FLAMINGO (PROSE)

THE LAST LESSON by Alphonse Daudet

GIST OF THE LESSON

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 40 yrs 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, he himself, the children and the parents 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.

Main Characters
1. M. Hamel
Sincere French teacher
- knows subject well
Passionate about French
- considers French-clearest, most beautiful, logical language
- feels language as a key to person's sense of freedom
- advises to hold on to French
Proud of being French
- upset by occupation of Alsace by Germans
- attached to town, school, people.
Hard Task Master
- particular about discipline and learning

- students scared
- last day - exercises on all aspects of language
Sensitive, honest
- blames himself for selfishness
- emotional by sound of Prussian soldiers

2. Franz
Sensitive, Honest
- Blames himself for ignoring lessons
- Wonders if pigeons will coo in German
- Understands feelings of Hauser
Loves outdoors
- Sunshine, birds, butterflies, collecting bird's eggs.
As a student
- repents, good observer, notices changes.
Empathizes with M. Hamel
- Understands emotions, accepts him with faults
SOLVED QUESTIONS
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS:
1. What was the narrators greatest fear as he moved towards the school?
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 teachers anger.
2. What was more tempting to Franz rather than going to school?
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.
3. What was the news which was put up on the bulletin board?
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.
4. What was so unusual about the school on that day?
Usually there would be a great bustle of opening and closing of the desk, lesson repeated
loudly and the teachers 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.
5. Why were the villagers seated on the back benches?
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
6. Franz didnt learn French whom did M. Hamel blame?

M. Hamel didnt 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.
7. What did M. Hamel say about French language?
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.
8. What happened when the church clock struck 12?
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
1. Justify the title of the story The Last Lesson.
Value Points
People always feel there is plenty of time to learnso also in Alsacenow no timeparents
not keenpreferred children , work in farms, millFranz looked opportunity to escape
schoolnever seriousreceive orders from Berlinpeople realize importance of their
languageattend the last lesson by M. Hamel.
QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Why did Franz not want to go to school?
2. Why didnt M. Hamel punish Franz even though he was late?
3. Mention the three changes that Franz noticed in the school?
4. What announcement did M. Hamel make and what was its impact?
5. What do you think was written on the bulletin board?
6. Why did M. Hamel say about knowing ones language is a key to prison?
7. Whom did Mr. Hamel blame for not learning the French?
8. What changes have taken place in the school in the last forty years?
9. What did he mean by Viva La France?
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Write a note on the character of M. Hamel as a teacher?
2. Do you think the story touches upon the brutalities of war? Comment.
3. What thunderbolt did the narrator receive on reaching the school? How was he affected by
it?
4. At the end of the last lesson M. Hamel wrote, Viva La France on the board in bold letters.
Why do you think he wrote that and how did he expect the people of Alsace Lorraine to
keep their identity intact?