THE TRIAL
Summary:
The provided text is an excerpt from
Act I of George Bernard Shaw's play "The Trial of Joan of Arc," which
dramatizes the trial of Joan of Arc, a French peasant girl who claimed to hear
the voices of saints and was called by God to aid her country during the
Hundred Years' War. The play is set in Rouen on May 30, 1431, where Joan is
brought before a court of English soldiers, the Bishop, the Inquisitor, and
other officials.
Joan is depicted as a strong-willed and
defiant young woman who faces questioning from the court regarding her actions
and beliefs. The court accuses her of heresy and attempts to obtain a
confession through intimidation and the threat of torture. Joan, however,
remains steadfast, refusing to reveal more than she has already shared and
stating that she cannot reveal the whole truth as God does not allow it.
The Bishop and the Inquisitor, despite being
stern, show some leniency and hesitation towards using torture. They have tried
to convince Joan to confess voluntarily to avoid forced confessions. Joan also
questions why she is being left in the hands of the English and why she is
chained. The court is torn between traditional practices and more merciful
approaches.
Throughout the excerpt, Joan's defiance,
intelligence, and wit are highlighted, challenging the authority of the court
and questioning the fairness of her treatment. The play explores themes of
faith, justice, and the abuse of power while presenting Joan of Arc as a heroic
and complex figure in history.
Glossary:
- Joan of Arc: A French peasant girl born in 1412,
considered a national heroine in France. She claimed to hear the voices of
saints, who told her she was called by God to aid her country during the
Hundred Years' War.
- Hundred
Years' War: A series
of conflicts between England and France from 1337 to 1453, marked by
territorial disputes and power struggles.
- Rouen: A city in France, where Joan of Arc's
trial took place.
- Inquisitor: A person appointed by the Catholic
Church to conduct investigations into heresy and enforce religious
orthodoxy.
- Bishop: A high-ranking clergyman in the
Christian Church, responsible for overseeing a specific region or diocese.
- English
soldiers: The
English military forces who captured Joan of Arc during the war.
- Executioner: The person responsible for carrying out
executions, in this case, threatening Joan with torture.
- Heresy: The belief or opinion that goes against
the official teachings of a religious organization, in this context,
referring to Joan's claims of hearing divine voices.
- Gospels: The first four books of the New
Testament in the Christian Bible, containing the teachings and life of
Jesus Christ.
- Promoter: In the context of the trial, the person
presenting the charges against Joan.
- Obdurate: Stubborn or unwilling to change one's
opinion or course of action.
- Tower: Likely a reference to the place of
Joan's imprisonment.
- Court of the
Church: The
religious court responsible for trying Joan for heresy.
- The Church
Militant: The
Christian Church on Earth, as opposed to the Church Triumphant (souls in
heaven) and the Church Suffering (souls in purgatory).
- Cloth of
gold surcoat: A type of
garment made from fabric interwoven with gold threads.
- Burgundian
soldier: A
reference to a soldier from the Duchy of Burgundy, which was allied with
the English during the war.
- Church
Militant: The
Christian Church on Earth, as opposed to the Church Triumphant (souls in
heaven) and the Church Suffering (souls in purgatory).
Antonyms:
1. Faithful:
Unfaithful
2. Pleasure:
Pain
3. Merciful:
Cruel
4. Good:
Bad
5. Alive:
Dead
6. Kindly:
Harshly
7. Mercy:
Punishment
8. Mercy:
Severity
9. Possible:
Impossible
10. Open:
Closed
11. Defiant:
Submissive
12. Gentle:
Rough
13. Obey:
Disobey
14. Clever:
Noodle (This is a specific term used by Joan, where "noodle" is meant
as an insult, but there isn't a direct antonym for it. You could use other
general antonyms for "clever," such as "stupid" or
"foolish.")
Synonyms:
1. Heresy:
Apostasy, blasphemy, unorthodoxy
2. Peril:
Danger, jeopardy, risk
3. Merciful:
Compassionate, lenient, forgiving
4. Defiant:
Rebellious, resistant, disobedient
5. Faithful:
Loyal, devoted, steadfast
6. Mercy:
Compassion, clemency, leniency
7. Clever:
Intelligent, smart, resourceful
8. Obey:
Comply, follow, adhere
9. Merciless:
Ruthless, cruel, pitiless
10. Unfaithful:
Disloyal, faithless, treacherous
11. Possible:
Feasible, attainable, achievable
12. Good:
Virtuous, righteous, benevolent
13. Alive:
Living, animated, breathing
14. Open:
Unlocked, accessible, exposed
15. Closed:
Shut, sealed, confined
16. Gentle:
Mild, tender, soft
17. Rough:
Harsh, rugged, coarse
18. Harshly:
Severely, sternly, rigorously
19. Kindly:
Benevolently, graciously, warmly
20. Pain:
Suffering, agony, distress
Comprehension Questions and Answers:
1.
Who is Joan of
Arc, and what is her significance in history?
Ans: Joan of Arc was a French peasant girl
born in 1412 who claimed to hear the voices of saints, telling her that she was
called by God to aid her country during the Hundred Years' War. Her significance
lies in her leadership and military contributions to the French army, lifting
the siege of Orleans and taking back the city of Reims, which boosted the
confidence of the desperate French forces during the war.
2.
Where does the
trial of Joan of Arc take place, and who are the judges present?
Ans: The trial of Joan of Arc takes place in
Rouen, France. The judges present at the trial include the Bishop, the
Inquisitor, and other officials.
3.
How does Joan
react to the court's questioning and accusations of heresy?
Ans: Joan reacts with defiance and
intelligence. She challenges the court's authority, questions the fairness of
her treatment, and remains steadfast in her beliefs, refusing to reveal more
than she has already shared.
4.
Why does the
court discuss the possibility of using torture on Joan during the trial?
Ans: The court discusses the possibility of
using torture to obtain a confession from Joan because she is being accused of
heresy, and the court aims to obtain evidence to support the charges against
her. However, the Bishop and the Inquisitor show some hesitation and lean
towards more merciful approaches.
5.
How does Joan
describe her attempts to escape from prison?
Ans: Joan admits that she has tried to escape
from prison and justifies her actions by comparing herself to a caged bird that
would fly out if given the chance. She mentions attempting an escape from a
tower and humorously suggests that the tower has grown taller every day since
they started asking her questions about it.
6.
Why does Joan
refuse to swear on the Gospels again during the trial?
Ans: Joan refuses to swear on the Gospels
again during the trial because she believes she has already sworn enough and
that she cannot tell the whole truth since God does not allow it.
7.
How do the judges
react to Joan's responses during the trial?
Ans: The judges' reactions vary. Some are
harsh and critical of Joan's defiance, while others show some leniency and
concern for her well-being. The Bishop and the Inquisitor, in particular, try
to balance the desire for justice with a sense of mercy.
8.
In what ways does
Joan assert her abilities and intelligence during the trial?
Ans: Joan asserts her abilities and
intelligence by defending her actions, questioning the court's decisions, and
showing wit in her responses. She also highlights her skills at woman's work,
such as spinning and weaving.
9.
What themes and
historical context does the text explore?
Ans: The text explores themes of faith,
justice, abuse of power, and the complexities of Joan of Arc's character. The
historical context is the Hundred Years' War, a period of conflict between
England and France, and Joan's role as a national heroine during this war.
10. Overall, how does the text portray Joan of
Arc's character and her demeanor during the trial?
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