The Last Lesson
By
Alphonse Daudet
Rapid Recall
The story revolves around the protagonist Franz, a student.
Franz does not want to go to school – has not learnt participles – is late.
He is tempted by the warm bright day, the chirping of the birds and the drilling of the Prussian soldiers.
He resists the temptation and hurries to school.
On the way he sees a crowd in front of the bulletin board from where they got bad news -
- Lost Battles
- Draft
- Orders of the commanding officer
Does not stop to read.
Finds the school as quiet as a Sunday morning.
Franz notices changes in the school. The usual sounds that were missing were -
- No bustle
- Opening and closing of the desks
- Lesson repeated in unison by the students
- The sound of the teacher’s ruler rapping on the
table
The teachers attire -
- beautiful green coat
- frilled shirt
- little black silk cap, all embroidered
Presence of the villagers on the back benches -
- to show respect to their teacher
- to show respect to their language
- to show respect to their country
M. Hamel informs the students about the order from Berlin – it was the last lesson.
The announcement was a thunderclap for Franz
Franz’s regret -
- feels guilty for seeking bird’s eggs and going sliding on the Saar
- books no longer a burden – they became old friends that he
couldn’t give up
- respects M. Hamel
M. Hamel does not hold Franz responsible for his poor learning.
Hamel blames -
- Alsace – habit of procrastinating
- parents – send children to work at farms and mills
Accepts responsibility himself -
- sent them to water his flowers
- gave them a holiday when he wanted to go fishing
French language - - Most beautiful
- Clearest and most logical
- One must guard it
- Never forget it
- Key to the prison
Last Lesson very effective.
Hamel wanted to give all his knowledge to his students at one stroke – students were attentive while the
teacher was patient.
In forty years nothing had changed for Hamel except -
- Desks had worn smooth
- Walnut trees were taller
- Hopvine that he had planted had reached the roof
Clock struck twelve
- Class got over
- Prussian army blowing trumpet at the same time
was ironical
Hamel was overcome with emotion and could not speak.
Wrote Vive La France (Long Live France) on the board.
The Last Lesson – Important Test Questions
Short Answer Questions (30-40 words; 3 marks each)
1. What was more tempting to Franz rather than going to school?
2. How did Franz react to the news of the order from Berlin?
3. Compare and contrast Franz attitude before and after the announcement.
4. Why the villagers were present in the classroom?
5. Who was to be blamed for Franz’s poor knowledge of French?
6. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
A. Franz had to be prepared with participles that day as M. Hamel would question him on
participles. Since Franz had not done his homework he was in great dread of a scolding from his
teacher. He did not know the first word about them.
7. Give a character sketch of Franz?
A. Franz a young school boy, is not only the protagonist of the story be appears to be a student who
is not too fond of school and studies. As he is late and has not done his homework. He is tempted
by the warm bright day. Chirping of the birds and drilling of the Prussian soldiers. He is scared
of being punished by his teacher M. Hamel who holds an iron ruler under his arm. But when he
realizes that it is the last lesson he feels sorry for seeking bird’s eggs and going sliding on the
Saar. He is full of remorse for not having studied. His books were no longer a burden, but old
friends which he couldn’t give up. The thought of not seeing M. Hamel again upset him. He
wished he had done his homework and not lost opportunity to learn.
8. How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and school change?
A. When Franz came to know that it was the last lesson, he was shocked. He felt sorry for not
studying, for seeking bird’s eggs and going sliding on the Saar. His books were no longer a burden.
The teacher M. Hamel who had earlier seemed cranky, was now someone to be admired and
respected. The thought of his going away made Franz sad.
Long Answer Questions (120-150 words; 6 marks each)
[Link] different from usual was the atmosphere at school on the day of the last lesson?
2.
Aruna Dayal: 9837171515
[Link]
The Last Lesson – Solved Long Answer
Q 1. Give a character sketch of M. Hamel.
A. M. Hamel is a conventional school master, whose patriotism, loyalty and love for the country is
brought to light only when the order from Berlin is implemented. He was a strict disciplinarian and the
students dreaded his terrible iron ruler. However he appears to have been casual in his attitude as he
often sent the children to water his flowers, or gave them a holiday when he wanted to go fishing. But on
the last day he accepts responsibility for their poor knowledge, in all humility. In the last lesson he
comes across as a kind teacher who teaches patiently and wants to put everything into their heads at one
stroke. He did not scold his students either for being late or for not giving answers. He taught with his
best skills and aroused a patriotic feeling in his students. He was a dedicated teacher who had served the
school for forty years. He treats the Last Lesson as a special occasion and came dressed in his Sunday
best. He considered French as the most beautiful language in the world.
Q. 2. Comment on the significance of the title “The Last Lesson”.
A. The story “The Last Lesson” highlights the human tendency of procrastination. The people of Alsace
put off learning till tomorrow as a habit. They preferred to send their children to work at the farm and
the mills to add to their income. Even the teacher had a casual attitude and took holiday to go fishing
and sent his students to water his flowers.
Realization dawns on everyone when the order from Berlin comes that French will no longer be taught
in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The last lesson taught by M. Hamel reveals his patriotism and
love for the language.
Franz is shocked at the news. He repents and does not want to give up his books. The village people also
turn up to show their respect to the language, the teacher and their country which was no longer theirs.
Q. 3. When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language, it is as if they hold the key
to their prison. Elucidate.
A. Alphonse Daudet’s The Last Lesson deals with the theme of language imposition and language
loyalty. The order had come from Berlin that French would no longer be taught in the schools of Alsace
and Lorraine instead German would be taught. The French teacher M. Hamel came dressed in his
Sunday best for the last lesson and taught with patience. He arose a patriotic feeling in his students and
stressed on the beauty and importance of the French language. He stressed on the need for guarding it
and believed that it would prove to be the key to their prison.
Franz hears the pigeons and wonders if the Prussians would also impose their language on animals.
The story focuses on the importance of mother tongue and how it cannot be taken away from the people
as it is not only a medium of communication but also a link to their identity. Through linguistic
chauvinism the Prussians try to gain power over the people of Alsace and Lorraine forcing them to study
German.
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