The Last Lesson 

                    by Alphonse Daudet

 (Class 12th N.C.E.R.T. Flamingo Chapter 1)

 

Important Points/Points to remember: 

1. Backdrop : France-Prussian War (Allied forces of German & Austria)

2.  Result:  The town of   Alsace & Lorraine were defeated by the GERMANS. 
   
   3. Announcement from the HEADQUARTERS & BERLIN: French would no longer be taught in the schools of ALSACE & LORRAINE. The French teacher, Mr. M. HAMEL was supposed to leave, the following day.
   
   

   4. CHARACTERS:

   
        Teacher: M. Hamel, teaching in the school of ALSACE for the past 40 years. Very much shocked at the arbitrary order. Pretty emotional on the last day.  
   
   FRANZ:  A truant (one who always want to miss the classes) school boy. Very scared of his french teacher (M. Hamel).
   
   

   One Day....  (the following points can also be used to answer/are the reasons for "Why Franz didn't want to go to school?) :

   1. Franz was already late & was in the dread of being scolded by Mr. M. Hamel, the French teacher.

    

   2. He was supposed to learn a lesson on participles. He didn't even know the first word about it.

    

   3. The Day was bright & sunny and he wanted to watch the Prussian soldier drill.

   
   

   On his way to School:

    1. He saw a crowd near the bulletin board which contained all the information about the war, lost battles, orders of the commanding officer.
   
   
   2. He met the BLACKSMITH WATCHER, who asked him not to run- [said Franz had plenty     of time to reach school].
   
   
   3. BLACKSMITH WATCHER:  He knew that Alsace has been defeated by the Germasn & there would be no teaching of French.
   
   

    Franz reaches School:

   1. The school was as quite as Sunday morning- no rapping on that table, children not repeating their lesson in unison, no noise of opening & closing of desks.

    

   2. Franz had planned to take advantage of the early morning commotion and enter the school without being noticed.

    

   3. The teacher (M. Hamel) did not scold him, simply asked him to take his seat as quickly as possible.

    

   4. Mr. M. Hamel was specially dressed , in his green coat which he normally wore on inspection days & prize days/Sundays. 

    

   5. The benches that normally remained empty, were occupied by SENIOR VILLAGERS.

   
   

   In The Classroom:

   1. Mr M. Hamel announced that French will no longer be taught in the schools of Alsace &  Lorraine. And also announced that he had to leave.

    

   2. Franz felt: (i) ashamed for neglecting the language so much. (ii) It was a thunder clap for him. (iii) The books that seemed boring appeared to be king last friends. (iv) Repented to have wasted so much time playing outside, by the river SAHR. (v) Wanted to learn as much French as he could on the last day.

    

   THE SAME DAY..

   1. There was silence in the class while M. Hamel was teaching, except for occasional cooing of the pigeons.

    

   2. Mr M. Hamel seemed to be more patient.

    

   3. Children would easily understand the language.

    

   4. The notebooks that were given/ presented by Mr. M. Hamel to the students appeared like National Flag to Franz.

     

   Mr. M. Hamel's View about the French Language:     

   1. Most easy, beautiful & logical language.

    

   2. When a country is slaved, as long as they hold on to their language, it will act as a key to their prison.                   

    

   
   

   
   

   
   

   Important Question & Answers:

   
   Q1.  What was more tempting for Franz than going to school & why?
   Ans. Watching Prussian soldiers drill on the bright & sunny day was more tempting because he didn't like to go to school.
   
   Q2. Why was Franz worried?
   Ans. Franz was worried because he was late for the school & he didn't prepare or start his lessons on participles and also he did not know the first word about it.
   
   Q3. What difference did Franz observe at school?
   Ans. He observed that teacher did not scold him at all & simply asked him to take his seat and also Mr. Hamel was specially dressed in his green coat which he normally wore on inspection days and even the back benches were occupied by the villagers.
   
   Q4. What did Franz observe on the way to school?
   Ans. Franz observed a crowd near the bulletin board & also he met BLACKSMITH WATCHER who asked him no to run because he had plenty of time to reach the school.
   
   Q5. Why did Hamel feel very sad to leave that school?
   Ans. Mr. Hamel has served the school for the past 40 years. He wad also emotionally attached to the school & children. He was in great despair after knowing that French will no longer be taught in the schools of Alsace & Lorraine. And also he did not want the French People to lose their identity.