THE LAST LESSON

Author- Alphonse Daudet

Theme-
The story is set at the backdrop of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71)
in which France was defeated. In this story the French districts of
Alsace and Lorraine have passed into Prussian control.The lesson
deals with the pain that is inflicted on the people of a territory by its
conquerors by taking away the right to study or speak their language.
Students’ and teachers’ attitude to learning and teaching respectively
is also discussed.It touches the themes of colonial hegemony,
linguistic chauvinism and consequences of procrastination.
CHARACTERS :
❑Franz– the narrator (a school boy, truant)
❑Monsieur Hamel –a teacher (a strict disciplinarian)
❑Villagers – old Hauser, former Mayor, former Postmaster and
several others
❑Wachter–the blacksmith
Summary-
‘The Last Lesson’ written by Alphonse Daudet narrates about the
year 1870 when the Prussian forces under Bismarck attacked and
captured France. The French districts of Alsace and Lorraine went
into Prussian hands. The new Prussian rulers discontinued the
teaching of French in the schools of these two districts The French
teachers were asked to leave. Now M . Hamel could no longer stay in
his school. Still he taught his students with utmost devotion and
sincerity as ever. One such student of M. Hamel, Franz who dreaded
French class and M. Hamel’s iron rod, came to the school that day
thinking he would be punished as he had not learnt his lesson on
participles. But on reaching school he found Hamel dressed in his fine
Sunday clothes and the old people of the village sitting quietly on the
back benches. It was due to an order from Berlin. That was the first
day when he realised for the first time how important French was for
him, but it was his last lesson in French. The story depicts the pathos
of the whole situation about how people feel when they don’t learn
their own language. It tells us about the significance of one’s
language in one’s life for the very existence of a race and how
important it is to safeguard it.
EXTRA QUESTIONS
Q.1. The people in the story suddenly realize how precious their
language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this happen?
Ans: The story was written in the days of the Franco-Prussian war in
which France was defeated by Prussia. In this story the French
districts of Alsace-Lorraine have passed into Prussian hands. M.
Hamel is the teacher of French and a boy, Franz who never serious in
the class of M. Hamel. One day he was late for school. He feared that
his teacher would scold as he was not very sure about participles
which the teacher, M. Hamel, is going to test that day. But finally he
decided to go to school. As he entered he saw the crowd has
gathered round the bulletin board. He did not stop there. On arriving
at school, he noted an unusual silence. He entered into the class and
was greeted with a strange sight. The last benches which were always
empty were occupied by the village elders who look grim and
solemn. Franz noticed M. Hamel was dressed nicely and asked Franz
to sit so that he could start his lesson. The teacher made a startling
announcement that this would be their last lesson in French as the
new teacher would be arriving the following day. He said, “ The order
has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace
and Lorraine. The new teacher comes tomorrow. This is your last
French lesson. I want you to be very attentive.” There came a sudden
change in the minds of the people and they developed a new
profound love French. Franz was overcome with a feeling of remorse
and regretted for wasting his time in trivial pursuits. He decided to
pay attention to the lesson since school had become very important
for him. The people and Franz himself realized how precious their
language is to them. M. Hamel had been teaching in that school for
last forty years. His dedication, devotion, discipline impressed them.
He realizes the real worth of his school and the teacher whom they
have all taken for granted all these years. M. Hamel in his last address
told about the importance of French. He called that it was the most
beautiful language in the world. It is the clearest and the most logical
one. M.Hamel was overcome by strong emotions and in large letter
he wrote on the board ‘Viva La France’ – long live France!
Q.2 Franz thinks:’ “Will they make them sing in German, even the
pigeons?” What could this mean?
Ans: The Alsace and Lorraine districts were under the regime of
France. During the FrancoPrussian war in which France was defeated
by Prussia led by Bismarck and both these districts have passed into
Prussian hands. Earlier they were learning their own language,
French. As per new set up, an order was passed that German was to
be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.M. Hamel who had
been teaching the French for the last forty years. In his last lesson he
told that from the next day in the schools of both districts would
teach only German instead of French from a new teacher. They won’t
be learning their own most beautiful, clearest and logical language.
He told the importance of their own language, this feeling of M.
Hamel aroused their patriotic feelings. There came a sudden change
in Franz. He disliked learning German. He heard and saw the pigeons.
He immediately remarked: “Will they make them sing in German,
even the pigeons?” It is meant that the German can impose German
language on the people of Alsace and Lorraine but they can’t impose
this language on the birds etc. They can enslave the people but have
no authority to compel the cooing pigeons.
SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS:
Q.1.What was Franz expected to be prepared for school that day?
Ans. Franz was expected to be prepared the topic of ‘participles’ for
school that day. But he did not know even the first word about them.
So he was under great dread of being scolded by his teacher,
M.Hamel. Q.2.What did Franz notice that was unusual about the
school that day?
Ans: Franz noticed that it was all so still, calm and quiet like Sunday
morning while on other days there used to be a great hustle and
bustle. The same could be heard out in the street. The opening and
closing of the desks, lesson repeated in unison very loud. But on that
day the school looked so strange.
Q.3. Why was there a crowd in front of the bulletin board set up at
the town hall?
Ans: It was set up for all kinds of information and news for the
public. For the last two years, the people received all the bad news
from there like the news of the lost battles and the orders of
commanding officer etc. When Franz was passing the Town Hall, he
saw a large crowd in front of the bulletin board reading the news
which stated that the German would be taught in the districts of
Alsace and Lorraine. Q.4.How did the teacher describe the French
language? Or What was the advice of M. Hamel about the
importance of the French language?
Ans: M. Hamel was very dedicated teacher of French language. While
teaching his last lesson, he touched upon many aspects of French. He
called it the most clear and logical language in the world. He urged all
to guard it and never to forget it. In case they hold fast in their
language, they had the key to their prison. Q.5. How did M. Hamel
teach his last lesson in the class? Ans: It was the last day of M. Hamel
in school. He was in his fine dress. The villagers had come there to
pay their last respects. M.Hamel taught his lesson on French so
decently that the students realized French is an easy language. At last
he became emotional. He could not speak, he dismissed the school
with writing on the blackboard, “Viva La France.”
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS:
Q.1. What was the narrator’s greatest fear as he moved towards the
school?
Ans: Franz had started late for school and thus was afraid of being
scolded . His fear gripped him further for he was also unprepared. He
had not learnt his lesson regarding the rules of participles and thus
dreaded the teacher’s anger.
Q.2. What was more tempting to Franz rather than going to school?
Ans: The weather was pleasant, warm and bright. The chirruping
birds were inviting him, the soldiers drilling in the field were also
outdoors and Franz was not prepared with participles.
Q.3. What was the news which was put up on the bulletin board?
Ans: For the last two years all bad news – the lost battles, the orders
of the commanding officer was displayed on the notice board. That
day, the news that only German would be taught in school of Alsace
and Lorraine was displayed on the notice-board which made the
crowd gather there to read the news.
Q.4. What was so unusual about the school on that day?
Ans: Usually there would be a great bustle of opening and closing of
the desk, lesson repeated loudly and the teacher’s ruler rapping on
the table but that day was very calm and quiet like Sunday morning.
The back benches which were usually empty were occupied by the
village people and M. Hamel wore his special dress and was pacing
up and down with a ruler under his arm.
Q.5. Why were the villagers seated on the back benches?
Ans: All the village elders were seated on the back benches as a
tribute to the teacher who had put in 40 years of sincere service. It
was also their way of expressing regret for not learning their mother
tongue when they had the chance. They were also expressing their
patriotism and solidarity with France
Q.6. Franz didn’t learn French whom did M. Hamel blame?
Ans: M. Hamel didn’t blame Franz for not learning but his parents
who were not anxious to have him learn. Instead they wanted him to
work on a farm or at the mill to earn money. Even M. Hamel was also
to be blamed for sending him to water the flowers instead of learning
and when he wanted to go fishing he declared holiday.
Q.7. What did M. Hamel say about French language?
Ans: He said that it is the most beautiful language in the world- the
clearest, the most logical. He requested them to guard it so that they
can be united and fight back for their freedom.
Q.8. What happened when the church clock struck 12?
Ans: The moment the church clock struck 12 the Prussian army came
to take over and M. Hamel stood up, wanted to tell something but his
voice was chocked. He gathered his strength and wrote on the black
board as large as he could – ‘Vive La France’ and dismissed the
school.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q.1. Justify the title of the story “The Last Lesson”.
Value Points Ans: People always feel there is plenty of time to learn—
so also in Alsace—now no time— parents not keen—preferred
children , work in farms, mill—
Franz looked opportunity to escape school—never serious—receive
orders from Berlin—people realize importance of their language—
attend the last lesson by M. Hamel.