G. D.
GOENKA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, SEJBAHAR, RAIPUR
Subject: English Grade- XII
Lesson: The Last Lesson
Author: Alphonse Daudet
Dictionary Work:
1. Dread - ………...
2. Bub - …………..
3. Rapping - ………
4. Primer - ………..
5. Cranky - ………..
6. Angelus - ……….
Value: we take things for granted and never really realise their worth until we lost them.
Theme: Linguistic chauvinism of the proud conquerors and the pain that is inflicted on the
people who are aliens in their own land of birth.
Moral: Never to take our education for granted.
Characters:
Franz
Franz is the story's protagonist and narrator. A young student at a school in Alsace, which
Germany annexed from France during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Franz often skips
school and doesn't prepare for lessons. One day he arrives at school to learn that the French
language will no longer be taught in school after an order sent down from Berlin to the
occupying Prussian forces. Franz regrets that he didn't pay better attention to his lessons when
he had the chance.
Monsieur Hamel
M. Hamel is Franz’s teacher and schoolmaster who the Prussians order to cease teaching
French and leave for the country. While Hamel usually intimidates his students with an iron
ruler that he slaps on their desks, Hamel is gentle, somber, and reflective as he conducts his
last day of French lessons. At the end of the day, he writes "Vive la France!" on the
chalkboard before sending the students away.
Answer the following questions:
Q 1. How did the order from Berlin change the situation in the school?
Answer: The shocking order from Berlin after the defeat of France shocked the French people.
It declared that all the schools in the two French districts of Alsace and Lorraine would now
teach only German. This not only saddened but also hurt the pride of the people of France. On
the day of the French teacher M.Hamel’s last lesson, even the village elders came to show their
respect to him for serving the community faithfully for forty years. The usual hustle and bustle
too was missing from school and Franz found it unusually quiet as it used to be on a Sunday
morning. M.Hamel was dressed in his formal suit. Even though Franz reached late M.Hamel
did not scold him. He then went on to praising the French language at length by referring to it
as the most beautiful language. He called upon the French people to safeguard their language
among themselves and not to forget it ever.
Q 2. What was the bulletin board news that caused a change in the school? Answer:
Answer: The bulletin board news that caused a change in the school was that, that day was
going to be the last French lesson for the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The order had come
from Berlin to teach only German in the schools and their new German teachers would come
the next day.
Q 3. Why did Franz not want to go to school that day?
Answer: Franz was tempted to run away and spend the day outside instead of attending school
as it was a warm and bright day and he wanted to watch the Prussian soldiers’ drill. Moreover
he had not done his lesson on participles from which his teacher, M. Hamel was going to
question and feared a scolding from his teacher.
Q 4. Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day?
Answer: It was to be their last French lesson that day. The order from Berlin allowed only
German language to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Hence their teacher, M.
Hamel, was in a sad and sombre mood. So he did not scold Franz for reaching school late that
day.
Q 5. “What a thunderclap these words were to me!” (Franz). What were those words and what
was their effect on Franz?
Answer: When M.Hamel mounted on the chair and announced that he was there to teach his
last French lesson that day, Franz was shocked and surprised. He felt very guilty for
deliberately ignoring to learn his native language and he suddenly developed a strange
fascination for his language and his school.
Q 6.How were the parents and M. Hamel responsible for the children’s neglect of the French
language?
Answer: M. Hamel blamed everyone for putting off learning till the next time and thus losing
out on the opportunity to learn their native language, French. The parents preferred to put their
children to work on a farm or at the mills so that they could earn more money. M. Hamel too
sent them to water his flowers and gave them a holiday when he wanted to go for fishing.
How is the title ‘The Last Lesson’ appropriate?
Answer: The title ‘The Last Lesson’ is appropriate because it was M. Hamel’s last lesson and
also the last French lesson in the school. During the last lesson, the teacher, as well as all those
who were attending it, were feeling nostalgic and repentant.
Franz’s fear while Late for school, dreaded a scolding.
going to the school Had not learnt his lesson on participles.
They gathered in the classroom to thank
their master for his meritorious service of 40 A tribute by the A crowd in front of the bulletin board.
years. It was a sign of repentance for not villagers
having gone to school more often. Scene at the town
hall It was source of all bad news; the lost
battles, the draft, the orders of the
M.Hamel calls Franz to recite the rules of commanding officer.
participles but when he fumbles he blames parents
for ignorant and sending children to work on
farms. He blamed himself for sending children When he finally reached the school, he noticed a stark
errands for his convenience. Changed difference in the atmosphere of the class. To his
scenario surprise M.Hamel asked very kindly to take his seat.
The back benches of the class were occupied by the
M.Hamel raised his concern that people of Alsace never villagers.
gave importance to their language. He declares his love for M. Hamel’s
French language and stated that it is the most beautiful view
language in the world and one should safe guard his He announced that this was their last French lesson as
THE M. Hamel’s the Prussians announced that German would now be
language. startling revelation taught in French schools of Alsace & Lorraine.
LAST
He explained everything with patience & gave new LESSON
copies with ‘France Alsace written on it. The students
exhibit their rare attention.
Franz who never liked his books, now suddenly
he developed a fascination for them. He even
As the church-clock struck twelve, the trumpet of the started liking M.Hamel. The idea that he would
Prussian soldiers started playing loudly. not teach them anymore, made Franz forget all
A grim realisation by about M.Hamel’s strictness.
the narrator
M. Hamel stood up in his chair, trying to speak but M. Hamel rouses Felt sorry for whiling away his time &
something choked him. He turned to the blackboard, took skipping his lessons.
the spirit of
a piece of chalk and wrote as large as he could, “Viva La
France!”(Long live France) patriotism
Dismisses school by making gesture with his hand.
