by Alphonse Daudet

Alphonse Daudet was a French and the short

story writer. He was born on 13 May 1840 in
Nimes(France) and died on 16 December 1897
in Paris(France). The father, Vincent Daudet,
was a silk manufacturer — a man dogged
through life by misfortune and failure.
Alphonse, amid much truancy, had a
depressing boyhood. In 1856 he left Lyon,
where his schooldays had been mainly spent,
and began his career as a schoolteacher
at Alès, Gard, in the south of France.He was the
father of writers Léon Daudet and Lucien
The Last Lesson is set in the days of the
Franco-Prussian War in which France
was defeated by Prussia Led by the
Bismarck. In this story the French
districts of Alsace and Lorraine have
passed into Prussians hands. The
French teachers were ordered to leave
the story revolves around Mr M.
Hamel who has been asked to leave.
Before he leaves , he gives a last lesson
to his students in his life.
 IMPORTANCE OF MOTHER TONGUE-
‘The Last Lesson’ brings out the idea that
one should not neglect the learning of
one’s mother tongue. It is through mother
tongue that we can preserve our identity,
culture and even freedom. This as realised
by Franz when he attended his last class
on French. As long as the people holdfast
to their language it as if they had the key
to their prison.
Franz scare while going to school;
 started for school very late.

 not learned his lesson of

participles.
 thought of running away.

 resisted and hurried off

to school.
Incidence of town hall
a huge crowd in front of bulletin board.
 board conveyed all bad news.
 continued his run to school.
Unusual about the school;
• the usual bustle missing at the school.
• everything was quiet and still like Sunday morning.
• through window he saw his classmates and M Hamel with his ruler.
Changes in Mr M Hamel:
 didn’t say anything to Franz for coming late.
 asked him kindly to occupy his seat.
 wore a beautiful green coat, frilled shirt, and black
silk cap.
Peculiar about classroom
 the last benches were used to be empty.
 that day the villagers were sitting on the last
benches.
 old Hauser, the former mare, the former
postmaster, and several others were looking sad.
M Hamel’s surprising remarks:
• announced that it was their last French
lesson.
• order had come from Berlin to teach
German.
Franz’s repentance:
• felt sorry for not learning lessons.
• was sad that M Hamel was leaving.
• forgot about his cranky voice and the ruler.
• considered books as his old friends.
Franz’s Failure to recite rules
 his name was called.
 couldn’t recite rules foe participles.
 mixed up everything and felt sorry.
 M Hamel Didn’t scold him.
M. Hamel’s Views
told that the Frenchmen can neither speak nor
write French.
Parents weren’t anxious for their children to
learn.
Criticised himself for sending out children to
water his flowers.
Called French the most beautiful, the clearest
and the most logical.
The last lesson
 M Hamel gave lecture on grammar.
 Then he gave a writing lesson.
 Everyone did the work quietly.
 No body paid attention to the beetles.
 Each of them understood the lesson.
 told everybody to remember French.
M Hamel’s Emotional Farewell
 The church clock struck 12.
 trumpets of Prussians were
heard
 Hamel grew emotional.
 Pick a piece of chalk and
wrote ‘VIVE LA FRANCE’
on the board.
 asked everybody to leave.
Theme
In this story , the author points out that it is unwise to
postpone the learning of the things for one reason or the other.
The people of Alsace do not pay attention to the study of
French in their school. But when France is defeated by Prussia
and Prussia rulers order that French would no longer be taught
in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine, they realised its
importance. The language is the key to their prison.
The story also reflects the cruelty of war which makes the
victorious people arrogant, proud and insensitive to the human
feelings.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
-VINEET KOUNDAL