Dear friends, I stand before you not just as the Captain of our most worthy team but as one amongst you. Mark Twain once remarked ‘It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog’ and I personally feel that is all that matters. I understand your apprehensions and know your fears. But let me tell you that as a team we are much stronger than you can ever imagine.
We have practised well, we have given our best in the previous matches and we have won. Our victory in the semi-final echoes our strength as a team. This is a prologue to a grand victory that is destined. If we put out heart and soul into our game, no opponent, no matter how strong they may be can ever defeat us. Remember even the smallest and weakest of known creatures, the ants, can do wonders when they come together. All we need to do is believe in ourselves. We have got to plan and then implement the plan. Determination in the face of adversity is the mark of a hero and we need to stay determined to achieve our goals and to prove our worth to ourselves before we prove it to others. We need to fight the inner demons called ‘fear’ and ‘diffidence’ before we actually begin the match.
I, as the Captain of our most deserving team, have utmost faith in each of you as a player. We are the best and that is the reason why we are here. Let’s make our past victories our strength and failures our lessons. No team can ever defeat us if we do not allow them to do so. In the end, all I would want to say is ‘No defeat is final until you quit trying.’
Thank you, team and all the best.
3. Adding different prepositions to the same action verb changes the meaning of the phrases, thus formed.
For example, call out – announce
call at – visit
call for – summon
call up – make a telephonic call
call off – cancel
Guess the difference in meanings of the underlined phrases.
(1)
(a) He promised to look into the matter.
(b) He asked me to look for his lost book.
(c) I shall look forward to your arrival.
(2)
(a) An epidemic of cholera broke out in the village.
(b) The thieves broke into the locked house.
(c) They broke up their friendship.
(3)
(a) You must carry out your duty faithfully.
(b) Please carry on with your work.
(c) They carried off the trophy in the football matches.
(d) Carry forward the remaining balance to the next page.
(1)
(a) He promised to look into the matter.
Ans. to investigate
(b) He asked me to look for his lost book.
Ans. to search for something
(c) I shall look forward to your arrival.
Ans. to await eagerly
(2)
(a) An epidemic of cholera broke out in the village.
Ans. begin suddenly
(b) The thieves broke into the locked house.
Ans. to enter forcibly
(c) They broke up their friendship.
Ans. to end
(3)
(a) You must carry out your duty faithfully.
Ans. to do a particular task
(b) Please carry on with your work.
Ans. to continue an activity or task
(c) They carried off the trophy in the football matches.
Ans. to succeed in doing or achieving something; to win
(d) Carry forward the remaining balance to the next page.
Ans. to transfer or move something ahead (to the next page, column, etc.)
… FACTUAL QUESTIONS …
Why had Joan wanted to meet Captain squire?
Ans. Joan wanted to meet the Captain Squire to receive orders from him to raise a seige. She also wanted him to give her some of his soldiers, a horse and an armour, so she could go and fight against the English.
Name the persons who Joan needed to free Orleans.
Ans. Joan needed Monsieur de Poulengey, Squire Jack, John Godsave, Dick the Archer, their servants John of Honecourt and Julian, to free Orleans.
Was the Dauphin fit to be a Prince and heir?
Ans. No, the Dauphin was not fit to be a Prince and a heir.
What was the squire’s opinion about miracles?
Ans. The squire felt that miracles were all right but they were not happening in those days.
What did Robert accuse Poulengey of?
Ans. Robert accused Poulengey of being as mad as Joan.
What shows Joan is a person of immense faith?
Ans. Joan believed that if God was on their side, they could easily fight their enemies and drive them away. This shows her immense faith in God. Moreover, we also get an evidence of her immense faith in herself, when she confidently declares that she would inspire the soliders to fight for France and there would not be a single English solider on the soil of France.
Why were the French soldiers always beaten?
Ans. According to Joan, the French soldiers were always beaten because they fought for themselves and ran away to save themselves.
What dress did Joan want?
Ans. Joan wanted a soldier’s dress.
What made Robert finally agree to the plan?
Ans. Robert felt that there was something about Joan that made him believe in her. He felt that he could take a chance and send her to free Orleans. This made him finally agree to the plan.
1. Read the extract from G. B. Shaw’s play on Joan of Arc and fill in the Tree
diagram.
Ans.
Joan of Arc
(a) Her confidence:
(1) She speaks confidently
(2) They will drive the soldiers before them like sheep
(b) Her courage:
(1) She really doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything
(2) The Squire’s glare neither frightens her nor stops her.
(c) Her optimism:
(1) Her words have put fire into me
(2) You and Polly will live to see the day when there will not be a single soldier on the soil of France.
(d) Her determination:
(1) I have arranged it all. You have only to give the order
(2) I will teach them all fight for France
(e) Her patriotism:
(1) But I will teach them all to fight for France
(2) You and Polly will live to see the day when there will not be a single English Solider on the soil of France.
‘Joan-The Miracle Girl’
Joan of Arc is a simple peasant girl who is an example of courage, grit and determination. Her belief, in God and herself is her greatest strength. We see her patriotism in the way she convinces Captain Robert to give her orders to raise a seige. Her courage is so contagious that others like Poulengey, Squire Jack and Dick willingly offer to join her in the battle. She is
straight forward and truthful. Filled with optimism, she believes that when God is on their side nothing can beat them. She is not scared of putting forth her views and is loyal to France. She is foresighted and a good planner. She understands the weakness of the French soldiers and is willing to teach them. Joan is a model of what a true patriot can do for his beloved motherland. She is quick at inspiring others through her words. She is so determined to free Orleans that the otherwise stubborn Captain Robert, who is initially not convinced, also agrees to let her join the battle. She has a spark in her that makes others believe that she can not only work miracles for France but she herself is a bit of a miracle.
(a) as easy as ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(b) as mad as ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(c) The Dauphin in Chinon is like ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(d) The (enemy) soldiers will be driven away like ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(e) Joan of Arc is a bit of ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(a) as easy as – Robert says that raising a siege is not as easy as chasing a cow out of a meadow because the English Soldiers were so cruel that they would plunder, burn, turn the countryside into a desert.
(b) as mad as – Robert says that Poulengey is as mad as Joan because Poulengey believes that Joan could free Orleans and that they should give her a chance.
(c) The Dauphin in Chinon is like a rat in a corner because although he is there he won’t fight and will not be able to stop the English from taking Orleans.
(d) The (enemy) soldiers will be driven away like-sheep because Joan would teach the French soldiers to fight bravely for France. Their determination and courage will drive out the enemy like sheep.
(a) Joan wanted to meet Captain Squire.
(b) Joan did not ask for many soldiers from the Captain Squire.
(c) Poulengey, Jack and Dick had offered to accompany Joan.
(d) French soldiers were always beaten in war.
(e) Captain Squire Robert said, “I wash my hands off it.”
(a) Joan wanted to meet Captain Squire to get orders from him to raise a seige. She wanted him to order some of his soldiers to accompany her in the battle and also give her an armour and a horse.
(b) Joan did not ask for many soldiers from Captain Squire, as the Dauphin would give her all that she needed to free Orleans.
(c) Poulengey, Jack and Dick had offered to accompany Joan, because they felt that only a miracle could save Orleans and there was something about Joan that had inspired them to at least give her plan a try.
(d) French soldiers were always beaten in war, because they fought to save themselves and not for France. As a result, to save themselves they would run away.
(e) Captain Squire Robert said,” I wash my hands off it”, because he was not really convinced that Joan could free Orleans. Secondly the most he could do was to send Joan to Chinon and let her say that he had sent her. He wanted to get rid of Joan so that she could do what she liked at her own risk.
6. From an Indian History Book or Internet find out information about Indian Women (queens) who led battles. (For example, Rani of Jhansi and Rani Karnawati of Mewad). Write 3 points of similarity and 3 points of contrast between any one of the above Indian Queens and Joan of Arc. Write in your own words.
Similarities
(1) Rani Laxmibai and Joan of arc, both are symbols of bravery, patriotism and honour.
(2) Both were excellent at horse riding.
(3) Rani Laxmibai led the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and was a symbol of resistance to the rule of the British East India Company in the subcontinent. Joan of Arc led a troop of French soldiers and served as a temporary focus of resistance to the English in the last phase of the Hundred Years War with England.
Contrast:
(1) Rani Laxmibai was the queen of the Princely state of Jhansi. Joan of Arc was born in a peasant family.
(2) Rani Laxmibai learned shooting, horsemanship and fencing while Joan of Arc was good at sewing and spinning.
(3) Rani Laxmibai died while fighting the British troops near Gwalior. Joan of Arc was captured and burned at the stake as a heretic by the English and their French Collaborators.
7. Read the script from :
Joan (Girl) : Good morning, Captain
Squire ………………
up to
Joan : (simply)
Polly and Jack have promised to come with me.
Write a summary of that part of the script (in the indirect speech) in 15 to 20 lines. Do it in your notebook.
Summary:
Joan greeted Captain Squire and told him that he was to give her a horse, an armour and some soldiers and send her to The Dauphin. Captain Robert rebuked the steward, calling him a
blockhead and asked him why he had not told him that Joan was mad. The steward told Captain Robert not to anger her, and give her what she wanted. Captain Robert threatened Joan that he would send her back to her father and order him to put her under lock and key. However, Joan retorted saying that although he thought that he would do that it wouldn’t happen that way. She reminded him, that he had said that he would not see her, but there she was. Captain Robert asked her if she assumed that he would give her what she wanted. Replying in the affirmative, Joan continued busily that the horse would cost sixteen Francs which was a big amount of money, but added that she could save it on the armour. She clarified that she didn’t
need a beautiful armour made to her measure and that she could find a soldiers armour that would fit her well enough. She also said that she would not want many soldiers as The Dauphin would give her all that she needed to free Orleans. Joan also informed the Captain that Polly and Jack had promised to go with her.
8. (A) Make the following sentences Affirmative without change of meaning.
(a) Negative : I am not so sure, now.
Affirmative : …………………………………………………………..
(b) Negative : He will not be able to stop them.
Affirmative : …………………………………………………………..
(c) Negative : I don’t remember.
Affirmative : …………………………………………………………..
(d) Negative : I can do no more.
Affirmative : …………………………………………………………..
(e) Negative : Sir, do not anger her.
Affirmative : …………………………………………………………..
(f) Negative : I shall not want many soldiers.
Affirmative : …………………………………………………………..
(a) Negative: I am not so sure, now.
Ans. Affirmative: I am unsure now.
(b) Negative: He will not be able to stop them.
Ans. Affirmative: He will be unable to stop them.
(c) Negative: I don’t remember.
Ans. Affirmative: I fail to remember. / I forget.
(d) Negative: I can do no more
Ans. Affirmative: I can do only this much.
(e) Negative: Sir, do not anger her
Ans. Affirmative: Sir, refrain from making her angry
(i) Negative: I shall not want many soldiers
Ans. Affirmative: I shall want few soldiers.
