Saint Joan Revision Booklet

1 Saint Joan Revision Booklet

2 Contents Plot Summary ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 3 Brief Notes – Scene 1 ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 4 Brief Notes – Scene 2 ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 7 Brief Notes – Scene 3 ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 12 Brief Notes – Scene 4 ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 15 Brief Notes – Scene 5 ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 18 Brief Notes – Scene 6 ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 21 Brief Notes – the Epilogue ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................... 25 Essay Questions................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............. 29 PBQs ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................... 31 PBQ 1 – Scene 4/Joan’s antagonists, RI Prelim 2022 ................................ ................................ .................. 32 PBQ 2 – Scene 5/institutions, RI Prelim 2023 ................................ ................................ .............................. 34 PBQ 3 – Scene 6/Warwick, VJC Prelim 2023................................ ................................ ............................... 36 PBQ 4 – Epilogue/impact of Joan’s death, CJC Prelim 2019 ................................ ................................ ........ 38 PBQ 5 – Scene 4/atmosphere and dramatic effects, CJC Prelim 2021 ................................ ........................ 40 PBQ 6 – Scene 5/righteous indignation, VJC Prelim 2022 ................................ ................................ ........... 42 PBQ 7 – Epilogue/humour, VJC Prelim 2020 ................................ ................................ ............................... 44

3 Plot Summary Scene 1 has Joan enter Robert de Baudricourt’s castle, and persuading him to support her in going to see the Dauphin, in order to fight for France in the Hundred Years War. It establishes the structures of authority that society is built on, and introduces how Joan disrupts those structures. Scene 2 sees Joan enter the Dauphin’s court, and ends with the French court supporting Joan’s course of action. Joan’s star is in clear ascendancy in this scene. Of particular note is how the French court responds to Joan. Scene 3 occurs just before the Battle of Orleans. The primary action here is Joan’s interaction with Dunois, the French commander, and the contrast between the two characters. The scene ends with Joan inspiring Dunois just before the Battle of Orleans. In summary, Scenes 1-3 introduce the figure of Joan, and her place within and disruption of the medieval world. Scene 4 is set after the Battle of Orleans, which is a major French victory. Joan’s opponents articulate their resistance to her influence. While Scenes 1-3 see Joan’s rise, Scene 4 is the turning point in Joan’s career as authority figures turn against Joan. Scene 5 is set after Charles’ coronation, sees Joan’s arc fall further. Scene 5 mirrors Scene 2, as both scenes show Joan’s encounter with the French court – but while in Scene 2 they are willing to support her, Scene 5 sees Joan isolated by the French court. Joan leaves the scene still determined to fight the English. Scene 6 is set after Joan has been captured by the English. The climax of the play, Scene 6 is a trial where the Inquisition tries Joan for heresy. The scene ends with Joan’s burning, and Stogumber’s subsequent drastic transformation after witnessing her death hints at the impact of Joan’s life and death. The Epilogue is set some twenty-five years after Joan’s death, with the trial of Joan having found to be a miscarriage of justice. Yet the Epilogue blurs the boundaries of time, drawing in the past, while offering a glimpse into the future. It ends with Joan alone on the stage in prayer, asking “how long, O Lord, how long?” – a question which the audience must necessarily wrestle with.

4 Brief Notes – Scene 1 Plot The Opening Scene Any opening scene has an introductory function – where the intentions of the playwright are made clear, and the audience is given some idea of the theme and scope of the work. This is critical how Scene 1 is understood. Scene 1 is the first movement in the three scenes which chart Joan’s rise and since it is the beginning of her ascendancy, this clues us in to trying to identify patterns which will repeat themselves on a larger scale through Scenes 2 and 3. Chunking the Scene The plot of Scene 1 can be chunked into smaller sections, which makes them easier to remember and process. 1. Robert and Steward’s conversation about eggs and Joan: conversation about eggs shows how the “act of God” is misunderstood, which then foreshadows how the matter of Joan will similarly be misunderstood, introduces Robert and Steward and the dynamic between them, introduces Joan through other characters 2. Joan’s entry, Joan’s first contact with Robert : introduces Joan to the audience, introduces conflict between Joan and Robert and outlines the main issues that will emerge (Protestantism vs Catholicism, nationalism vs feudalism, issues of gender), portrays Joan as catalyst of change 3. Robert and Polly discuss Joan: demonstrates the practical lenses through which Joan is viewed (and the inability to see Joan through other lenses), introduces Polly as a genuine supporter of Joan 4. Joan’s re-entry and pers uasion of Robert : Joan’s charisma and influence displayed, arguments about nationalism vs feudalism made, the laying of eggs and Robert’s admission that “she did come from God” suggests that understanding Joan necessitates going beyond the purely practical matters of battle and politics that were previously discussed Characters Robert  Robert, the squire of Baudricourt, is full of bluster and violence, which serves to cover up his lack of personal virtue. In this capacity, he functions as a foil to Joan, wh ere he is the target of her wit and his lack of imagination stands only emphasises Joan’s progressive and creative nature.  At the same time, he functions as a representative of feudal power, with its insistence and dependence on established hierarchy in or der to maintain its power. Similarly, Robert’s dismissive attitude towards Joan, along with his endorsement of her for the practical purpose of defeating the English foreshadow how other authority figures will see Joan.  Robert and the Steward are a clear p arallel to Dunois and his Page, serving to differentiate a spectrum of authority figures. Steward  The Steward is a comic figure who accentuates Robert’s high-handed bluster.  Shaw also uses the Steward to emphasis the contrast between Joan and Robert: thr ough the difference between his sly servility towards Robert and awe of Joan.

5  The Steward also gives voice to Joan’s influence, and he seems to approach her more as a supernatural phenomenon rather than a human woman, hinting at the necessity of differentiating between the lenses being employed