THE LAST LESSON

ALPHONSE DAUDET
Learning Objectives:
• Read and analyse the lesson ‘The Last Lesson’.
• Infer the meaning of metaphorical statements and message of the story.
• Evaluate the linguistic chauvinism of German and French.
Theme
❖ The story beautifully highlights the human tendency to postpone learning of things for one
feels that there is plenty of time to do so. One never knows when the doomsday will dawn and
bring an end to all our plans, hopes and aspirations.
❖ The natives of Alsace realize their folly of not giving importance to the study of French in
their school days. So, they become victims of Linguistic Chauvinism with the acquisition of
their districts by Prussia.
❖ The story also brings to light the brutality of war which makes man insensitive to human
feelings and sentiments
I. EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS
I.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 book and read us our
lesson. I was amazed to see how well I understood it. All he said seemed so easy, so easy!
i. Which of the following can be attributed to M. Hamel‘s declaration about the French
language?
A. subject expertise
B. nostalgic pride
C. factual accuracy
D. patriotic magnification
ii. “I was amazed to see how well I understood it.” Select the option that does NOT explain
why Franz found the grammar lesson ― “easy”
A. Franz was paying careful attention in class this time.
B. M. Hamel was being extremely patient and calm in his teaching.
C. Franz was inspired and had found a new meaning and purpose to learning
D. Franz had realized that French was the clearest and most logical language
iii. Franz was able to understand the grammar lesson easily because he was -
A. Receptive.
B. Appreciative.
C. Introspective.
D. Competitive
II. SHORT TYPE QUESTIONS (40-50 WORDS)
1. How is the title ‘The Last Lesson’ appropriate?
Answer: The title ‘The Last Lesson’ is appropriate because it was M. Hamel’s last lesson and
also the last French lesson in the school according to the order from Berlin after Alsace and
Lorraine had been conquered by the Prussians.
2. How were the parents and M. Hamel responsible for the children’s neglect of the French
language?
Answer: M. Hamel blamed everyone for putting off learning till the next time and thus losing
out on the opportunity to learn their native language, French. The parents preferred to put their
children to work on a farm or at the mills so that they could earn more money. M. Hamel too
sent them to water his flowers and gave them a holiday when he wanted to go for fishing.
3. Why were some elderly persons occupying the backbenches that day?
Answer: The elders of the village were sitting in the classroom as a mark of respect which they
wanted to show for their language and their country. They felt sorry for not having learnt their
language and wanted to thank M. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service.
4. Why were people standing in front of the bulletin board in ‘The Last Lesson’? Why did
Franz not join the crowd?
Answer: For the past two years the bulletin board had been the bearer of all bad news—the lost
battles, drafts, orders from the commanding officer. That day an order had come from Berlin
that from the next day a new teacher would teach German instead of French in the school. Franz
could not join the crowd as he was already late for his class and could not afford further delay.
5. Why did M. Hamel write ‘Vive La France’ on the blackboard?
Answer: Before dismissing the class, M. Hamel writes ‘Vive La France’ (Long Live France) on
the blackboard. He was extremely patriotic and he does this to make the people of Alsace realise
that they had to safeguard their language and identity among themselves as this was the key to
their prison.
6. Why is the order from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz?
Answer: The order from Berlin is called a thunderclap by Franz, because it was a complete
shock for him. He had never thought that he would be deprived of the right of learning his native
language. He realized he had so much more yet to learn and was going to lose the opportunity.
7 .What was the mood in the classroom when M.Hamel gave his last French lesson?
Answer: When M.Hamel was giving his last French lesson, the mood in the classroom was
solemn and somber. When he announced that this was their last French lesson, everyone present
in the classroom suddenly developed patriotic feelings for their native language and genuinely
regretted ignoring their mother tongue.
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: During his last French class Franz hears the pigeons cooing and wonders if the
Prussians would make them sing in German too. His thought reveals the Frenchmen’s fear of
complete domination by the Germans whereby they would try to enslave even their minds.
III. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (120-150 WORDS)
1. What in your opinion, is the main theme of the story 'The Last Lesson'? Do you think
it has a universal appeal?
Ans.The main theme of the story is linguistic chauvinism of the proud conquerors who show
an excessive or prejudiced support for their own language. It also shows the pain that is inflicted
on the people of a territory conquered by them by taking away the right to study or speak their
own language and make them prisoners in their own land of birth. The story also highlights the
attitudes of the students and teachers to learning and teaching. The story theme has a universal
appeal even though the story is located in a particular village of Alsace in France which had
passed into Prussian hands. Taking away mother tongue from the people is the harshest
punishment.
2. Franz's attitude towards school and M. Hamel changes when he comes to know about
the takeover of his village by Prussians. Discuss with reference to the Last Lesson.
Answer: On his arrival at school, Franz noted an unusual silence. His teacher M. Hamel was
dressed nicely and asked Franz to sit so that he could start his lesson. The teacher made a
startling announcement that this would be their last lesson in French as the new teacher would
be arriving the following day. He reiterated about an order from Berlin that German was to be
taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
Franz was overcome with a feeling of remorse and regretted wasting his time in trivial pursuits.
He decided to pay attention to the lesson since school had become very important for him. He
began to realize the real worth of his school as well as of the teacher whom they had all taken
for granted all these years. Now M. Hamel became a good teacher for him rather than a boring
one. For him, the teacher seemed to be a good gentleman who was leaving the village on that
day. Thus, there developed a specific liking to study history and grammar in Franz since on that
day M. Hamel put all his heart and soul in teaching.
3. What changes did the narrator find in the school when the order from Berlin came?
Answer: The order from Berlin prohibited 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 was missing. There was no opening and closing of desks,
no repetition of lessons or 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 toknow that , M Hamel
was going to teach his last lesson that day.
4. Explain the linguistic chauvinism of the last lesson.
Ans: In "The Last Lesson," linguistic chauvinism refers to the attitude or belief that one
language is superior to others and should be dominant or prioritized over alternative languages.
The story portrays the linguistic chauvinism of the German authorities who impose a ban on the
French language in the French village where the narrative takes place. The linguistic chauvinism
displayed by the German authorities is evident in their attempt to suppress the French language
and enforce the use of German. This reflects a broader agenda of cultural assimilation and the
desire to assert dominance over the occupied territory. The ban on the French language is not
merely a practical decision but also an expression of power and control. The linguistic
chauvinism depicted in the story leads to the marginalization and erosion of the local culture
and identity. The characters, particularly Franz and his classmates, are deeply affected by the
ban on their native language. They experience a sense of loss, nostalgia, and frustration as they
are stripped of their linguistic and cultural heritage. The oppressive linguistic policies
perpetuate a power dynamic where the dominant language is forced upon the subjugated
population, diminishing their sense of self and
connection to their cultural roots.
The story challenges the notion of linguistic chauvinism by highlighting the importance of
language preservation and the value of multilingualism. Through the character of Mr. Hamel,
who continues to teach French despite the ban, the story emphasizes the significance of
maintaining one's language and cultural heritage as a means of preserving identity and resisting
assimilation. It underscores the idea that linguistic diversity and the coexistence of different
languages contribute to the richness and vitality of a society.