Sparrow “There was only one creature on this earth who really knew Joan. He was a sparrow, just an ordinary sparrow… He was her best friend on this earth, maybe her only friend, too.” A young girl faces an impossible task, to save her beloved France from tyrants. To free her country, Joan will lose everyone she has ever loved. But she listens to her heart and believes in her calling. Many years later, a girl called Eloise has a very special dream about her heroine, Joan of Arc.
The battle “She woke with a jolt and sat up. “They are fighting, Belami. I know they are. There’s blood being spilt, French blood. Someone has ordered an attack. And they have not woken me. Don’t they know they cannot do it without me?” She armed herself quickly. She was already mounted in the street, when she discovered she had left her standard behind in her room. She sent Louis back up for it, and he handed it down to her out of the window. Then, with her brothers, the Duc d’Alençon and Richard the Archer with her, she clattered through the city, sparks flying from the horses’ hooves. She knew exactly where the battle was, where she would be needed.”
Joan joins the battle... ‘It was just as well she arrived at the Bastille St Loup when she did. Repulsed twice, already the French were gathering once again to attack the fort, but they had lost heart. They could see the English high and impregnable on their ramparts, their cannons firing, their arrows raining down on the French. So heavy was the fire that the French could only huddle under their shields. Then they saw Joan riding forward through their ranks, her standard fluttering above her head. It was the spur they needed. With a mighty cheer of “Jhesus Maria” they rushed the walls, threw their ladders up against them, and then were everywhere upon the English with such a sudden and unexpected ferocity that within an hour of her coming the fort was overwhelmed.’
After the battle... “Joan ordered that all prisoners should be spared, the wounded of both sides cared for, and that there should be no looting. That night in Orléans the bells rang out for a great victory. Joy was everywhere, everywhere that is except in Joan’s room. She lay on her bed and wept, wept for the dead, English and French alike, and went to confession. She had not killed. She had not even drawn her sword for fear she might, but she knew well enough she had caused over a hundred English to be killed.”
Storytelling challenge... In the story, Joan both wanted to join the battle and defeat the English and was upset at the loss of life. Can you invent a story about a rich, multi-layered character? Think of a character with two conflicting opinions or feelings. For example: • A hero who defeats monsters, but is scared before he fights • A character who wants to steal treasure, but only because he needs it to help someone Describe your character to a partner. Try to tell them about your character and show your character's personality through their actions (like Joan in the story). Then you could write a character study of your character or tell a story that features them.