The Last Lesson

What is the backdrop of the lesson The Last Lesson?

Alphonse Daudet's ''The Last Lesson'' is set during the Franco - Prussian war (1870-
71). France was defeated by Prussia (Germany) and the German language was
imposed in the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine. The last lesson describes the
feelings of a French teacher M. Hamel.

Setting of The Last Lesson

The story is set in a French village in Alsace district of France, with the backdrop of the Franco-
Prussian war in which France was defeated by Prussia (then consisting of Germany, Poland and
parts of Austria). The Prussian rulers order that French will no longer be taught in the schools of
Alsace and Lorraine. The story tells how M.Hamel, a school teacher in Alsace, his students and
the towns people react to this news. There is an atmosphere of hopelessness and regret in the
classroom. For the first time the defeated French people in the village realize their mistake in not
learning their own language. The setting is appropriate, as the story relates to a bygone era of
French defeat in the hands of the Prussians.

Narrative Style of The Last Lesson

The story ‘The Last Lesson’ has a first person narrative. The speaker is a little boy named Franz,
a resident of Alsace-Lorraine district of France that has been occupied by the Prussians.
The tone is serious and biased. The author feels biased about the government and the war
compelling everyone to speak German. The oppressors and conquerors become heartless and
enforce their own views on the defeated. This is clear from the story when the order from Berlin
comes that French will no longer by taught in Alsace and Lorraine.

MAIN IDEA OF THE STORY: - (Theme)

“The Last Lesson” is a gently ironic story and at the same
time patriotic tale of a schoolboy who learns too late the value of his native
language. It brings to light the nationalistic feelings of the French people as
portrayed through two persons: an old school master, Monsieur Hamel, and
his young student, Franz (the writer himself). So, the story highlights the
importance of general education and national language for the
independence for a nation. The more a language spreads, the more the
culture of its speaker spreads. Moreover, the historical background of
the story also deals with the Franco-Prussian War and its adverse effects on
the freedom of France.

Main Characters
1. M. Hamel
• Sincere French teacher
– knows subject well
• Passionate about French
– considers French-clearest, most beautiful, logical
– feels-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

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. What tempted Franz to stay away from school?

Answer. Franz feared a scolding at school as he had not prepared the lesson on
participles, on which his French teacher M Hamel was to question the class that day.
Besides the warm and bright weather, the chirping of birds and the watching of the
drill of Prussian soldiers also tempted Franz to stay away from school.

2. Why is the order from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz? OR “What a

thunderclap these words were to me!” What were the words that shocked and
surprised the narrator? :

Answer. M Hamel told his students that it was their last French lesson, as an order had
come from Berlin that henceforth only German was to be taught in the schools of
Alsace and Lorraine. This announcement seemed to be a thunderclap to Franz. He was
left in surprise and shock to learn that a new master was going to arrive the next day
and they would learn German instead of their mother tongue.

3. What changes came over little Franz after he heard M.Hamel’s

announcement?

Answer: When M.Hamel announced that this was to be their last French class a grim
realisation dawned on Franz that he could hardly write his language and now he was
being deprived of the opportunity to learn it. He felt very guilty about neglecting his
classes and escaping school. The thought of losing his teacher, M. Hamel, also pained
him.

4. Who did M.Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like
Franz?
Answer: Mr. Hamel blamed various people for different reasons for the neglect of
learning on the part of boys like Franz. First, he blamed the parents for not being
anxious to have their children learn and rather engaging them in household work. He
blamed the boys themselves for preferring to work on mills and farms. He also blamed
himself for sending boys on errands for his convenience.

5. What shows M Hamel’s love for the French language?

OR

What did M Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask them
to do and why?

Answer. In his last lesson, M Hamel told the students that the French language was
the most beautiful language in the world—the clearest and the most logical. He asked
them to guard it amongst themselves and never forget it because when a people were
enslaved, as long as they held fast to their language, it was as if they had the key to
their prison.

6. What made M Hamel cry towards the end of his last lesson?

Answer. M Hamel had taught French at the school for the last forty years. He was
emotionally attached to the school and everything in and about it. He was really
heartbroken to leave it all. Besides, his own predicament reminded him that his
country would soon lose its independence. All this made him cry towards the end of
his last lesson.

7. How did M Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town?

Answer. At the end of his ‘Last Lesson’, M Hamel stood up to say farewell to his
students and the people of the town. He tried to speak, but overwhelming emotion
choked his voice. He then wrote as large as he could on the blackboard ‘Vive La
France’; then he dismissed the class with a gesture with his hand.

8. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What
does this tell us about the attitude of the Frenchmen?

Answer: This shows that the Frenchmen were full of hatred and desperation against
the Germans. Besides, they feared German atrocities. They thought that they would be
forced to read German and no one will be spared.

Long Answer Type Question (5 Marks, 120-150 words)

Q.9. what changes did the narrator find in the school when the order from Berlin
came?
Answer. The order from Berlin prohibited the teaching of French in the schools of
Alsace and Lorraine. Instead, German was to be taught in the schools. Franz was late
for school that day. He noticed that the hustle and bustle were missing. There was no
opening and closing of desks, no repetition of lessons and rapping of the teacher’s
ruler on the table could be heard. It was all very quiet and still.

Franz was further surprised because, instead of meeting an angry teacher, he was
welcomed by a kind and polite teacher, who was dressed in his best clothes, a
beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and an embroidered silk cap, which he wore only on
inspection and prize days. The back benches were occupied by the village people who
never came to school, as they were more concerned about their livelihood. He was
further astounded to know that, M Hamel was going to teach his last lesson that day.

Q10. Franz's attitude towards school as well as towards M Hamel changes when
he comes to know about the order from Berlin. Do you agree? Discuss with
reference to the last lesson.
Ans. Yes, I do agree that Franz's attitude towards school as well as towards M Hamel
changed.
At the beginning of the story, Franz was reluctant to go to school. He had not done
his
homework. He was afraid of scolding. M. Hamel was a strict teacher. Moreover, the
warm and
bright day was more tempting. When he reached school he learnt that only the Germa
n language
would be taught in his school. When he heard this, his attitude towards his teacher, hi
s books and school changed completely. He started liking his teacher and was sorry
for not learning
his lessons. He was sorry that M. Hamel was going away. He forgot everything about
his ruler and his cranky nature. His books appeared to him like his best friends.
Surprisingly everything that his teacher taught him appeared so easy to him that day.
He developed a great respect for M Hamel.
COMPETENCY BASED LONG ANSWER QUESTION

1. As M Hamel deliver a speech on the last day of school urging the village elders and
students never to leave their Native language.
You can begin the speech this way:

People are passionate about their country and language. Excessive pride in one's own
language may lead to Language Chauvinism
where they feel superior to others and try to impose their language on others

Ans. People are passionate about their country and language. Excessive
pride in one's own language may lead to Language Chauvinism where
they feel superior to others and try to impose their language on others.
The Germans have taken over the districts of Alsace and Lorraine and an order has come
from Berlin that French will no longer be taught in this school. From tomorrow the German
teacher will come. This is my Last lesson. French is the most beautiful and logical
language, we must owe respect to our language and know how to read and write
it. No one can enslave us if we have a strong hold of our language. I emphasise on the fact
that it is one's language that gives us our freedom. We must not leave our mother tongue.
I find that you all are regretting for not learning your mother tongue
seriously and now realise the importance of the mother tongue in your lives.
Thank you.