...The hero that we have selected is Joan of Arc. Joan of Arc was very influential in French history and help win the hundred years war for France. She was brave, courageous, with a strong common sense, and quick on her feet when creating battle plans. Joan broke the stereotypes by being strong-willed and going against the norms of society. She deserves the title of hero because she was able to break the siege that England had on the French town of Orléans. She also travelled for five weeks to help win and fight the battles and win the war. Since she did all of these things and more, she deserves to be remembered as a hero of France. The influences that made Joan, who she was, was also her downfall. Joan grew up on a small farm in the countryside...
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...Charleen Adler Professor Anne Dorn Composition 1 25 November 2013 My Hero "One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying" (Biography Online). These are the words of a true hero, Joan of Arc. She is my hero because of her persistence, her bravery, and her closeness with God. Joan of Arc, or more appropriately Jeanne d'Arc, was a simple, peasant girl born at Domremy in Champagne (St. Joan of Arc). Although she could not read or write, she was very talented at sewing and spinning (St. Joan of Arc) and spent most of her youth on her father’s farm (Joan of Arc). I believe that people probably did not expect much from the girl, especially when taking the time period into consideration. “When Joan was about 12 years old, she began hearing ‘voices’ of St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret believing them to have been sent by God. These voices told her that it was her divine mission to free her country from the English and help the dauphin gain the French throne. They told her to cut her hair, dress in man's uniform and to pick up the arms” (Joan of Arc). This makes sense due to her attitude towards the church. “It is said by friends that: ‘She was greatly committed to the service of God and the Blessed Mary’” (Biography Online). During Joan’s time, the Hundred Years War was taking place. “But by May, 1428, she no longer doubted that she was bidden...
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...JOAN OF ARC | Joan of Arc has been a Roman Catholic figure analysed and studied for hundreds of years. Her short life is discussed in numerous religious and political texts not only because of her involvement and guidance of the French troops in the Hundred Years’ War but because of the spiritual guidance to lead the troops that she claimed to receive in her visions. Whether Joan is considered a hero, a saint or a visionary woman, her life continues to be of controversy among scholars who still immortalize her with their studies. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the various perceptions that attempt to portray Joan of Arc as a venerated and outstanding figure. Part of the analysis will focus on her role as an inspirational woman, the iconography and symbols and the role within religion and political involvement that Joan of Arc continues to influence. Her life and death According to Kevin J. Harty’s article “Joan of Arc’s life may well be the most-documented of anyone who lived before the twentieth-century but as Professor Heimann’s ground-breaking and fascinating study suggests there is still much to be learned about the Maid of Orléans” (Harty 104). Her very short life (1412-31) had a series of events that would be remembered for hundreds of years to follow. At the age of 12, she started seeing visions of saints who would guide her way leading the French troops to end the siege of Orléans. Her visions can be contrasted with the annunciation experienced by the...
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...St. Joan of Arc Leaders are born, not made. The Great Man Theory states that a “Great Man” would arise, almost like magic, to lead the people in times of need. Was Joan of Arc such a person? Or was she just a disturbed, confused teenager? Or perhaps she was a messenger of God? It is all subject to personal interpretation. In modern times, if you admit you talk to dead people, saints or not, you are considered out of your mind. However, no one can argue the historical fact that before Joan of Arc became involved in the 100 Years’ War, France was doomed to failure. Saint Joan, also known as Jeanne, was born on January 6, 1412, in the Village of Domremy. The village was in the middle of unstable surroundings: The French on one side, the English on the other. She was born as an illiterate, peasant daughter to Jacques d’Arc and Isabelle Romee. Her father was a farmer and the leader of the French Village Domremy during the time of the 100 Years’ War. Joan learned domestic skills and religion from her mother. Around the time she was thirteen, she claimed she could hear voices from Saints such as Michael, Margaret, and Catherine. They told her God would help her if she behaved and attended church regularly. From that point on, the Saints supposedly contacted her three to four times a week. Her vision from God and the Saints told her to recover her homeland from English domination. She petitioned the French Governor Count Robert de Baudricourt at Vaucouleurs to visit the French...
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...Joan of Arc is considered as one of the greatest Saints of the Catholic Church. St. Joan was born at Domremy which is located in Champagne on January 6th, 1412, “St. Joan was born at Domremy in Champagne, probably on January 6th, 1412” (Hahn, 208). When she was at the age of 13 she began having visions from St. Michael the Archangel, St. Margaret, and St. Catherine of Alexandria, “At the age of 13, she began to hear voices and had a vision of light in which St. Michael the Archangel, St. Margaret, and St. Catherine of Alexandria appeared to her. These guiding councilors elected her a liberator of France and, in particular, the city of Orleans. St. Joan was instructed by the saints to inform Charles VII that she would make possible his coronation” (Hahn, 208). After having her visions, St. Joan of Arc went right to work, “With the crowning of King Charles VII, St. Joan’s principal aim was complete, and after a failed attack on Paris, she did not lead any assaults until the following year. During the winter, Charles and his advisors grew increasingly apathetic to her mission. The following May, St. Joan led a small army of five hundred soldiers against a far stronger force. During the attack she was captured by the English. St. Joan was burned at the stake on May 30th, 1431” (Hahn, 208). A lot of people give St. Joan of Arc a lot of fascination. Mainly because she was a girl. She was only thirteen years...
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...The birth of Joan of Arc occurred at one of the most crucial periods in French history. France was desperate for a leader to emerge from thin air. France’s cause was pathetic, until Joan of Arc arrived at the perfect time. Joan was born in January of 1412, it was a time full of despair and chaos. Joan was not quite a genius nor a great fighter, but every one of Joan’s action involved confidence and energy. The English army should have been scared the very moment they knew of Joan’s existence. As time passed, the French people gathered around her and supported every decision she made. Although, Joan was eventually captured and murdered; her life will always be vital to France’s victory. Joan of Arc is a national hero, a patron saint, and symbol of hope to every wandering soul of France. Joan’s motivation and dedication to God has inspired thousands of people over the last six centuries. Her persistence is sometimes seen as ignorance or stupidy but it is what made her the great leader that she was. Joan of Arc’s unmatched leadership, courageous mission, and tragic martyrdom propelled her to be one of the greatest military and religious heroines in Medieval France. Joan of Arc’s steadfast dedication to complete her mission from God acted as a guide and savior to the staggering nation of France. The task was given to Joan at a young age and Joan would forever carry the burdens and responsibilities of her mission. The mission was to crown Charles the dauphin King of France, relieve...
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...JOAN OF ARC THE STORY OF JEHANETTE d’ARC TIM PARRY, JR. Chapman University 14 January 2004 HIST 306 DR. W. F. LEE Bibliography Birkin, Andrew. The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. California: Columbia Pictures, 1999. Prayer to St. Joan of Arc for Faith. Retrieved from http://members.tripod.com/ LaPieta/joanarc.htm on January 13, 2004. St. Joan of Arc. Retrieved from http://www.catholic.org on January 13, 2004. Tierney, Brian. Western Europe in the Middle Ages: 300-1475, Sixth Edition. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1999. Trask, Willard. Joan of Arc: In Her Own Words. New York: Turtle Point Press, 1996. INTRODUCTION In the face of your enemies, in the face of harassment, ridicule, and doubt, you held firm in your faith. Even in your abandonment, alone and without friends, you held firm in your faith. Even as you faced your own mortality, you held firm in your faith. I pray that I may be as bold in my beliefs as you, St. Joan. I ask that you ride alongside me in my own battles. Help me be mindful that what is worthwhile can be won when I persist. Help me hold firm in my faith. Help me believe in my ability to act well and wisely. Amen. This is a Catholic prayer for Faith said today to Saint Joan of Arc who was canonized in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. According to the official Catholic Church web site she tops the list of the most popular Catholic Saints. So why was this woman burned...
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...Through watching these three documentaries, the trend of who the audience was for these shows lend themselves more toward a “history buff” type audience, just by the how the films present themselves. Chronologically the historical documentaries increased to become more “historian like” in content and how the information was presented to the audience. Out of the three documentaries, Pocahontas Revealed, was the closest to accurate historical thinking, followed by The Best George Washington, and coming in last was the Mystery Files: Joan of Arc. This was determined by how the information was presented and how much bias could be seen from the documentary. In Pocahontas Revealed, the documentary was about Jamestown during the 16-17th century when they first arrive. It mainly focused on the myth surrounding Pocahontas and John Smith during that time. The experts through the film debunked this myth with evidence that possible showed Pocahontas being taught how to be a chief once her father stepped down or died for the tribe. With the near-death-experience John Smith wrote about, the experts had assumed it was on Pocahontas to decide if John Smith lived or died, as a test in her training to become the chief. The documentary continued until when John Smith wrote about his time...
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...a child I spent a brief period studying ballet and on a visit to Prague, in February 2013, I enjoyed watching the Russian Ballet perform 'Giselle' at the Prague State Opera House. I have often wondered why so many ballets and the female heroines in them end in tragedy. My essay will discuss the issues that female heroines face and the events that eventually bring them to their fate. I will also discuss the origins and definitions of ‘heroine’ and ‘tragedy’. In order to examine my chosen themes I started my investigation by watching, analysing and comparing the films ‘Black Swan’, ‘The Red Shoes’ and the ballet ‘Giselle’. I read the feminist writings of Marina Warner on the portrayal of women, the Catholic Church and also her book on ‘Joan of Arc. In my essay I will be discussing the themes of love, conquest, devotion, deception, spirituality and how they play a role in altering the lives of the female protagonists in various different situations and offer my own opinions on how the tragedies are formed. I will begin my comparison of the female heroines that I will be discussing, with Giselle. Figure 1'Giselle and Count Albrecht' The Russian Ballet Giselle is a poor peasant’s daughter who falls in love with Count Albrecht. Count Albrecht’s character plays the main part in the protagonist Giselle’s downfall during the ballet, as he breaks her heart when she learns that he is betrothed to another higher socially standing figure. The fact that Count Albrecht has ultimately...
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...Carthage’s government was corrupt and failed to sufficiently fund and support the army during the First and Second Punic Wars (Mark). This led to internal conflict and weakened forces. The English obtained and executed the French war hero, Joan of Arc, which created a martyr for the French to fight for (Streissguth). These poor decisions made by Carthage and England contributed to their downfall by allowing their rivals the opportunity to get the upper hand. During the Second Punic War, the Romans recovered from their major loss at the Battle of Cannae by sending a fleet to attack Carthage, prompting Carthage to recall Hannibal (Mark). Near the end of the Hundred Years’ War, Joan of Arc revived the French spirit and patriotism that allowed France to win many victories, even after her death (Roberts). These triumphs weakened the English, and the French eventually won the war. The Carthaginians and the English made detrimental decisions toward the ends of the wars that prompted their defeats. The Romans were strengthened by clever choices, and the French were strengthened by determination and patriotism. Both the Punic Wars and the Hundred Years’ War exhibited this pattern of the victors using mental...
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...RENATO CONSTANTINO * considered as a Filipino nationalist and scholar par excellence * dedicated his life to the cause of Philippine national sovereignty, democratic rights, peace and social justice * his nationalist works have been cited and recognized by the Quezon City and Manila governments, the Civil Liberties Union, and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the University of the Philippines * his writings: 1. teach us to re-examine our colonial history 2. wants us to learn from our past and to correct some of the historical errors made by early writers of history 3. “usable past” – a past that can be used to advance the Filipino’s quest for genuine nationhood History and Partisan Scholarship * discusses the frameworks used by early historians in writing our history * emphasized that since colonial mentality and culture were effective instruments of colonization, a counter-culture for national liberation was necessary in order to blast the myths and distortions of history Definition of History * History is not just a description of the past but an important tool in understanding the present * It helps us to understand how events in the past shaped our society and how mistakes committed in the past will serve as lessons to be used in the future Writings on History I. Early Writings A. Created myths / propagated “colonial consciousness” B. Sources of Distortions: 1. Clerical Scholars ...
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...To determine whether or not I believe Gilgamesh is a hero is to ask which perspective I view the story from, the perspective of a modern teenager or of a literature historian. In modern times we think of heroes as people we look up to and who deserve to be looked up to. Heroes are people like Joan of Arc, Ruth Bader Ginsburg-my personal hero-, Martin Luther King Jr., Audrey Hepburn, and Gandhi, who have “been there,done that” and become great figures who did great things for the world and humanity. These are people who are larger than life, but in good ways. They have some admirable trait for which we raise them above us. They were not always born above us, but they got there because they were intrinsically good or because they earned it. Moreover, ancient heros could be those things but weren’t necessarily. Ancient heros were cookie cutter images made from the same dough. There were necessary ingredients that had little to do with their values. Ancient heroes were, by definition mythical beings with mythical parents who go on some sort of mythical quest, typically to become a god or immortal, with divine interference, followed by a journey home. Gilgamesh fulfills all these...
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...Ray Lewis Leadership Analysis Leadership is defined as “a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task”. In my opinion, leadership is one of the most desirable qualities that a person can possess. No matter the environment, leaders are needed in every aspect of life. Children need leaders to help them develop, students need leaders to help them learn, and teams need leaders to help the group achieve a common goal. But the real question emerges, how does one become a leader? Are leaders born, or do they rise to the occasion? How do leaders get their peers to rally around their actions? Former National Football League linebacker Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens epitomizes what a leader should be on the field. Lewis was a linebacker for 17 seasons (1996-2012) for the Baltimore Ravens, and the early 2000’s Ravens defense is considered one of the greatest units in sports history. However, while Ray Lewis was viewed as one of the best on the field leaders in NFL history, however his legacy, reputation, and image were tainted by actions away from the playing field.. How is it that a figure like Ray Lewis could be so revered on the field, but off the field he was heavily criticized for his actions and behavior? Throughout this essay I will analyze Ray Lewis’ upbringing and discuss how he developed his leadership qualities that caused former teammate Jamal Lewis to say, “In recent history, I can’t really...
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...This love interest also presents a big problem in Ed’s life, as he lacks the willpower and confidence to confess his love for Audrey. Ed’s love for Audrey is blighted by her own determination to avoid having sex with him, although it’s apparent she has no interest in anybody else. Ed is fully aware as to why Audrey has her reasons for not seeing Ed as a potential partner: ‘She just can’t do that sort of thing with me’. (p 223) Ed comes to terms with this in the novel, but the subtle comments in regards to Audrey shows that he is hurt still by her words and actions: ‘You can kill a man with those words.’ (p 128) when Ed is told he is her best friend, for example. Ed, now considered a local hero, even though he knows that he isn’t, now receives a card in the mail, this is when the story’s main focus begins to unravel. Ed is given the ace of diamonds, with 3 separate addresses, and 3 different times on it, where he has to...
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...Samuel Langhorne Clemens, also know as Mark Twain, was born in 1835 and died in 1910 (Student Handbook 379). He is best known as an American humorist and for his realistic view of America in the nineteenth century through his novels and other stories. He had the whole world captivated through his expert writing and lectures. "I never let my schooling interfere with my education (home.eathlink.net/…/twain.html)," Mark Twain once said. Mark Twain was a great inspiration to America in the nineteenth century and is still an inspiration to contemporary writers today. Mark Twain was born as Samuel Langhorne Clemens in the small town of Florida, Missouri. He lived in a small, two-bedroom house, and being the fourth of five children, it was obviously very crowded in their house (Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia 1). In 1839, at the age of four, he and his family moved to Hannibal, Missouri which is located directly adjacent to the Mississippi River (World Book 530). Here is where Twain grew up as a boy. This was where his inspiration of most his books came from. He witnessed things that would later make him the great author as we know him today. Without this period in his life, a huge chunk of literary history would be missing from America. By living on the banks of the Mississippi River, he experienced many wonderful things like colorful steamboats traveling down the river, some would just pass by, while many would stop and exchange cargo. These steamboats would bring...
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