THE LAST LESSON

CBSE CLASS 12

 CHAPTER- 1  THE LAST LESSON

ALPHONSE DAUDET

·   STORY SET IN: FRANCE (1870-71)

·   FRANCE AND PRUSSIA WAR TIME

·   FRANCE LOST TO PRUSSIAN

·   PRUSSIAN ANNEXED TWO DISTRICT OF FRANCE- ALSACE AND LORRAINE

·   Announced- French language will not be taught, now students will learn lessons in GERMAN language.

·   Franz regret and realization of not learning French.

THEME: Importance of mother tongue

- Impact of war on common people.

        CHARACTERS

·        FRANZ- student

·        M.HAMEL- French teacher

Introduction

“The Last Lesson”, beautifully brings out the human tendency to postpone the learning of things feeling there is plenty of time to do so but they don’t realize when the doomsday will dawn (the last day of the world's existence/ final day/ judgment day/end) and bring an end to our hopes and aspirations.

Important points:

• Franz is afraid of going to school as he has not learnt participles.

• He wants to enjoy beauty of nature. The bright sunshine, the birds chirruping in the woods, Prussian soldiers drilling but resisted.

• Bulletin board: all bad news, lost battles, the drafts and orders of the commanding officers: wondered what it could be now.

• The changes he noticed in the school.
  – Instead of noisy classrooms everything was as quiet as Sunday morning
  – The teacher does not scold him and told him very kindly to go to his seat
  – The teacher dressed in his Sunday best.

        – Villagers occupying the last benches- To pay tribute to M. Hamel for his

40yrs of sincere service and also to express their solidarity with France.

• M. Hamel making the announcement that that would be the last French lesson; realizes that, that was what was put up on the bulletin board.

• Franz realizes that he does not know his own mother tongue

• Regretted why he had not taken his lessons seriously.

• Also realizes the reason why teacher was dressed in his Sunday best and villagers sitting at the back.

• M. Hamel realizes that all three, the children, the parents and he himself are to be blamed for losing respect and regard for the mother tongue.

• Always keep the mother tongue close to your heart as it is the key to the prison of slavery.

• Atmosphere in class: teacher teaching sincerely and patiently, students and others studying with utmost sincerity.

• Franz wonders sarcastically if Prussians could force pigeons to coo in German.

• M. Hamel overcome with emotions could not speak and wrote on the black board “Long Live France”.

On reaching the school, the changes FRANZ noticed were:

• Instead of noisy classrooms everything was as quiet as Sunday morning.

• All students were already in the classroom.

• Mr. Hamel, the French teacher did not scold him and told him very kindly to take his seat

• He was dressed in his Sunday best- beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and black embroidered cap which he wore on functions and prize ceremonies only.

• Villagers occupying the last benches- old Hauser, former mayor and postmaster were also there.

• M. Hamel announced the notice which was served from Berlin as from tomorrow onwards German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine;

• He realizes that, that is what was put up on the bulletin board. Franz could not believe that it would be his last lesson of French. He repented that he does not know his own mother tongue and for not taking his lessons seriously.

SUMMARY:

The author narrates events about the year 1870 when France was captured by Bismarck led Prussian forces. Furthermore, the Lorraine and Alsace districts went under Prussian rule. There was the discontinuation of teaching French in these two districts. There was an order for the French teachers to leave. Consequently, M. Hamel was not able to stay in his old school. In spite of this, the last lesson from him was full of devotion and sincerity. One student of M. Hamel- FRANZ who was afraid of him. There was an anticipation of punishment from this student when he came to school that day. However, he learnt that this will be his last lesson. Soon, he realized the importance of all lessons in which he never paid attention. This story shows us how people feel when they don’t learn their language