The aim of this essay is to present you with the answers to the following questions deriving from the book ‘The Song at the Scaffold’ written by Gertrud Von Le Fort. As one can get informed by the relevant link on the Wikipedia regarding the biography of this writer ‘Gertrud Von Le Fort was born in 1876 and died in 1971. She was a popular and widely acknowledged writer of novels, poems and essays.’ (Wikipedia, Gertrud_von_Le_Fort). Her novella ‘Die Letzte am Schafott’ being translated into English under the title ‘The Song at the Scaffold’ is a book which has been greatly accepted as a masterpiece in its kind, the depiction of the magnitude of Christian love and the meaning of religious sacrifice. This is a Christian book appealing to readers – though - regardless of their religious beliefs since its main thematic core is the one of love and how love is capable to transform people. The essay will focus on various aspacts and elements of the book since it will answer the following questions.
- what idea about the interaction of grace and human nature does Villeroi hope to prove to his noble friend? B) explain two ways in which Villeroi discovers details of Blanche's story.
Villeroi is the observer through which the story of Blanche is said by the letters he writes to his noble friend. Villeroi wants to narrate the story of Blanche to his friend so that his friend sees the proof of how Christian spirit and the Christian religion can affect people and make them even nobler in soul than they are. B) He discovers the details through the narration of the real facts that took place and he has gone some steps forward since he gives the deeper interpretation of what Blanche’s actions mean.
2. A) describe the fireworks Catastrophe in general terms. B) describe specifically what happens to Blanche's mother.
A) the fireworks was part of the beginnings of the hazard taking place in the streets of the city while the French Revolution had actually started appearing in the form of people reacting and revoluting. B)Blanche’s mother found herself in the fireworks and as a result she was torn by the crowd in such a way that she managed to survive at the beginning and go back to her home on foot but she died afterwards.
3. how does what happened at the fireworks Catastrophe affect Blanche for a long time after her birth?
Blance was a timid and frightened girl. Extremely close and frightened at expressing her real thoughts, her real agonies. She feels she cannot survive in the outside world.
4.A) describe the political and religious views of the Marquis de la Force, Blanche's father, at the beginning of the story. B) describe how the Marquis changes regarding these political and religious views.
Marquis de la Force is a man who is against religious beliefs and he is totally and exclusively obsessed with the power lying in one’s hands to control his / her life. He is against the religious lifestyle which in his mind is like obeying to rules in order to escape life’s challenges and difficulties. He is for the liberty taught by those declaring the demand and need for the French Revolution. B) When Blanche gets out of the Convent she finds her father totally changed. He has come to believe that religious faith is necessary in order for one to find strength and fight against the difficulties of life.
5. describe the Marquis's reaction to Blanche's desire to join the convent.
Blanche’s father is totally against his daughter going to the convent but he compromised with the idea of his daughter being totally unable to deal with her fears concerning the Franch Revolution and the forthcoming changes in the reality of her everyday life so he comes to terms with his daughter’s decision. He seems to hope that his daughter will manage to find peace in her inner self because she appears to be troubled and extremely annoyed by her fears which have turned into a nightmare.
6. A) describe the incorrect notion about the Infant king that Madame de Chalais teaches Blanche. B) what accident immediately challenges this incorrect notion?
A) Blanche is taught about the power of Infant King without being highlighted that his power is not cosmic. He is not the king of mortals, he is the king of heaven’s life. Blanche falls into the wrong idea of treating Jesus Christ like the king who wants power over people and promises all goods and wealth.
7. Why does Bishop Rigaud suggest the religious name "Jesus in the Garden of Agony" for Blanche and other novices.
Since there has been so great Agony regarding their future and since their martyrdom is something inevitable there is no other suitable name for them apart this one. They are servants of Jesus and they are to be living in the garden of agony. Something like a metaphor to the Garden of Eden who somebody is likely to see if he is to be serving his earthly life according to the religious orders.
8. A) what is the official role of Mother Theresa in the Convent? B) describe the difficulties in the relationship between Mother Theresa and Sister Marie of the incarnation.
A) The official role is the one of being responsible over the seeing that everything runs accordingly to the internal rules of the Convent. B) they are like the difficulties expected when interactions between people of different roles and responsibilities occur.
9. Describe the dramatic incident in the convent, involving Blanche and outsiders, which causes Blanche's fear to return.
The money of the Convent is seized, the French Revolution and the climate of terror it has created has caused the nuns in the Convent to understand that there is no way out and that they will ultimately sacrifice their lives as a way of staying faithful to their beliefs.
10. A) identify the group (broadly speaking) who sings the "Carmagnole" and what the song is about. B) Describe Blanche's reaction to the song whenever she hears it from the convent.
A) The song is about the meaning of making people who are against the principles of French Revolution pay for their opposing beliefs with the price of their lives. B) Blanche is terrified because although she entered the Convent in order to save herself from the terror existing in the outside world, she now feels that the terror is going to approach her and come to her and lead her to even losing her life.
11. A) Describe two items of the dress and equipment that are part of the statue of the Infant King before the French Revolution begins. B) Describe a specific devotion the convent practices once a year involving the Infant King.
12. A) describe the Christmas incident involving the Infant King, in which Blanche begins to learn that Madame de Chalais's belief about the Infant King is correct. B) what does Blanche realize about Jesus' suffering at this time?
A) The Christmas incident proves the importance of birth whch carries the ineer maning of rebirth. B) Blanche realizes that what she has been told about the infant King is correct. Jesus was born to sacrifice his life in the name of love for people.
13. A) at what point in her time at the convent does Blanche give up the struggle against her fear? B) explain what Mother Teresa considers doing with regard to Blanche at this point in the story and explain why she decides against this plan.
A) Blanche feels that she cannot stay in the Convent when the moment of her martyrdom is coming near. She does not at all feel ready to sacrifice her life. B) Mother Teresa feels that she must push her to accept but then she realizes that if there is no real will for anyone to change then this is impossible to happen just by imposition. Therefore she decides to let her free to decide. After all Jesus has taught respect of freedom.
14. The Carmelites believe one's religious name opens up a spiritual path to the mystery expressed in the name. Using her religious name, discuss the insight Blanche has gained about her personal vocation.
The religious name depicts the path and the virtues of this path leading to one’s peace of mind and soul. Therefore Blanche is the girl who is gifted with virtue and innocence.
Works cited
Fort Gertrud Von Le biography retrieved from www. wikipedia.gr / Gertrud_von_Le_Fort
