Summary:
Saint Joan is a play written by George Bernard Shaw in 1923, based on the life of Joan of Arc, the French heroine and martyr. The play follows Joan, a young peasant girl who claims to hear divine voices guiding her to drive the English out of France and help crown Charles VII as the rightful king. Despite her military success, Joan faces opposition from political and religious authorities who see her as a threat.
Joan is eventually captured, put on trial for heresy, and burned at the stake. However, Shaw portrays her as a visionary ahead of her time, whose ideas about nationalism and individualism challenged the rigid structures of the medieval world. The play highlights themes of faith, politics, power, and the conflict between institutions and individuals.
Shaw presents Joan as neither a saint nor a madwoman, but as a strong, intelligent, and determined leader whose beliefs clash with those in power. The epilogue reveals that she was canonized as a saint 25 years later, proving that history often recognizes greatness too late.
MCQs:
- Who wrote Saint Joan?
A) William Shakespeare
B) George Bernard Shaw
C) Oscar Wilde
D) Arthur Miller
Answer: B) George Bernard Shaw - What is Saint Joan based on?
A) A Greek myth
B) The life of Joan of Arc
C) A medieval folktale
D) A biblical story
Answer: B) The life of Joan of Arc - What is Joan’s divine mission in the play?
A) To convert England to Christianity
B) To lead France against English occupation
C) To become the Queen of France
D) To build a church in her village
Answer: B) To lead France against English occupation
Saint Joan - Who does Joan help crown as the King of France?
A) Henry V
B) Richard III
C) Charles VII
D) Louis XI
Answer: C) Charles VII - How does Joan die?
A) She is executed by beheading
B) She is poisoned
C) She dies in battle
D) She is burned at the stake
Answer: D) She is burned at the stake - What is the main reason for Joan’s trial and execution?
A) She betrayed the French army
B) She was accused of heresy and witchcraft
C) She refused to marry the king
D) She was caught spying for England
Answer: B) She was accused of heresy and witchcraft - What does the epilogue of the play reveal?
A) Joan was never executed
B) Joan’s enemies were also punished
C) Joan was declared a saint 25 years later
D) Joan’s family became part of the royal court
Answer: C) Joan was declared a saint 25 years later - What major theme does Saint Joan explore?
A) The role of women in politics
B) The corruption of the monarchy
C) The conflict between individual beliefs and institutional power
D) The importance of wealth in society
Answer: C) The conflict between individual beliefs and institutional power - How is Joan portrayed in the play?
A) As a divine prophet
B) As an ambitious politician
C) As a madwoman
D) As a determined leader with great intelligence and faith
Answer: D) As a determined leader with great intelligence and faith - What literary device is commonly used in Saint Joan?
A) Satire
B) Tragedy
C) Romance
D) Science fiction
Answer: B) Tragedy
| Question | Answer |
| Play Name | Saint Joan |
| Author | George Bernard Shaw |
| Year Published | 1923 |
| Main Themes | Faith, politics, power, individualism vs. institutions, nationalism |
| Literary Devices | Tragedy, irony, historical drama |
| Protagonist | Joan of Arc |
| Joan’s Mission | To drive the English out of France and crown Charles VII |
| Cause of Death | Burned at the stake for heresy |
| Message | Visionaries and revolutionaries are often punished in their time but recognized later as heroes |