specific name or title. to be famous for a specific quality or thing.	Rabindranath Tagore is known as Gurudev. The city of Nagpur is known for its juicy oranges.
5. go with go after	to accompany someone / to match. to pursue or chase someone/something.	I have decided to go with my friends to the cinema. The police officer decided to go after the fleeing thief.
6. put fire into put fire out	to inspire, motivate, or energize someone. to extinguish a fire.	The captain's speech put fire into the exhausted team. The brave firefighters managed to put the fire out quickly.

6Find 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 (e.g. Rani of Jhansi) and Joan of Arc.

Comparing Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi and Joan of Arc

Similarities:

(a) Both were extraordinarily courageous, patriotic women who took up arms to fight against foreign invaders to free their motherland.
(b) Both broke traditional gender roles by dressing in male/warrior attire, riding horses, and actively leading armies on the battlefield.
(c) Both became immortal historical legends and martyrs who died at a very young age for their respective causes.

Contrasts:

(i) Rani Lakshmibai was royalty (a Queen) fighting to protect her kingdom, whereas Joan of Arc was a simple, uneducated peasant girl.
(ii) Rani Lakshmibai was married and fought while carrying her adopted son on her back, while Joan of Arc was an unmarried maiden.
(iii) Rani Lakshmibai fought against the British East India Company in the 19th century, whereas Joan of Arc fought against the English in the 15th century.

7Write a summary of that part of the script (in the indirect speech) in 15 to 20 lines. (From: "Joan: Good morning, Captain Squire..." to "Polly and Jack have promised to come with me.")

Joan entered the room, wished Captain Squire a good morning, and confidently stated that he was to give her a horse, armour, and some soldiers, and send her to the Dauphin. Robert angrily asked his steward why he hadn't told him the girl was mad, calling him a blockhead. The steward pleaded with Robert not to anger her and suggested giving her what she wanted. Robert threatened Joan, saying he would send her back to her father with orders to put her under lock and key. Undeterred, Joan confidently replied that it would not happen that way, reminding him that he had earlier said he would not see her, yet there she was. Robert asked if she was assuming that he would give her what she wanted. Joan agreed and busily explained that since a horse would cost sixteen francs, she could save money by finding a common soldier's armour that fit her instead of a custom-made one. She added that she would not need many soldiers because the Dauphin would give her everything needed to free Orleans. Shocked, Robert repeated her claim to free Orleans. Joan simply agreed, stating that three men would be enough for him to send with her, as Polly and Jack had already promised to accompany her.

8 AMake the following sentences Affirmative without change of meaning.

(a) Negative: I am not so sure, now.
Affirmative: I am unsure now. / I am doubtful now.
(b) Negative: He will not be able to stop them.
Affirmative: He will be unable to stop them.
(c) Negative: I don't remember.
Affirmative: I forget. / I fail to remember.
(d) Negative: I can do no more.
Affirmative: This is all I can do.
(e) Negative: Sir, do not anger her.
Affirmative: Sir, keep her calm. / Sir, refrain from angering her.
(f) Negative: I shall not want many soldiers.
Affirmative: I shall want only a few soldiers.

8 BFill in the gaps in the table. (WORD-FORMS)

Noun	Verb	Adjective	Adverb
1. success	succeed	successful	successfully
2. inspiration	inspire	inspiring	inspiringly
3. safety	save	safe	safely
4. harm	harm	harmful	harmfully
5. thought	think	thoughtful	thoughtfully
6. brightness	brighten	bright	brightly
7. courage	encourage	courageous	courageously
8. haste	hasten	hasty	hastily

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