THE LAST LESSON (Flamingo)

About the author

Alphonse Daudet [1840-1897] was a French novelist and a short story writer. The Franco-German War, had a profound effect on his writing, his short stories, Les Contes du lundi, 1873; “Monday Tales” gives an account of the same. His novel ‘Fromont jeune et Riser aîné’ (1874; “Fromont the Younger and Risler the Elder”), which won an award from the French Academy, was a success, and for a few years he enjoyed prosperity and fame—though not without some hostile criticism. The setting of the story ‘The last lesson, is the France German war of 1970. 

A brief synopsis of the Franco - Prussian war [19 July 1870 to 1871] 

The Franco Prussian war or Franco German war called the war of 1970 was a conflict between French empire and German states led by the kingdom of Prussia. It was a war led by Otto Von Bismarck of Prussia and Napoleon III of France. (Napoleon Bonaparte I ruled France between 1769 to 1821. He was succeeded by his son Napoleon Joseph Bonaparte II who died in 1932 at the age of 21 due to Tuberculosis. The Napoleon Charles Louis Bonaparte III ruled France between 1848 to 1870].

At this war the French leader Napoleon III was defeated by Bismarck and at the Treaty of Frankfurt in 1871 Alsace and Lorraine was given to Germany. Prussian leader united Germany and formed the German Empire. The loss of Alsace and Lorraine was a major cause of anti-German feeling in France from 1871 to 1914. 

Alsace and part of Lorraine became German territory after the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian war in 1870. It would remain part of Germany until the end of the First World war when French troops entered the region and the territory reverted to France at the Treaty of Versailles. Raymond Poincare French statesman who was a Prime minister in 1912 largely led to France involvement in World War I, through the world war I [1914 to 1918] he strove to preserve national unity.  In 1919 at the Treaty of Versailles Germany returned Alsace and Lorraine to France. 

1. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?

Mr. Hamel the French teacher in Franz’s school, asked the students to prepare for a grammar lesson on participles.

2. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?

Franz noticed that the school was unusually quiet. Usually there used to be a great commotion of opening and closing of desks, lessons being repeated in unison and the teacher’s huge ruler tapping on the table, but that particular day it was quiet as a Sunday morning. 

3. What had been put up on the bulletin board?

The French districts of Alsace and Lorraine had been annexed by Prussians. Hence, the bulletin board displayed the news that an order had come from Berlin to teach only German in schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Teaching of French language had to be discontinued. 

4. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?

The day the order came from Berlin the school was unusually quiet. The students got new copies with ‘France Alsace’ written on them. These looked like flags, floating everywhere in the school room. This was in contrast to the usual scene, when the school was buzzing with activity. That day everyone was working very quietly. The only sound that was heard was the scratching of pens over paper. 

5. How did Franz’s feelings about the school and Mr. Hamel change?
Franz regretted for not learning French lessons. His books that seemed to be a nuisance to him a while back were now precious and he felt he could not give them up, he had disliked the teacher Mr. Hamel but now he felt sad at the thought of him going away.

6. “What a thunder clap these words were to me" explain with reference to the text.
The order that had come from Berlin, to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine was like a thunderclap. It was to be their last lesson. [Thunder clap- a loud crash]

7. The people in the story suddenly realize how precious their language is to them? What shows you this? Why does this happen?

In the story the French Districts of Alsace and Lorraine had passed into the hands of Prussia. Hence they received an order from Berlin that only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. It was then that all of them realised the importance of their language. The usual noisy scene at the school was replaced by a quiet atmosphere. The last day when lessons were given in French the students set to work very quietly. The only sound in the classroom was scratching of pens over paper. Even the village people came and sat quietly in the class like students. Everybody looked sad. Franz regretted not having listened to his French teacher Mr. Hamel carefully. Mr. Hamel felt heartbroken at the thought of leaving and explained his lessons so carefully with lot patience which he never did before. It seemed almost as if he wanted to give them all he knew before going away. Mr. Hamel says in simple words “we’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with”. 

8. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What could this mean?

When Franz wondered whether they would make even the pigeons sing in German, he meant that they had grown up using French as their language, now taking it away from them would be unfair and unkind. The language was as natural to them as cooing is to the pigeons. Robbing them of it and forcing German on them would be not only difficult but impossible. 

9. Is it possible to carry pride in one’s language too far? Do you know what ‘linguistic chauvinism’ mean?

Linguistic chauvinism means an unreasonable over enthusiastic and aggressive loyalist attitude towards one’s own language. Language is much more than means of communication, language is an instrument of thought and helps in promoting culture, customs etc. Its importance is immeasurable. But in an era of Globalisation one needs to have a more practical and realistic view of the situation. For example all multinational companies employ people who are conversant with the English language. The salary difference between qualified people who can speak English can even be higher than others especially in metros. In fact the best jobs in the upmarket sectors are reserved for those who can speak English. 

10. What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel was giving his last French lesson?

When M. Hamel was giving his last French lesson the mood in the classroom was solemn and sobre. When he announced that his was their last French Lesson everyone present in the classroom suddenly developed patriotic feelings for their native language and sincerely regretted for ignoring their mother tongue. 

11. M. Hamel says “as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they have the key to their prison”.

Mr. Hamel says that a language is very valuable for its people because language helps them at the time of crisis. Native language helps them in reaching out to their people and gives them an identity. 

12. M. Hamel stood up very pale in his chair. I never saw him look so tall. Explain the statement.

M. Hamel was choked with emotion and could not speak as he had to quit teaching French after forty years of teaching. Franz never liked his French teacher M. Hamel but suddenly his feelings towards his teacher changed. He felt sad at the thought of Mr. Hamel going away. Franz developed a lot of respect for his teacher, M. Hamel stood high in the mind of Franz. 

13. Then he turned to the black board, took a piece of chalk and bearing on with all his might, he wrote as large as he could - “Vive La France!”
After the church clock struck twelve the bell announced the time for prayer. They heard the trumpets of the Prussians returning from drill. M.Hamel stood up but he could not talk as his emotions choked him. M. Hamel was very sad and remorseful. All he could do was to write “Vive La France”.

14. Why were the villagers in the class that day?

The announcements on the bulletin board categorically stated that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The old men of the village were sitting there in the back of the room because they were sorry, that they had not gone to the school for a longer period of time. It was their way of thanking the master for his forty years of faithful service and of showing their respect for the country that was no more theirs.