The Last Lesson

- Alphonse Daudet

About the Author

Alphonse Daudet, (born May 13, 1840, Nîmes, France—died Dec. 16, 1897, Paris),
French short-story writer and novelist. Daudet wrote his first novel at age 14.

About the Story

The story deals with the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) in which France was defeated
by Prussia led by Bismarck. Alsace was occupied by the Germans in 1870. The concept
of a nation had not yet become universal. The world was divided into kingdoms. Even
people speaking the same language were often ruled by different kings.

The schools then were one-room-one-teacher schools run by individual teachers and the
subjects taught were language- it’s grammar, reading and writing and a little bit of History.

This story is set in Alsace, a region in the North-east of France.

In the story, a powerful enemy strikes at the language and culture of the victim. Prussia
was the modern day Germany and parts of Austria and Poland. France was defeated and
the new rulers promulgated an order to stop the teaching and learning of French.

The story brings to us the poignant emotions of a teacher and baffled confusion of the
students as they learn that there will be no more French classes henceforward. It tells us
not to take our language for granted. The importance of learning the mother tongue is
paramount in a child’s life. Mother, motherland and mother tongue nourish a child’s
mental makeup and build up his/her identity.

The story is a reminder that studies are significantly important for any individual,
especially in childhood and youth. Studies must not be ignored, nor should be neglected.
An opportunity once lost is lost forever. The current of patriotism and the heart wrenching
grief of the teacher make this a never-to-be-forgotten story.

Salient Features of the Story

1. Franz’s dread (fear):

Franz was in a great hurry to reach school as he was late. He was also nervous as he
was not prepared to answer questions on grammar. He also toyed with the idea of running
away and be one with the beautiful nature and watch the Prussian soldiers drilling.
However, he resisted the temptation.

2. The town hall:

The bulletin board at the town hall attracted a lot of people. The town had been receiving
all the bad news in the last two years from this bulletin board. Franz wondered what could
it be this time, but did not stop there. He hurried to his school.

3. The atmosphere at school:

As he neared the school he noticed that everything was quiet at school. There was no
sound of the students or the teacher. Franz had thought he could just enter the classroom
unnoticed due to the commotion. He was embarrassed to enter the class in full view. To
his surprise, M. Hamel did not scold him, rather gently asked him to take his seat.

4 M. Hamel’s appearance and dress :

M. Hamel, the teacher, was wearing his favourite formal dress. It consisted of a green
coat, a frilled shirt and a black silk cap. He usually wore this dress on special occasions.

5. A great surprise :

The whole school appeared to be strangely silent. The back benches were not empty.
Some prominent people of the village were seated there. They all looked sad. Old Hauser
had an old primer on his knees.

6. M. Hamel’s announcement:

The order had come to start teaching German with immediate effect and no French would
be taught. This was going to be his last French lesson.

7. Franz’s reactions:

Franz regretted why he had not paid attention to studies before. M. Hamel would not be
his teacher any longer. He felt terribly said. He realized that the villagers had come to pay
their respects to M. Hamel.

8. Franz’s failure and M. Hamel’s regret:

Franz failed to repeat the laws of participles and was too ashamed to look up. M. Hamel
commented sorrowfully the ills of procrastination. The citizens of Alsace had neglected
their studies and put it off for the next day, which, unfortunately, never came. This was
not the fault of the children but also the fault of their parents. The children were put to
work to earn money, but, not encouraged to go to school. He blamed himself, too, for
assigning odd works to his pupils thus hampering their studies.

9. M. Hamel’s speech on French:

M. Hamel said that French is the sweetest language in the world. It was the duty of the
French people to guard it, honour it and nurture it. A defeated nation can regain its
freedom by respecting and cherishing its own mother tongue.

10. The class on that day:

M. Hamel taught grammar. Franz could learn effortlessly. He realized that he had never
listened so carefully. It seemed M. Hamel put his heart and soul into teaching in his last
class. He gave his students new copies. ‘France, Alsace’ was written on it beautifully. The
students copied quietly.

11. The Last Lesson:

M. Hamel sat still, looking at each and every object in that class room. He had been there
for forty years. He had a well-nurtured garden. His heart must be bleeding as he would
have to leave all these behind. However, he listened to every repeat his lesson. Old
Hauser chanted the alphabets along with the babies with tears rolling down his cheeks.

12 The Farewell :

When the church clock struck twelve, the Prussian soldiers blew their trumpets
announcing the finish of their march. A pale M. Hamel stood up. He was so choked that
he could not speak. Turning to the blackboard, he wrote ‘Vive La France!’ Leaning his
head against the wall, he gestured with his hand for everyone to leave.

MAIN THEMES

The main theme of The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet is the importance of
language, culture, and education, and the impact of war on these.

i) Language: The story is about the love for and longing to learn one's mother
tongue. It also highlights the importance of respecting and learning one's own
language as it holds the key to our prison or national identity.

ii) Education: The story emphasizes the importance of education and the
dangers of procrastination. It also highlights the value of knowledge and
education and how one should never put off or delay learning.

iii) War: The story explores the impact of war on education. It highlights the
efforts of the victors to crush their victims or the vanquished people in all
possible manners-materially, spiritually and mentally.

iv) Patriotism: The story has a sense of patriotism. The language of any country
is the pride of that country. It not only defines the culture but also tells us about
the people, literature and history of other country.

v) Nostalgia: The story explores the theme of nostalgia. It evokes a feeling of

regret and longing for something one once had and now it is being taken away
forever.

vi) Linguistic chauvinism: The story draws attention to the unfair practice of
linguistic chauvinism, which is an unreasonable pride in one's own language
 while disregarding other languages. Linguistic chauvinism is the idea that
one’s language is superior to that of others. People of Lorraine and Alsace are
the victims of linguistic chauvinism. They are forced to learn German.

Character Sketches

Franz: Franz is a little boy who lives in the district of Alsace. He studies in one of the
schools in Alsace. He is not fond of attending school and studying. He likes the outside
world more than the environment of the school. He has not taken his French lessons
seriously. He is scared of his French teacher, M. Hamel. However, when he hears that
German will be taught from the next day instead of French, he experiences a different
feeling for French. He also feels sorry for himself for not paying attention to his French
lessons earlier. That shows that the boy has an acute sense of understanding, feeling,
recognition and respect. He listens very carefully when M. Hamel teaches a lesson in
grammar the last time and recognizes his teacher for his worth.

M. Hamel: M. Hamel is a senior experienced teacher who has been teaching in the
school for forty years. He imparts primary and pre-primary education in all subjects. He is
feared by his students for his strictness. Franz is also scared of him for coming late and
not learning his lessons. The order of the Prussian rulers upsets M. Hamel. He has

to leave the place forever and feels heartbroken. He exercises self control and howsoever
sad, completes all the lessons on the last day.

On the last day he shows kindness to Franz and does not scold him for coming late. He
speaks in a gentle tone. His logical mind has analyzed the problems and the reasons
behind them.

He says that the people of Alsace have not given due importance to the learning of their
mother tongue. They have put off learning till tomorrow.

He admits, ‘We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with’. He is remorseful that he
too had not been sincere in teaching them. He is a good communicator but cannot say
‘Good bye’ at the time of parting as he is chocked with emotions. He is a patriot.