Question

This excerpt is from Mark Twain’s last novel, in which he describes the life of Joan of Arc through a fictional character. Read the passage, then answer the question that follows. On the steps of the church stood a stranger, a Burgundian priest, who was telling the people news which made them weep, and rave, and rage, and curse, by turns. He said our old mad King was dead, and that now we and France and the crown were the property of an English baby lying in his cradle in London. And he urged us to give that child our allegiance, and be its faithful servants and well-wishers; and said we should now have a strong and stable government at last, and that in a little time the English armies would start on their last march, and it would be a brief one, for all that it would need to do would be to conquer what odds and ends of our country yet remained under that rare and almost forgotten rag, the banner of France. The people stormed and raged at him, and you could see dozens of them stretch their fists above the sea of torch-lighted faces and shake them at him; and it was all a wild picture, and stirring to look at; and the priest was a first-rate part of it, too, for he stood there in the strong glare and looked down on those angry people in the blandest and most indifferent way, so that while you wanted to burn him at the stake, you still admired the aggravating coolness of him. And his winding-up was the coolest thing of all. For he told them how, at the funeral of our old King, the French King-at-Arms had broken his staff of office over the coffin of “Charles VI. and his dynasty,” at the same time saying, in a loud voice, “God grant long life to Henry, King of France and England, our sovereign lord!” and then he asked them to join him in a hearty Amen to that! The people were white with wrath, and it tied their tongues for the moment, and they could not speak. But Joan was standing close by, and she looked up in his face, and said in her sober, earnest way: “I would I might see thy head struck from thy body!”—th

Answer 1

Question: What does the fictional character's response to the Burgundian priest reveal about Joan of Arc's character and her commitment to France?

Answer: The excerpt from Mark Twain's novel is told through a fictional character, and therefore, it is not necessarily an accurate representation of Joan of Arc's true thoughts and feelings. However, the fictional character's response to the Burgundian priest can still be seen as a commentary on Joan of Arc's character and her commitment to France.

The fictional character's response is passionate and defiant. She is not afraid to express her hatred of the Burgundian priest and his message of English rule. This suggests that Joan of Arc was a strong and courageous woman who was willing to fight for what she believed in.

The fictional character's response is also significant because it comes at a time when France is under occupation by the English. This suggests that Joan of Arc was a patriot who was deeply committed to the liberation of her country.

Overall, the fictional character's response to the Burgundian priest provides us with a glimpse into Joan of Arc's character and her commitment to France. While it is important to remember that this is a fictionalized account, it still offers us valuable insights into the historical figure of Joan of Arc.

This is also a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there are always people who are willing to stand up for what they believe in.