TOPIC: English Class 12.
Chapter 1 The last lesson.
About the Author.
-By Alphonse Daudet
Alphonse Daudet (1840-1897) was a French novelist and short story writer. The last lesson is a
story set in the days of the Franco-Prussian war (1870-1871) in which France was defeated by
Prussia. In this story, the French districts Of Alsace and Lorainne were captured by the
Prussian Army and passed into their hands.
Revision Notes
"The Last Lesson", beautifully brings out the human tendency to postpone the learning of
things feeling there is plenty of time to do so but they don't realise when doomsday will dawn
and bring an end to our hopes and aspirations.
Franz is scared of going to school that day as his French teacher Mr. Hamel has announced a
test on participle which he has not learnt. Although, Franz wants a day out of school and
enjoys the beauty of nature - the bright. Sunshine, the birds chirping in the woods, but
eventually plants to go to school.
On the way, he passes through the town hall and sees the huge crowd around the Notice board.
He does not stop as the Bulletin board serves all bad news lost battles, the draft and orders of
the commanding o cers. He sees Prussian soldiers drilling but resists.
On reaching the school, the changes he noticed were: Instead of noisy classrooms everything
was
quiet as Sunday Morning
All students were already in the classroom.
as
Mr. Hamel, the French teacher did not scold him and told him very kindly to take his seat. He
was dressed in his Sunday best-beautiful green coat, Frilled shirt and black embroidered wore
on functions and prize cap which he
Ceremonies only.
Villagers occupying the last benches - Old Hauser, former mayor and postmaster were also
there. M. Hamel, the French teacher did not Scold him and
fold him very kindly to take a seat.
was
He realises that that is what is put up on the bulletin board. Franz could not believe that it
would be his last lesson in French. He represented that he does not know his mother tongue
and for hot taking his lessons Seriously.
Now he realises the reason why the teacher is dressed in his Sunday best and villagers sitting at
the back benches to pay tribute to M. Hamel for his Hours of sincere service and also to
express
their solidarity with France. M.Hamel realises that all three, the children, the parents and he
are to be blamed for the loss of respect and regard for the mother tongue.
Franz is called to recite the lesson and he makes mistakes, but opposite to his thinking teacher
does not Scold him rather preaches that one should not waste time and postpone things
thinking that there is plenty of time. Always keep the mother tongue close to your heart as it is
ffi
, the key to the prison of slavery.
The atmosphere in class: teacher teaching sincerely and patiently, students and others studying
with utmost sincerity.
Franz wondered sarcastically if Prussians could force pigeons to coo in German. M. Hamel
overcome with emotions could not speak and wrote on the blackboard “Long Live France” and
dismissed the class.
• Franz is afraid of going to school as he has not learnt participles.
• He wants to enjoy the beauty of nature. The bright sunshine, the birds chirruping in the
woods, Prussian soldiers drilling but resisting.
• Bulletin board: all bad news, lost battles, the drafts and orders of the commanding
o cers: wondered what it could be now
• The changes he noticed in the school.
- Instead of noisy classrooms everything was as quiet as Sunday morning
- The teacher did not scold him and told him very kindly to go to his seat
- The teacher dressed in his Sunday best.
- Villagers occupying the last benches- To pay tribute to M. Hamel for his 40 years of
sincere service and also to express their solidarity with France.
• M. Hamel announced that that would be the last French lesson; and realised that, that
was what was put up on the bulletin board.
• Franz realizes that he does not know his mother tongue
• Regretted why he had not taken his lessons seriously.
• Also realizes the reason why the teacher was dressed in his Sunday best and the villagers
sitting at the back.
• M. Hamel realizes that all three, the children, the parents and he are to be blamed for
losing respect and regard for the mother tongue.
• Always keep the mother tongue close to your heart as it is the key to the prison of
slavery.
• The atmosphere in class: teacher teaching sincerely and patiently, students and others
studying with utmost sincerity.
• Franz wonders sarcastically if Prussians could force pigeons to coo in German.
• M. Hamel overcome with emotions could not speak and wrote on the blackboard “Long
Live France”.
CBSE Class 12 English Core
Flamingo Chapter-1 The Last Lesson
ffi
Chapter 1 The last lesson.
About the Author.
-By Alphonse Daudet
Alphonse Daudet (1840-1897) was a French novelist and short story writer. The last lesson is a
story set in the days of the Franco-Prussian war (1870-1871) in which France was defeated by
Prussia. In this story, the French districts Of Alsace and Lorainne were captured by the
Prussian Army and passed into their hands.
Revision Notes
"The Last Lesson", beautifully brings out the human tendency to postpone the learning of
things feeling there is plenty of time to do so but they don't realise when doomsday will dawn
and bring an end to our hopes and aspirations.
Franz is scared of going to school that day as his French teacher Mr. Hamel has announced a
test on participle which he has not learnt. Although, Franz wants a day out of school and
enjoys the beauty of nature - the bright. Sunshine, the birds chirping in the woods, but
eventually plants to go to school.
On the way, he passes through the town hall and sees the huge crowd around the Notice board.
He does not stop as the Bulletin board serves all bad news lost battles, the draft and orders of
the commanding o cers. He sees Prussian soldiers drilling but resists.
On reaching the school, the changes he noticed were: Instead of noisy classrooms everything
was
quiet as Sunday Morning
All students were already in the classroom.
as
Mr. Hamel, the French teacher did not scold him and told him very kindly to take his seat. He
was dressed in his Sunday best-beautiful green coat, Frilled shirt and black embroidered wore
on functions and prize cap which he
Ceremonies only.
Villagers occupying the last benches - Old Hauser, former mayor and postmaster were also
there. M. Hamel, the French teacher did not Scold him and
fold him very kindly to take a seat.
was
He realises that that is what is put up on the bulletin board. Franz could not believe that it
would be his last lesson in French. He represented that he does not know his mother tongue
and for hot taking his lessons Seriously.
Now he realises the reason why the teacher is dressed in his Sunday best and villagers sitting at
the back benches to pay tribute to M. Hamel for his Hours of sincere service and also to
express
their solidarity with France. M.Hamel realises that all three, the children, the parents and he
are to be blamed for the loss of respect and regard for the mother tongue.
Franz is called to recite the lesson and he makes mistakes, but opposite to his thinking teacher
does not Scold him rather preaches that one should not waste time and postpone things
thinking that there is plenty of time. Always keep the mother tongue close to your heart as it is
ffi
, the key to the prison of slavery.
The atmosphere in class: teacher teaching sincerely and patiently, students and others studying
with utmost sincerity.
Franz wondered sarcastically if Prussians could force pigeons to coo in German. M. Hamel
overcome with emotions could not speak and wrote on the blackboard “Long Live France” and
dismissed the class.
• Franz is afraid of going to school as he has not learnt participles.
• He wants to enjoy the beauty of nature. The bright sunshine, the birds chirruping in the
woods, Prussian soldiers drilling but resisting.
• Bulletin board: all bad news, lost battles, the drafts and orders of the commanding
o cers: wondered what it could be now
• The changes he noticed in the school.
- Instead of noisy classrooms everything was as quiet as Sunday morning
- The teacher did not scold him and told him very kindly to go to his seat
- The teacher dressed in his Sunday best.
- Villagers occupying the last benches- To pay tribute to M. Hamel for his 40 years of
sincere service and also to express their solidarity with France.
• M. Hamel announced that that would be the last French lesson; and realised that, that
was what was put up on the bulletin board.
• Franz realizes that he does not know his mother tongue
• Regretted why he had not taken his lessons seriously.
• Also realizes the reason why the teacher was dressed in his Sunday best and the villagers
sitting at the back.
• M. Hamel realizes that all three, the children, the parents and he are to be blamed for
losing respect and regard for the mother tongue.
• Always keep the mother tongue close to your heart as it is the key to the prison of
slavery.
• The atmosphere in class: teacher teaching sincerely and patiently, students and others
studying with utmost sincerity.
• Franz wonders sarcastically if Prussians could force pigeons to coo in German.
• M. Hamel overcome with emotions could not speak and wrote on the blackboard “Long
Live France”.
CBSE Class 12 English Core
Flamingo Chapter-1 The Last Lesson
ffi
