The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet

BACKGROUND:
The story is set in the days of the Franco-Prussian war. The French district of
Alsace and Lorraine were captured by Germans. The new master was to come the
next day in a school in Alsace to teach German in place of French. The story tells
the effect of this news on the life at a school in Alsace.

SUMMARY:
The prose ‘The last lesson ‘written by Alphonse Daudet narrates about the year
1870 when the Prussian forces under Bismarck attacked and captured France. The
French districts of Alsace and Lorraine went into Prussian hands. The new
Prussian rulers discontinued the teaching of French in the schools of these two
districts. The French teachers were asked to leave. The story describes the last day
of one such French, M. Hamel. Mr M. Hamel had been transferred and could no
longer remain in his old school. Still he gave his last lesson to his students with
utmost devotion and sincerity as ever. The story depicts the pathos of the whole
situation about how people feel when they don’t learn their own language and then
losing an asset in M. Hamel. One of his students Franz who dreaded French class
and M. Hamel ‘s iron rod, came to the school that day thinking he would be
punished as he had not learnt his lesson. But on reaching school he found Hamel
dressed in Sunday’s clothes and all the old people of the village sitting there. It was
due to an order on the bulletin board. That was the first day when he realised for
the first time that how important French was for him, but it was his LAST
LESSON in French.

Main Theme
LINGUISTIC CHAUVINISM
“Chauvinism” is a devotion for or against something, just based on what you feel
(not necessarily what you may know). So,Linguistic chauvinism is the idea that
one’s language is superior to that of others. This happens generally when the
language is that of the ruling class.

Language is considered to be the cultural identity of a particular group of people

who use it. Hence, imposing some other language on the people hurts their
emotions. 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 of the
country. Language for some people is just the medium of communication but for
others it is the question of life and death.The Last Lesson raises the burning
question very innocently through the words of little Franz that “Will they make
them sing in German, even the pigeons?” This raises the question of immorality of
imposing imperial languages and cultures on the colonies. The child questions that
when even the birds and animals can’t be forced to abandon their language and
speak others then what forces the man to think that it would be prudent force other
human beings to forcibly accept any language other than theirs.

The language of a country is not only a medium of communication for the people
but also the link for identity, once the native language is snatched away from the
people. It’s not only the loss of convenient communicating medium but also the
loss of identity for people for what they have been and what they might become.

Sub Theme
Attitude of teachers and students towards learning and teaching

Textual questions:
What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
Ans. Usually, when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard
out in the street. But it was all very still that day. Everything was as quiet as a
Sunday morning. There was no opening or closing of desks. His classmates were
already in their places. The teacher’s great ruler instead of rapping on the table,
was under M. Hamel’s arm.

What had been put up on the bulletin-board?

For the last two years all the bad news came from the bulletin-board. An order had
come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The
Germans had put up this notice on the Bulletin board.

What change did the order from Berlin cause in the school that day?
Mr. Hamel had put on his best dress – his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt and
the little black silk cap, all embroidered. The whole school seemed so strange and
solemn. On the back benches that were always empty, the elderly village people
were sitting quietly like the kids.

How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and the school change?
Franz came to know that it was the last lesson in French that M. Hamel would give
them. From the next day they will be taught only German. Then he felt sorry for
not learning his lessons properly. His books, which seemed a nuisance and a
burden earlier were now old friends. His feelings about M. Hamel also changed.
He forgot all about his ruler and how cranky he was.

“When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as
if they have the keys to their prison.” What could this mean?
Ans. Language is an important aspect of the culture of any nation. Native language
unites the people of a particular area or nation. During colonization colonizers
enforce political domination by exerting their rules and regulation over the people
of colonized nation and enforce cultural domination by imposing their own
language on them. In some cases, colonizers prohibit the teaching of the native
language and try to deprive the people of their identity. In such cases ,when people
are attached to their native language, their identity would be kept intact. Their
language is the key to their prison as their language keeps them united against the
invaders and urge them to fight against the enslavement.

Q Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons ?”
What could this means?
Ans. Alphonse Daudet’s ‘The Last Lesson’ very prominently raises the question of
linguistic and cultural hegemony of the colonial and imperial powers and their lust
for controlling the world and influencing their cultures and identities. Prussians
acquired the districts of Alsace and Lorraine in Franco-Prussian War , but they
were not satisfied with mere political domination ,they desired to enforce their own
language on the people of the defeated nation. They released the order that from
now German would be taught in schools rather than French. Franz wondered
whether they would make even pigeons sing in German. It means that they had
grown up using French as their language and now snatching away their language
from them would be unfair and unkind. The language was as natural to them as
cooing is to the pigeon. So, compulsion to speak another language is like
dominating the force of nature and enslaving it. As it is next to impossible to alter
the way pigeons sing, in the same way it is difficult for people to accept a language
which is forcibly imposed on them. Adopting a new language causes pain and
discomfort.

VALUE BASED QUESTIONS

Q. While speaking his mouth choked and wrote, ‘Vive La France’ and finally
by gesture he said: “School is dismissed – you may go.” These lines show that
M Hamel was greatly attached to his motherland, profession and mother
tongue. In other words, one should be attached to his own land, cultures and
customs. But today’s Indians are drowned in the western colours. It shows
that there is need to spread awareness about the feeling of patriotism and
other related factors. Write a paragraph in about 100 words highlighting the
issue.
Ans.
Patriotism-An Unmatched Spirit
Patriotism is defined as one’s love for one’s customs, culture, mother tongue,
motherland and everything what is associated with one’s motherland. One should
be proud of what one’s country has given to him. In Indian context, people have
started adopting western culture. They are in the race of being ‘Mod’. This is really
surprising as well as pathetic. As an Indian, we own a rich and diversified culture
which has attracted foreigners too. Many patriots have sacrificed their lives in the
name of their country which has attracted foreigners too. Many Patriots have a
feeling that cannot be filled in the hearts of Indians but it should be arisen and
inculcated among the future generation of the country. The students or the youth of
the country need to be Indianised. Adaption of different cultures is not bad. But
forgetting our own culture for sake of other ones is not done. The need of the hour
is to inculcate the moral values, virtues, love for humanity and motherland among
the Indian youth. Patriotism is an undying and unmatched spirit that cannot be
sacrificed for anything.

Q. Read the following question and answer the question that follows:
Then he turned to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk and, bearing on with
all his might, he wrote as large as he could – “vive la France!” Abraham
Lincoln, a former president of America said’ “I like to see a man proud of the
place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud
of him.” After reading the lesson and the above quote of Abraham Lincoln
you being to reflect on the lost spirit of patriotism amongst the youth in India
due to which there is no respect for once countrymen and no determination
amongst the youth to lead the country to be a better future. Write an article in
about 100 words for a national magazine on the need for revival of patriotic
spirit amongst the youth of India.
ANS: The Need for Revival of Patriotic Spirit amongst the Youth in India”
India has been the land of proud martyrs who embraced the gallows for their
ideals, where every drop in freedom fighter’s blood fought not for itself but for
nation. Today, the same India stands famished and starved of the true patriotic
spirit. Our youth appears to be driven more by a crazy love for a superficial self-
advancement than anything else for our young boys and girls, country holds on
better value than just a geographical identity. Undoubtedly, ‘patriotism’ needs to
be redefined and revived in India. We probably find our patriotic spirit stirred up
when there is an Indo-Pak cricket match or when terrorists bomb our trains. But we
definitely forget it when we cast our vote in the elections, when a hungry beggar
asks for a rupee, when we shamelessly throw garbage on the roads and so on….
Patriotic emotions cannot be engendered in a windfall. They will have to be
engraved on tender hearts that will remain placid. Our education policies thus
needed to be revalued and reformed. More national awareness and respect should
be embedded into the scholastic curriculum. This could be nothing more than a
sincere devotion for making a peaceful-loving, crime-free, unpolluted and patriotic
India. Small actions persuaded with a notion of doing good to other countrymen is
true patriotism. Today, our country wants awakened citizens to move forward and
it is in this sphere where we have to exercise our true patriotic spirit.

Extra questions:

1. Why was Franz afraid to go to school that morning?

2. What temptations did Franz overcome to proceed to school?
3. What was the significance of the bulletin-board in the town hall?
4. Why was Franz blushing and feeling frightened when he entered the class
room?
5. How and why was M. Hamel dressed differently that day?
6. Why were the old men of the village present in the class room?
7. How was the order from Berlin going to make a difference to the lives of the
students?
 8. How did Franz’s attitude towards his books change after he heard about the
order from Berlin?
9. What happened when Franz attempted to recite the rule for participles in
class?
10. What does M. Hamel find wrong with the attitude of Alsace towards
learning?
11. How does M.Hamel held parents and himself responsible for students
neglecting learning?
12. How does M. Hamel praise the French language?
13. How is the mother tongue important for the enslaved people?
14. Why was Franz able to understand everything?
15. How had the school changed in the forty years of M. Hamel’s stay ?(p-8
16. “I never saw him look so tall”. Who is the person mentioned? What does the
speaker mean by the above statement?
17. Why did M. Hamel make a gesture to the students to leave?(was choked up
,overwhelmed with emotions)
18.How does M. Hamel evoke feelings of patriotism in the class ?

Answer the following in about 150 words each

1. Justify the title “The Last Lesson.”

2. In the story M. Hamel emerges not only as a dedicated teacher but also as a
sensitive and understanding human being”. Elaborate the character of M.
Hamel in light of the above
3. “The importance of a thing dawns upon us when it is no longer with us. Do
you agree? Give reasons based on the text?(imp.)

1. Language becomes a tool in the lands of the conquerors to establish their

superiority over the loser. Critically analyse the statement with reference to
the lesson.