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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. To whom does the Dauphin owe a financial debt?

2. What happens after Joan leaves in Scene 1?

3. In Scene 3 when the men in the castle discuss Joan, what do they do?

4. What has happened to the French army in the beginning of Scene 3?

5. In Scene 2, what does Joan ask God for?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Joan anxious to do in Scene 3? Who stops her, and why?

2. After her victory at Orleans, what are Joan's intentions outlined in Scene 5?

3. As Dunois and Joan make their way toward their destination late in Scene 3, what happens?

4. Once Joan is given complete control of the military, the Dauphin calls his advisers back into the room. What does he tell the men and how do they react?

5. What is the additional charge brought against Joan in Scene 6, and what is her reaction to that charge?

6. In Scene 5, why doesn't Joan want to return home after her success at Orleans?

7. This play takes place in France in 1492. Just from reading Scene 1, what do you think the political climate was like at that time? Whose citizens were an imposition to the French people? What is Joan's position in this struggle?

8. In the Epilogue, what does King Charles find out about Joan and how long is it after Joan's execution?

9. What is Joan's first reaction to the church officials' demands for her to recant at her trial?

10. What does Joan do in Scene 3 to convince the men in battle that she is authentic?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Joan's one moment of weakness comes during her trial when she is faced with the possibility of torture and death. How does Joan respond to this threat? What does she do in an attempt to avoid torture and death? Do you think she is under the impression that this act will buy her freedom? Why or why not? What does she do when she finds out that she is still bound for life imprisonment? Do you think she understands the repercussions of this act? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Twenty-five years after Joan's execution, King Charles receives interesting information about Joan. What is that information? What is the significance of this information? Has Joan been vindicated through martyrdom, or does she simply appear to be an innocent victim of political posturing? Why? Why do you think a second trial was held? Do you think the king feels any guilt for what happened to Joan, and if he does, do you think this information sets his mind at ease? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

An ongoing theme throughout the play is feminism. Joan's role as a woman in Medieval France would rarely, if ever, have her participating in battle, let alone leading the troops. Do you think that Joan's supernatural powers and visions were a necessary component of her mission for her to be accepted and installed as a military leader? Or, do you think she would have been given the same respect as just a woman? Why? Joan obviously has no problem approaching high powered men. How does this add to the feminist theme?

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