Source: Photograph by WTL© on site in autumn in Québec City.
Comment: The Plains of Abraham, now a park outside the ancient fortification and walls, was a famous battleground in 1759. Here is what the French Guide Bleue Évasion (Paris: Hachette, 2002, p. 242) says about this park: In the dawn of 13 September 1759 "the English army, which had been bombarding Québec for three months, sent a detachment to verify their military intelligence information: an unguarded path led, on the eastern side of Cap Diamant [at the eastern tip of the city], to a ledge called the Plaines d'Abraham. Soon, more than 4,000 English troopers landed their boats at the said location called L'Anse-aux-Foulons. Taking the narrow path they scaled the escarpment and set up a battery of light cannons. Upon being notified, General Montcalm sallies from the city with an equal number of soldiers who were reinforced by [French] Canadian militiamen, whom he ordered to attack. In fifteen minutes, the conflict was resolved. The French were routed. Montcalm and his adversary General Wolfe, were both killed in combat. A few days later, the city of Québec capitulated and watched the English army enter. This fall precipitated the fate of the entire country: French Canada passed over to English hands." (Trans. WTL 2015©)

Here is the original French version of this passage: "L'armée anglaise, qui bombardait Québec depuis trois mois, envoie un détachement pour vérifier une information de ses services de renseignements: un sentier non gardé mènerait, sur la partie orientale du cap Diamant, à un plateau portant le nom de plaines d'Abraham. Bientôt, plus de 4.000 fantassins anglais sont débarqués sur des chaloupes jusqu'au lieu-dit L'Anse-aux-Foulons. Par l'étroit chemin, ils escaladent la falaise et mettent en batterie des canon légers.
Alerté, le général Montcalm sort de la ville avec un nombre égal de soldats, renforcés par des miliciens canadiens, et ordonne l'attaque. En un quart d'heure, tout est réglé: les Français sont en déroute. Montcalm et son adversaire, le général Wolfe, sont tués au combat. Quelques jours plus tard, la ville de Québec capitule et voit entrer l'armée anglaise. Cette chute précipite le sort du pays tout entier: le Canada français passe aux mains des Anglais."
Humanities Question: Analyze this passage for (a) its content, (b) its historical imporance, (c) and its style.
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