Michael Morpurgo Month 2020: Sparrow Worksheet

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. In this extract, despite being given a role in the French army, Joan awakes to find an attack has begun without her: ‘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.

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.

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. She is complicated and conflicted in what she wants and what she must do. This richness helps to make her a real, three-dimensional character. Can you invent a story about a rich, multi-layered character?

You should: • Invent a new character – either from history or from your own imagination – and think how you could make them conflicted or multi-layered.

Stuck for ideas?

• Once you have thought of a character, you can describe them to your partner, both explaining what they are like, but showing what they are like through their actions (as Michael Morpurgo does in Sparrow).

• A hero who defeats monsters, but is scared before every battle

If you get stuck, think of a character with two conflicting opinions or feelings, such as:

• A character who steals treasure, but only because they need it to help someone

You might: • Write a character study of your new character or invent a story that features them.

Sparrow