The Last Lesson
CBSE Class XII | Book - Flamingo | Chapter 1
Author of The Last Lesson
Alphonse Daudet was a French short-story writer and novelist, now remembered chiefly as the author of sentimental tales of provincial life in the south of France.
He was born on May 13, 1840, at Nimes in France. He was the son of a silk manufacturer.
Alphonse wrote his first poems and his first novel at the age of 14.
He died on Dec. 16, 1897, in Paris, France.
Theme of The Last Lesson
The theme of the story is the negligence of people towards their own language.The proverb ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ gets justified in the story.
Through the central characters, Franz and M. Hamel, the narrator tells us how the children, parents and even at times the teacher neglected their language.
They happen to realize it only when the order comes from Berlin that only German is to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
Thus finally it involves the feeling of linguistic chauvinism.
Setup of The Last Lesson
The Last Lesson is set in the days of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) in which France was defeated by Prussia led by Bismarck.In this story, the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine have passed into Prussian hands.
In this story, we will find out what effect this had on life at the school of France.
(The story is set in two French territories Alsace and Lorraine which were occupied by the Germans after the Franko-Prussian war. M. Hamel’s school where most of the action takes place also forms the part of the setting.)
Characters of The Last Lesson
1. M. Hamel: He is a teacher who has been teaching French to the people of Alsace and Loraine for 40 years. Though he is a dutiful and sincere teacher yet at times, he too neglected his duties and sent children to water the flowers or gave them a holiday when he wanted to go for fishing.
2. Franz: He is a student at M. Hamel’s school. He is negligent about his studies but later in the story his attitude changes and he understands the importance of his own language.
3. Wachter: He is a blacksmith.
4. Hauser: Like Wachter, he is also a minor character who attends the last class.
5. Class: Consists of some students and some elderly people in the village.
6. School: An Elementary School in District Alsace in France.
Characteristics of M. Hamel
- A sincere French teacher.
- Knew his subject well.
- Is passionate about the French language.
- Is proud of being French
- Is a hard taskmaster
- An honest and sensitive man
- Blames himself for being selfish at times
(Characteristics of M. Hamel: Emotional, hardworking, patriotic, loyal, honest and sensitive)
Characteristics of Franz
- Sensitive and innocent
- Loves nature
- Is conscious of his duties
- Observant
(Characteristics of Franz: Observant, sensitive, nature lover, sincere and empathetic)
Summary of The Last Lesson
The Last Lesson is set in the days of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) in which France was defeated by Prussia led by Bismarck. In this story, the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine have passed into Prussian hands.
The story begins with Franz’s unwillingness to go to school as he was afraid of being scolded by his teacher M. Hamel who would question him on participles and he didn’t know a single word about participles. He resisted the idea of enjoying the good weather and scenery and hurried off to school.
When he passed the town hall, he saw a lot of crowd at the bulletin board but he didn’t stop and moved ahead. On reaching school, he understood everything. The village elders were sitting on the backbenches; M. Hamel was wearing his best dress and there was an unusual silence in the classroom. M. Hamel announced that Alsace and Lorraine had been occupied by the Prussians and they would be taught German from the next day.
It was like a thunderclap to Franz which made him change his attitude towards life. M. Hamel made them realize that they all were culpable for their dereliction of duties towards their language. He generated love in them for French. He said French is the most beautiful language in the world and they should hold fast to it. He taught them Grammar, Writing, and History. It seemed as if he wanted to instill everything he knew in their minds.
Finally, when it was time to disperse the class, his throat choked; he couldn’t say anything; he wrote “Vive la France” on the board and dismissed the class with a wave of his hand.
Summary in Points of The Last Lesson
1. Franz is afraid of going to school as he has not learned participles.
2. He wants to enjoy the beauty of nature – the bright sunshine – the birds chirruping in the woods – Prussian soldiers’ drilling but resisted.
3. On reaching school Franz notices unusual silence – Villagers occupying the last benches – teacher well dressed – everybody looked sad.
4. M. Hamel announces: Today is the last lesson in French.
5. Franz regrets and realizes why he had not taken his lesson seriously.
6. Understands the reason why the teacher is well dressed and villagers sitting at the back.
7. M. Hamel realizes that all three, he himself, the children, and the parents are to be blamed for losing respect and regards for the mother tongue.
8. Hamel says the French language – most beautiful, clear, and logical language in the world. Always keep close the mother tongue to your heart as it is a key to the prison of slavery.
9. Hamel becomes emotional and writes on the blackboard “Vive La France”
10. Franz remembers the last lesson very well.
Important Points of The Last Lesson
1. Franz was reluctant to go to school because M. Hamel was going to ask about participles and he didn’t know a single word about them.
2. The atmosphere outside was more tempting than the rule for participles.
3. For the last two years, the people of Alsace and Lorraine had all their bad news from the Bulletin Board.
4. When Franz was passing by the Town Hall, he was called after by Wachter, the blacksmith who told him not to hurry.
5. When Franz reached M. Hamel’s little school, there was an unusual silence. It was like Sunday morning.
6. M. Hamel was wearing his beautiful coat, frilled shirt and a silk hat all embroidered over.
7. The back-benches were occupied by the village elders.
8. M. Hamel addressed the class and informed that the order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
9. This announcement brought about a great change in Franz’s outlook. The books which were a nuisance and heavy to carry became his friends and he forgot all about M. Hamel’s ruler and his cranky nature.
10. When it was his turn to recite participles, he couldn’t do that.
11. M. Hamel didn’t scold him but said they all had a great deal to reproach themselves with.
12. M. Hamel tells them that French is the most beautiful, clearest, and most logical language in the world.
13. M. Hamel said that as long as people hold fast to their language, it is as if the key to their prison.
14. After grammar, they had their lesson in writing. They were given fresh copies that day.
15. Some pigeons on the roof cooed in a low tone which made Franz think, “Will they make them sing in German too, these pigeons?”
16. M. Hamel seemed like trying to capture everything into his mind.
17. After the last lesson in History, M. Hamel stood up, very pale. He couldn’t say anything. He wrote on the board as large as he could—Vive La France!
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