Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw
Joan of Arc is a young peasant girl living in fifteenth-century France. She is determined to lead the French army to victory against the English and to restore the rightful king to the throne. Despite her lack of military experience, Joan is able to rally the French troops and lead them to a series of victories. However, her success soon brings her to the attention of the Church, which is determined to put an end to her mission. Joan is put on trial for heresy and is eventually burned at the stake. Despite her death, Joan's legacy lives on, and she is remembered as a symbol of courage and faith.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1924 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Drama, Romance · 6 chapters · 36,107 words
First lines
A fine spring morning on the river Meuse, between Lorraine and Champagne, in the year 1429 A.D., in the castle of Vaucouleurs.
Captain Robert de Baudricourt, a military squire, handsome and physically energetic, but with no will of his own, is disguising that defect in his usual fashion by storming terribly at his steward, a trodden worm, scanty of flesh, scanty of hair, who might be any age from 18 to 55, being the sort of man whom age cannot wither because he has never bloomed.
What this Textopian page supports
Saint Joan is listed on Textopian as a play by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1924 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- Date: 1924 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Drama, Romance, Tragedy
- Length: 36,107 words
- Structure: 6 chapters, 1,242 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Saint Joan?
- How does this play by George Bernard Shaw fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The play is based on the life of Joan of Arc, a historical figure from the 15th century.
- Drama — The play is written in a dramatic style, with characters engaging in dialogue and action to move the plot forward.
- Romance — The play contains a romantic subplot between Joan and Robert de Baudricourt, a knight who helps her on her mission.
- Tragedy — The play ends with Joan's execution, making it a tragedy.
Tags
drama · historical · biography · tragedy · religion · war · heroism · feminism · nationalism · martyrdom · politics · inspiration
Contents
- Scene 1
- Scene 2
- Scene 3
- Scene 4
- Scene 5
- Scene 6