Topics to be Learn : Introduction Writing Skills Key Vocabulary Key Entities and Relationships Themes and Narrative Analysis Grammar

Introduction :

The extract is taken from the play Saint Joan (1923), written by the renowned Irish playwright and Nobel Prize winner George Bernard Shaw. It is set in the year 1429 during the Hundred Years War, a long-standing conflict fought between England and France from 1337 to 1453.

At this point in history, much of northern France and parts of the southwest were under foreign control, with the English holding the strategic city of Orleans. The extract introduces Joan, a strong and confident 17-to-18-year-old peasant girl from eastern France, who arrives at a military post to meet Captain Robert de Baudricourt.

The central focus of this passage is Joan’s unwavering determination to fulfill what she believes is a divine mission: to obtain a horse, armour, and soldiers from the Captain so she can travel to Chinon to meet the Dauphin (the heir to the French throne) and lead an army to free Orleans. Despite the Captain’s initial skepticism and his belief that she is "mad," the extract highlights Joan's immense faith and her ability to inspire courage in others, eventually leading Robert to take a "big chance" on her plan.

Warming Up !

Q.1. Discuss in groups/pairs and make a list of the weapons used in the old times and in the present times.

Weapons used in the past	Weapons used nowadays

 Q.2. 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.

Q.3. Adding different prepositions to the same action verb changes the meaning of the phrases, thus formed.

For example,

• call out - announce
• call at - visit
• call for - summon
• call up - make a telephonic call
• call off - cancel

Guess the difference in meanings of the underlined phrases.

(1)    (a) He promised to look into the matter.

        (b) He asked me to look for his lost book.

        (c) I shall look forward to your arrival.

(2)    (a) An epidemic of cholera broke out in the village.

        (b) The thieves broke into the locked house.

        (c) They broke up their friendship.

(3)    (a) You must carry out your duty faithfully.

        (b) Please carry on with your work.

        (c) They carried off the trophy in the football matches.

       (d) Carry forward the remaining balance to the next page.

Writing Skills :

About the Author :

George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950): an Irish playwright and critic.

• Wrote more than sixty plays during his lifetime.
• Major works: Man and Superman (1902), Pygmalion (1912), and Saint Joan (1923).
• He was the leading dramatist of his time.
• Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925.
• "Joan of Arc" is an extract from his play Saint Joan.

Historical Background :

Core Conflict: The French army is demoralized and consistently defeated by the English because they prioritize self-preservation over victory.

• The Hundred Years' War was fought between England and France from 1337 to 1453.
• Joan of Arc was a peasant girl born in eastern France who led the French army to several victories during this war.
• At the start of the play, all of northern France and parts of the south-west were under foreign control — the English held some areas, the Burgundians held others.
• The city of Orleans, one of the last remaining French strongholds, was under siege by the English.
• The year is 1429. The scene opens at the castle of Captain Robert de Baudricourt, a French military officer, in Vaucouleurs.
• Chinon: a city where the French royal family (including the Dauphin) had taken refuge during the war.
• Dauphin: the title of the eldest son of the King of France — the heir who would become king after his father.

Characters :

Character	Description
Joan (the Maid)	A well-built, strong, confident peasant girl of about 17. Also called Jenny in Lorraine. Deeply patriotic, fearless, and driven by faith in God and in her mission to free France.
Captain Robert de Baudricourt	A military officer in charge of the castle. Initially dismissive and mocking of Joan, but is gradually won over by her confidence and conviction.
The Steward	Robert's servant, fearful of Joan's strange power to inspire courage in others.
Bertrand de Poulengey ("Polly")	A French guard/squire who believes there is "something about" Joan and persuades Robert to give her a chance.

Setting :

Aspect	Detail
Period	1429, during the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453)
Location	The castle of Captain Robert de Baudricourt at Vaucouleurs, France
Main Characters	Joan, Captain Robert de Baudricourt, the Steward, Bertrand de Poulengey
Main Plot	Joan, a peasant girl, insists on meeting Captain Robert to obtain a horse, armour and soldiers so she can go to the Dauphin and lead the French army to free the besieged city of Orleans from the English.

Summary of the Scene :

Captain Robert de Baudricourt is angry with his Steward for not throwing Joan out of the castle. The Steward explains that although his fifty soldiers are not afraid of Joan, she has a strange power that puts courage into them, and he suggests Robert try to frighten her himself.

When Joan enters, she is confident and unafraid. She tells Robert that she needs a horse, armour and soldiers so that the Dauphin can send her to free Orleans. She calmly explains that she will need very little — a plain soldier's armour, and only three men (Polly, Jack, and Dick), since she has already arranged everything herself.

Robert is shocked at her boldness and threatens to send her home "under lock and key," but Joan remains unshaken, confident that things will not happen the way Robert thinks. Robert then questions his steward, who confirms that Poulengey ("Monsieur de Poulengey") and Monsieur de Metz do indeed wish to accompany Joan.

Robert summons Poulengey and asks whether he seriously believes in Joan's mission. Poulengey admits there is "something about her" and argues that since the Dauphin is trapped in Chinon like "a rat in a corner" and the French soldiers are demoralised, nothing but a miracle can save their cause — and Joan herself may be that miracle. Poulengey's conviction gradually sways Robert.

Robert calls Joan back for a second interview. She reveals her name (Joan, though called Jenny in Lorraine, and "the Maid" by soldiers) and her age (about seventeen). When Robert mocks her for underestimating the difficulty of war and describes the brutality of the English, Joan replies that French soldiers are always beaten because they fight only to save their own lives; she promises to teach them to fight for France instead, until not a single English soldier remains on French soil.

Moved by her conviction — and admitting that her words have "put fire" into Poulengey — Robert finally agrees to send Joan to Chinon under Poulengey's escort along with three companions. Overjoyed, Joan thanks him and rushes off with Poulengey, while Robert, still uncertain but resigned, remarks that there is "something about her" too.

Key Entities and Relationships :

The story shows Joan's interactions with important people in the French army and the supporters who help her.

(i) Squire Robert de Baudricourt

Robert is a high-ranking officer who does not believe Joan at first.

• At first, he is angry and refuses to listen to Joan.
• He calls her ideas "nonsense" and thinks her supporters are "mad."
• He believes that miracles happened only in the past, not in his own time.
• Later, he notices Joan's courage and determination.
• He agrees to help her because he feels she is someone special who can inspire the Dauphin.
• Even after helping her, he says, "I wash my hands of it," showing that he does not want to take responsibility.

(ii) The Dauphin (Crown Prince)

The Dauphin is the eldest son of the King of France.

• He is shown as a coward who refuses to fight to save Orleans.
• He loses hope and does not encourage his soldiers.
• He is compared to "a rat in a corner" because he hides in Chinon instead of leading his army.

(iii) Joan's Supporters

Many people support Joan in her mission to free Orleans.

• Bertrand de Poulengey (Polly): He strongly believes that Joan is special.
• Squire Jack (John): Joan describes him as a kind person.
• Other supporters: John Godsave, Dick the Archer, and their servants, John of Honecourt and Julian, also join Joan in her mission.

Themes and Narrative Analysis :

The Nature of Courage vs. Self-Preservation

• This theme shows the difference between the French soldiers' fear and Joan's bravery.
• The French soldiers are often defeated because they fight only to save their own lives.
• They quickly run away from the battlefield instead of fighting bravely.
• Joan teaches them to be courageous and never lose hope.
• Her supporters, like Poulengey and Jack, feel that Joan is like a miracle because her words fill them with confidence and courage.

Symbolic Comparisons :

The story uses simple comparisons to show Joan's confidence and the condition of the enemy.

• Joan says defeating the enemy will be as easy as chasing a cow out of a meadow.
• She compares the enemy soldiers to sheep, saying they follow their leaders and run away when their leaders flee.
• Joan is called "a bit of a miracle" because she stays determined and hopeful even when everyone else has given up.

Grammar :

Phrasal Verbs :

Definition : A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and a preposition or adverb (sometimes both) that creates a new meaning. The meaning is often different from the original verb.

Formula: Verb + Preposition/Adverb = Phrasal Verb

Negative → Affirmative

Definition : Negative to Affirmative means changing a negative sentence into a positive (affirmative) sentence without changing its meaning.

Rules :

• Remove the negative word (not, never, no, nobody, nothing, neither, etc.).
• Replace it with a suitable positive word or phrase.
• Make sure the meaning of the sentence remains the same.

Common Changes

Negative Word	Affirmative Form
not bad	good
not difficult	easy
not impossible	possible
not unhappy	happy
never	always (with opposite meaning)
no one / nobody	everyone (with suitable change)
nothing	everything (with suitable change)

Practice :

Change these negative sentences into affirmative sentences.

1. He is not dishonest.
   Answer: He is honest.
2. She never misses her classes.
   Answer: She always attends her classes.
3. No student failed the test.
   Answer: Every student passed the test.
4. This book is not useless.
   Answer: This book is useful.
5. I do not dislike chocolates.
   Answer: I like chocolates.

Figurative Logic: The Use of Similes and Comparisons

Definition : Figurative logic is the use of similes, metaphors, and comparisons to explain an idea or make it more interesting and meaningful.

Simile : A simile compares two different things using the words "like" or "as."

Examples:

• She is as brave as a lion.
• The baby slept like a log.
• He runs as fast as the wind.

Comparisons in the Lesson :

The author uses comparisons to make the ideas easy to understand.

Joan says driving away the enemy will be like chasing a cow out of a meadow.

• Meaning: She believes defeating the enemy will be very easy.

Joan compares the enemy soldiers to sheep.

• Meaning: They follow their leaders and run away when their leaders flee.

The Dauphin is compared to a rat in a corner.

• Meaning: He is frightened, helpless, and hides instead of leading his army.

Importance of Similes and Comparisons

• They make the writing more vivid and interesting.
• They help readers understand ideas more easily.
• They create clear mental pictures.
• They make emotions and actions more powerful.

The Logic of Word Forms :

Definition : Word forms are the different forms of a word created by changing its ending or adding prefixes and suffixes. These forms allow the same root word to be used as a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb.

Importance of Word Forms :

• They help us use words correctly in sentences.
• They improve grammar and vocabulary.
• They allow us to express the same idea in different ways.

Common Suffixes :

Suffix	Forms	Example
-ness	Noun	kindness, happiness
-tion / -sion	Noun	action, decision
-ment	Noun	movement, achievement
-ful	Adjective	helpful, beautiful
-ous	Adjective	famous, courageous
-ly	Adverb	quickly, bravely
-ize / -ify	Verb	realize, beautify