The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet, class 12 English CBSE ( Summary, explanation, question-answer, word meaning and literary devices)
THE LAST LESSON
By Alphonse Daudet
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“The Last Lesson” by Alphonse Daudet is about linguistic chauvinism. At the same time, the lesson highlights the ill effects of procrastination and the fact that we realise the importance of anything when it is not with us.
The story is set in the 1870- 1871 Franco-Prussian war. The war went on between France and Prussia, and France was defeated. The two districts of France - Alsace, and Lorraine were captured by Prussia. Thereafter, the people got new orders almost every day. One day the order came from Berlin that there would not be any teaching about French in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Instead, German would be taught. As a result, there was a complete change in the atmosphere of the school.
“The Last Lesson” Summary Class 12 English Core CBSE
The story The Last Lesson” has been set in Alsace, a French district that had been taken over by the Germans during the Franco-Prussian War. The narrator of the story is a young schoolboy named Franz. The narrator remained careless about his studies.
One bright sunny morning, Franz was getting late for school. He feared being scolded by his teacher, M. Hamel, as he hadn’t prepared the rules for participles.
As Franz hurried to school, he noticed a huge crowd of people near the bulletin board of the town hall. Instantly, he realised that there must be some bad news. But he did not stop.
After reaching school, he found a somewhat strange atmosphere. Usually, there used to be a lot of noise in front of the school – students shouting, the teacher’s ruler tapping on desks – but that day it was all quiet. When he entered the classroom, he was surprised to see it unusually calm. All the students were sitting quietly in their places, and M. Hamel was dressed in his best clothes, the ones he wore only on special occasions.
To Franz’s shock, M. Hamel announced that it wasl their last lesson in French. From the next day, only German would be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine, as per the new orders from Berlin. Hearing this, Franz suddenly felt sad and regretful. He realised how much he had taken his language and education for granted.
M. Hamel addressed the class with great emotion. He explained how people often postponed learning, thinking there was always more time. He blamed himself too, saying that at times he sent students away to water his plants or gave them holidays when he wanted to rest. Further he added how beautiful the French language is and urged them never to forget it, calling it the key to their identity and freedom.
Even the villagers, who seldom attended school, had come and sat on the back benches of the classroom. Possibly they did it out of respectand. They also seemed to be regretful. In the final moments, M. Hamel was too overwhelmed to speak. He picked up a piece of chalk and wrote “Vive La France!” on the blackboard. Then, he signalled that the class was over, and the story ends on a note of deep emotion and patriotism.
Detailed summary and very short questions and their answer Of "The Last Lesson", Class 12 English CBSE
Text:
I started for school very late that morning and was in great dread of a scolding, especially because M. Hamel had said that he would question us on participles, and I did not know the first word about them. For a moment I thought of running away and spending the day out of doors. It was so warm, so bright! The birds were chirping at the edge of the woods; and in the open field back of the sawmill the Prussian soldiers were drilling. It was all much more tempting than the rule for participles, but I had the strength to resist, and hurried off to school.
Detailed Explanation of the above Text and Extract Based Question - Answer:
Here " I " refers to Franz who was a schoolboy and the narrator.
One day Franz started late for school. He feared that he would surely be punished by teacher M Hamel as he had not prepared the rules for participles as well as for getting late.
The first thought that came into Franz's mind was to bunk the classes and stay outside. He also found warm and sunny weather, the chirping of birds on the trees and the drilling by the Persian soldiers more alluring. But he resisted the temptation and rushed to the school.
Q. Why was Franz in great dread?
Ans. He had not learnt the rules for participles and also he was getting late for school.
Q. What did M Hamel ask the children to do or learn or prepare?
Ans. Rules for participles.
Q. What were Franz's first thoughts?
Ans. To run away and stay out of doors.
Q. What seemed to be more tempting than the rules for participle?
Ans. Warm and sunny weather, chirping of birds on the trees, and drilling by the Prussian soldiers.
Q. How did Franz deal with the temptation?
Ans. He resisted the temptation.
Text:
When I passed the town hall there was a crowd in front of the bulletin-board. For the last two years all our bad news had come from there — the lost battles, the draft, the orders of the commanding officer — and I thought to myself, without stopping, “What can be the matter now?”
Then, as I hurried by as fast as I could go, the blacksmith, Wachter, who was there, with his apprentice, reading the bulletin, called after me, “Don’t go so fast, bub; you’ll get to your school in plenty of time!”
I thought he was making fun of me, and reached M. Hamel’s little garden all out of breath.
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Detailed Explanation of the above Text and Extract Based Question - Answer:
Franz, being late for school, was hurrying. When he reached the town hall which was on the way to his school, he found that there was a crowd of people near the bulletin board. Instantly he realised
that there must be some bad news, as all the bad news they had received through the bulletin board such as the defeat of France, draft, orders of the commanding officer, and so on.
So he was a bit disturbed to think what the matter would be. (the news which had been put up on the bulletin board was- there would not be any teaching of French in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine, the two districts captured by the Prussians. Only German would be taught to them and a new teacher would come the next day to teach German.)
Even if Franz realised that there was some bad news, he did not stop and continued to move on. Near the bulletin board, he saw the blacksmith, Wachter, along with his apprentice. When the blacksmith noticed Franz speeding up towards the school, he shouted and said there was no need to hurry as a lot of time was left. In reality, the blacksmith knew very well that the teacher M Hamel would not punish Franz for being late because it was his last lesson in the school. But Franz thought the blacksmith Wachter was making fun of him.
Q. Where did Franz find the crowd of the people?
Ans. Near the bulletin board of the town hall.
Q. What did the bulletin board symbolise?
Ans. All the bad news had come through the bulletin board.
Q. What had been put up on the bulletin board on a particular day?
Ans. There would not be any teaching about French in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Only German would be taught and the next day a German teacher would arrive to teach.
Q. Who was Wachter?
Ans. Wachter was the blacksmith.
Q. Who accompanied Wachter?
Ans. His apprentice
Q. What was the remark made by Wachter when he saw Franz rushing towards the school?
Ans."Don't go so fast bub, you will get to your school in plenty of time!"
Q. What did Franz think about the remark made by the blacksmith?
Ans. He thought that the blacksmith was making fun of him.
Text:
Usually, when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard out in the street, the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, very loud, with our hands over our ears to understand better, and the teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table. But now it was all so still! I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen; but, of course, that day everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morning. Through the window I saw my classmates, already in their places, and M. Hamel walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm. I had to open the door and go in before everybody. You can imagine how I blushed and how frightened I was.
But nothing happened. M. Hamel saw me and said very kindly, “Go to your place quickly, little Franz. We were beginning without you.”
I jumped over the bench and sat down at my desk. Not till then, when I had got a little over my fright, did I see that our teacher had on his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt, and the little black silk cap, all embroidered, that he never wore except on inspection and prize days. Besides, the whole school seemed so strange and solemn. But the thing that surprised me most was to see, on the back benches that were always empty, the village people sitting quietly like ourselves; old Hauser, with his three-cornered hat, the former mayor, the former postmaster, and several others besides. Everybody looked sad; and Hauser had brought an old primer, thumbed at the edges, and he held it open on his knees with his great spectacles lying across the pages.
Detailed Explanation of the above Text and Extract Based Question - Answer:
Normally, when school started, it was always noisy due to the opening and closing of the desks, students reciting their lessons loudly in unison, and the teacher tapping his ruler to get attention.
But that day there was quietness as if it was Sunday. Franz had hoped to sneak into his seat unnoticed taking advantage of the noisy atmosphere. Through the window, he could see his classmates already sitting, and M. Hamel, pacing with his iron ruler under his arm. He had no choice but to open the door and walk in front of everyone. One can imagine how nervous and embarrassed Franz felt.
But nothing happened. When M. Hamel noticed Franz, very politely he asked him(Franz) to take his seat. Franz quickly jumped over the bench and sat.
Once he settled down a bit, he realised how unusual everything was. M. Hamel was wearing his best clothes—his green coat, frilled shirt, and the black silk cap he only wore on special occasions.
The whole room felt serious and different. What surprised Franz the most was the presence of the village people quietly sitting at the back of the classroom. Old Hauser, with his three-cornered hat, the former mayor, the former postmaster, and others were all there. Everyone looked sad, and Hauser had an old, worn primer on his lap with his big glasses resting on it.
Q. How was the atmosphere of the school early in the morning every day?
Ans. Noisy atmosphere/bustle /commotion.
Q. What were the sources of commotion in the school?
Ans. Opening and closing of the desks, lessons repeated in unison, and wrapping of the iron ruler on the table by the teacher, M Hamel.
Q. Why did Franz think the atmosphere of the school was like that on Sunday?
Ans. It was because there was complete calmness in the school.
Q. What did Franz count on (rely on)?
Ans. Early morning commotion.
Q. How did Franz feel when he entered the classroom?
Ans. He was embarrassed and frightened.
Q. How was the reaction of M Hamel when Franz entered the classroom late?
Ans. It was an unusual reaction as M Hamel did not punish him. Contrary to Franz’s expectation, he talked to him very politely and asked him to take his seat.
Q. How did M Hamel dress on a particular day?
Ans. He was in his special dress which was a green coat, frilled shirt, and black silk cap, all having embroidery which he used to wear only on two occasions- inspection day and prize day.
Q. What was the biggest surprise for Franz?
Ans. The presence of the villagers on the backbenches, which always remained empty, was the biggest surprise for Franz
Q. Whom did Franz recognise among the villagers?
Ans.Old Hauser, former Mayor, and former Postmaster.
Q. What kind of hat was the old Hauser wearing?
Ans. Three-cornered hat.
Q. What was Hauser holding in his hand?
Ans. He was holding an old primer and trying to read.
Text:
While I was wondering about it all, M. Hamel mounted his chair, and, in the same grave and gentle tone which he had used to me, said, “My children, this is the last lesson I shall give you. The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master comes tomorrow. This is your last French lesson. I want you to be very attentive.”
What a thunderclap these words were to me!
Oh, the wretches; that was what they had put up at the town-hall!
My last French lesson! Why, I hardly knew how to write! I should never learn any more! I must stop there, then! Oh, how sorry I was for not learning my lessons, for seeking birds’ eggs, or going sliding on the Saar! My books, that had seemed such a nuisance a while ago, so heavy to carry, my grammar, and my history of the saints, were old friends now that I couldn’t give up. And M. Hamel, too; the idea that he was going away, that I should never see him again, made me forget all about his ruler and how cranky he was.
Poor man! It was in honour of this last lesson that he had put on his fine Sunday clothes, and now I understood why the old men of the village were sitting there in the back of the room. It was because they were sorry, too, that they had not gone to school more. It was their way of thanking our master for his forty years of faithful service and of showing their respect for the country that was theirs no more.
Detailed Explanation of the above Text and Extract Based Question - Answer:
Franz was lost in his thoughts about the changes in the school. Meanwhile, M Hamel mounted his chair and announced that that was the last French lesson and added that from the next day German would be taught and a new teacher would come. It was just like a thunderclap for Franz. At this point, Franz realised why there was a crowd near the bulletin board of the town hall.
Here we notice a sudden change in the attitude of Franz towards the French language as well as the French teacher. He started regretting how he wasted his time going on Saar (river name) for sliding, searching for bird's eggs, etc. He started thinking about how he disliked history books, the history of saints, French grammar, and even the teacher M Hamel. Now he thought that he would neither be able to get the opportunity to learn French nor he could see M Hamel again. He almost forgot how cranky or short-tempered M Hamel was.
After the announcement made by M Hamel, Franz realised why he had dressed like that. He also got to know the reason for the quietness in the school as well as the presence of the villagers.
In reality, the villagers had come to show their respect towards M Hamel who had served them for forty years. Moreover, it was their love for the French language that brought them to school.
Q. What was Franz wondering about?
Ans. Franz was wondering about the changes in the school, quietness, polite behaviour of M Hamel, his special dress, and the presence of the villagers on the last benches.
Q. What was the thunderclap for Franz?
Ans. The announcement made by M Hamel that from the next day, there would not be teaching about French in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine, instead German would be taught was like a thunderclap for Franz.
Q. Where did the order come from?
Ans. Berlin
Q. "Oh, the wretches;" What does 'the wretches' refer to?
Ans. Order from Berlin that there would not be the teaching of French.
Q. Why had the villagers come to school?
Ans.
To show their love for the French language.
To thank and show their respect to the teacher M Hamel
Q. What did Franz think about M Hamel earlier?
Ans. Cranky
Q. How did Franz feel about his history books, his French grammar, the history of saints, etc?
Ans. Nuisance.
Q. How long did M Hamel serve?
Ans. Forty years
Text:
While I was thinking of all this, I heard my name called. It was my turn to recite. What would I not have given to be able to say that dreadful rule for the participle all through, very loud and clear, and without one mistake? But I got mixed up on the first words and stood there, holding on to my desk, my heart beating, and not daring to look up.
I heard M. Hamel say to me, “I won’t scold you, little Franz; you must feel bad enough. See how it is! Every day we have said to ourselves, ‘Bah! I’ve plenty of time. I’ll learn it tomorrow.’ And now you see where we’ve come out. Ah, that’s the great trouble with Alsace; she puts off learning till tomorrow. Now those fellows out there will have the right to say to you, ‘How is it; you pretend to be Frenchmen, and yet you can neither speak nor write your own language?’ But you are not the worst, poor little Franz. We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with.”
“Your parents were not anxious enough to have you learn. They preferred to put you to work on a farm or at the mills, so as to have a little more money. And I? I’ve been to blame also. Have I not often sent you to water my flowers instead of learning your lessons? And when I wanted to go fishing, did I not just give you a holiday?”
Detailed Explanation of the above Text and Extract Based Question - Answer:
While Franz was thinking about the reason behind the presence of the villagers, a special dress worn by M. Hamel, etc. his name was called.
M Hamel asked Franz to recite the rules for participles. On the very first word, Franz got stuck and felt so ashamed that he could not even lift his head. He had never expected that his last lesson would be such a failure. But the teacher did not scold him.
M Hamel said that Franz himself would feel bad. Further, he highlighted the ill effects of procrastination. According to M Hamel, everyday people say that there is plenty of time but suddenly they find there is no time left. From the next day, the people of Alsace would not get an opportunity to learn the French language.
M Hamel also told about the reaction of those Prussians who, no wonder, would make fun of them, (the people of Alsace) saying that they pretended to be French but they did not know the French language.
Moreover, M Hamel expressed that Franz was not the only person responsible for his poor performance. His parents were also responsible as they used to send Franz to work in the mills and farms so that he could earn money. He also blamed himself saying he used to give the children holidays when he went fishing and very often asked the children to water his flowers.
Q. How was Franz's performance in the last lesson?
Ans. His performance was so poor. When M Hamel asked him to recite the rules for participles, he got stuck on the very first word.
Q. How did M Hamel react when Franz could not recite the rules for participles?
Ans. M Hamel did not punish Franz for his poor performance. Instead, he told Franz that he himself should feel bad. At the same time, he highlighted the ill effects of procrastination or the act of delaying.
Q. What does ‘she’ refer to?
Ans. Alsace(personnification.)
Q. How were Franz's parents responsible for his poor performance?
Ans. They sent him to work in the fields and mills at the cost of learning in the school.
Q. How was M Hamel responsible for Franz's poor performance?
Ans. He often gave children holidays when he went fishing. Moreover, he often asked the children to water his flowers.
Q. " Now those fellows out there…" Who are "those fellows"?
Ans. Prussian soldiers/officials
Text:
Then, from one thing to another, M. Hamel went on to talk of the French language, saying that it was the most beautiful language in the world — the clearest, the most logical; that we must guard it among us and never forget it, because when a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison. Then he opened a grammar and read us our lesson. I was amazed to see how well I understood it. All he said seemed so easy, so easy! I think, too, that I had never listened so carefully, and that he had never explained everything with so much patience. It seemed almost as if the poor man wanted to give us all he knew before going away, and to put it all into our heads at one stroke.
Detailed Explanation of the above Text and Extract Based Question - Answer:
M Hamel, thereafter, talked about the French language. He called French the most beautiful, clearest, and most logical language in the world. He also suggested everyone guard the language saying if they had a love for their language, it would be just like the key to the prison. In other words, their love for the French language would help them to come out of slavery.
M Hamel then opened the book of grammar. Franz was totally surprised because that day was quite different. He understood everything the teacher taught him because he was paying maximum attention. M Hamel also tried to give the students everything in one day.
Q. What did M Hamel say about the French language?
Ans. Most beautiful, clearest, and most logical language in the world.
Q. What did M Hamel suggest to everybody regarding their language?
Ans. He suggested everyone to guard their language saying it would prove to be the key to the prison under slavery.
Ans. How was teaching and learning on the last day?
Ans. It was comprehensive.
Q. Why was Franz understanding everything on the last day?
Ans. He was paying full attention
Q. Why were the children understanding everything so well?
Ans. It was because everybody was paying full attention and the teacher M Hamel was also trying to explain things in the best possible way.
Text:
After the grammar, we had a lesson in writing. That day M. Hamel had new copies for us, written in a beautiful round hand — France, Alsace, France, Alsace. They looked like little flags floating everywhere in the school-room, hung from the rod at the top of our desks. You ought to have seen how every one set to work, and how quiet it was! The only sound was the scratching of the pens over the paper. Once some beetles flew in; but nobody paid any attention to them, not even the littlest ones, who worked right on tracing their fish-hooks, as if that was French, too. On the roof the pigeons cooed very low, and I thought to myself, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?”
Detailed Explanation of the above Text and Extract Based Question - Answer:
After the grammar lesson, the children had to do some writing work. Every child had been given new copies by M Hamel upon which "France Alsace France Alsace" these two words were written. As the copies were kept on every desk, they appeared to be flags floating everywhere.
All the children were working quietly. The only noise created was that of scratching of pen on the paper. Even the small kids remained busy drawing fish hooks. Meanwhile, some beetles entered but surprisingly nobody paid any attention as if they were also French. All these show how much was the feeling of patriotism that day.
While Franz was busy doing work, he heard a pigeon cooing. Suddenly he thought if the Prussians would force the pigeons also to sing in German. This thinking shows his anger, his frustration, and his depression because of the imposition of German on French-speaking people.
Q. What were the children given to do after grammar?
Ans. Writing work.
Q. What did M Hamel give the children?
Ans. M Hamel gave new copies to the children. In every notebook, he wrote France Alsace France Alsace
Q. What appeared to be the flags?
Ans. The words on the copies kept on every desk appeared to be flags.
Q. What happened when some beetles entered the class?
Ans. Nobody paid attention as if they were also French.
Q. What was the work given to the littlest ones or small kids?
Ans. To draw a fish hook.
Q. How did Franz feel when he heard the pigeon cooing?
Ans. He felt angry and frustrated. He wondered if the Prussians would force the pigeons also to sing in German.
Text:
Whenever I looked up from my writing I saw M. Hamel sitting motionless in his chair and gazing first at one thing, then at another, as if he wanted to fix in his mind just how everything looked in that little school-room. Fancy! For forty years he had been there in the same place, with his garden outside the window and his class in front of him, just like that. Only the desks and benches had been worn smooth; the walnut-trees in the garden were taller, and the hopvine that he had planted himself twined about the windows to the roof. How it must have broken his heart to leave it all, poor man; to hear his sister moving about in the room above, packing their trunks! For they must leave the country next day.
But he had the courage to hear every lesson to the very last. After the writing, we had a lesson in history, and then the babies chanted their ba, be bi, bo, bu. Down there at the back of the room old Hauser had put on his spectacles and, holding his primer in both hands, spelled the letters with them. You could see that he, too, was crying; his voice trembled with emotion, and it was so funny to hear him that we all wanted to laugh and cry. Ah, how well I remember it, that last lesson!
All at once the church-clock struck twelve. Then the Angelus. At the same moment the trumpets of the Prussians, returning from drill, sounded under our windows. M. Hamel stood up, very pale, in his chair. I never saw him look so tall.
“My friends,” said he, “I—I—” But something choked him. He could not go on.
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!”
Then he stopped and leaned his head against the wall, and, without a word, he made a gesture to us with his hand —
“School is dismissed — you may go.”
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Detailed Explanation of the above Text and Extract Based Question - Answer:
While Franz was doing his work, he used to look at his teacher M Hamel who was gazing at everything as if he wanted to keep the memory intact. Obviously, he had an attachment with everything as he had worked for forty years. There had not been many changes during these years except the benches had become smooth, the walnut tree had grown taller and the creeper or hop vine which M Hamel himself had planted reached the roof. Franz started thinking how sad and depressed M Hamel would be as he had to leave the country the next day.
There is no doubt that M Hamel was a very sincere teacher. It was his last day but he had not been least negligible to his duty. After the writing, he taught them history and even the small kids chanted the alphabet ba bi boo.
Franz noticed that the old Hauser was having the elementary French book and he was trying to read. His voice was trembling that very moment and there were tears in his eyes. He was crying. By observing the old Houser, the children wanted to laugh and cry because it was quite funny to see or watch an old man crying.
The church clock struck twelve and it was the time for midday prayer, Angelus. On the other hand the sound of the trumpet of the Prussian soldiers who were returning after the drill came. It meant that school was going to be over. Therefore, M Hamel stood up and wanted to say something but he felt choked. He got so emotional that he could not utter even a word. Finally, he took a piece of chalk and wrote on the blackboard Viva La France which means long live France. Thereafter, M Hamel asked them to go. The last three words of M Hamel Vive La France show his love for France and the French language. It also shows that he wanted to give a message to everyone present not to forget that their country was France and their language was French.
Q. What was M Hamel doing while the children were busy with their writing works?
Ans. He was gazing at everything about the classroom.
Q. What changes did take place during forty years?
Ans. During forty years the desk had become smooth, the walnut tree had grown taller and the hopvine which M Hamel himself had planted reached to the roof.
Q. What is Angelus
Ans. Midday prayer
Ans. Describe the feelings of M Hamel when school was over.
Ans. He got so emotional that he could not speak even a word.
Q. What were the last words of M Hamel?
Ans. Vive La France.
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