The Last Lesson is set in the days of Franco Prussian War (1870-71) in which France was defeated by Prussia (Part of Germany) led by Bismarck. The chapter is based on the importance of language. Check out – The Last Lesson Summary, Difficult Words, MCQs and Video Lectures
The Last Lesson MCQs Mock Test
1. About the Writer
Alphonse Daudet was born on 13th May 1840 at Nimes in France. He was the son of a silk manufacturer.
Alphonse Daudet his first novel and poem at the age of 14. He died on 16th December 1897 in Paris, France.
2 . The Last Lesson Message
The author wants to suggest that we should not forget our national language. There is the great importance of a national language for a nation.
We must keep it up till the last breath of life because it is our identity and origin too.
The Last Lesson MCQs Questions
The Last Lesson Summary and Notes on Character
3. Main Character
3.1 M. ( Monsieur) Hamel
M. Hamel is a school teacher of the French language who has been teaching for the last 40 years in a school in France.
He is a very strict teacher. He has the utmost care and love for the French language. He is shocked when he gets the news of replacing the French language.
He wears a beautiful green coat, a frilled shirt, and a black silk cap on the last day of his school. He has given a lesson to learn on the rules of participles.
M. Hamel mounts his chair and addresses the people with a grave and gentle voice on the last day of his school.
The feeling of Little Franz was completely changed after realising the sincere devotion of his teacher, M. Hamel towards the French language.
M. Hamel brings special test copies for them written in a beautiful round hand- France, Alsace, France, Alsace. At the end of the class, he writes “Vive La France” on the blackboard, and then the class is dismissed.
3.2 Little Franz
Little Franz is a school-going boy who has no care for his school and studies. He starts late for his school and has a fear of scolding because he has not done his lesson on participles.
It is a bright day, children are playing under the sun and the Prussian soldiers are drilling. All these activities tempt Little Franz.
Although, he develops the strength to resist and hurries off to the school. The blacksmith, Wachter makes fun of him and says that he can catch his school in plenty of time. He runs through M. Hamel’s little garden all out of breath.
He finds the school as silent as Sunday morning. He hardly knew how to write and read in French. His feelings for M. Hamel and school completely change on the last day.
He also realises the importance of the French language and regrets passing his days with no intention of learning French.
3.3 Blacksmith
He is Wachter standing among the crowd with his apprentice at the town hall. He makes fun of the narrator and says that he can get to his school in plenty of time.
3.4 Old Hauser ( An elderly villager)
He is sitting on the last bench in the classroom. He has come there to give a nice farewell to their teacher, M. Hamel.
3.5.Sister of M. Hamel
She is the pretty sister of M. Hamel who has to leave the country along with her brother because Germany had defeated France in Franco Prussian War (1870-710).
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4. The Last Lesson Main Points
- The story (the last lesson summary)takes us to the time Franco- Prussian War(1870-71) in which France was defeated by Prussia( Germany).
- Franz is in great fear of scolding because he has not done his lesson on participles.
- The day is very warm with chirping birds and Prussian soldiers are drilling
- There was a bulletin board near the town hall where the people get the news of the lost battles, the draft, and the orders of commanding officers.
- The Blacksmith, Wachter makes fun of him and says that he is going to catch his school on time.
- The school usually begins with a great bustle with the sound of lessons repeated in unison and the opening and closing of desks.
- The class is as silent as Sunday morning on that day
- Hamel wears a beautiful green coat, a frilled shirt, and a little black silk cap on the last day of his school.
- Old Hauser with his three-cornered hat, the former mayor, the former postmaster, and several others are sitting on the empty benches.
- Hamel mounts his chair and addresses the people with his gentle and grave tone regarding the change of the French language.
- Little Franz is unable to recite the rules of participles. He regrets not learning his national language.
- Little Franz was shocked because he hardly knew writing and reading the French language.
- Hamel conducts his last lesson and asks the people to guard their language.
- Hamel has been a great and strict teacher for the last 40 years.
- Franz is unable to recite the rules of participles as he has no interest in studies.
- Hamel blames Franz’s parents as they do not want to send him to a school for learning. They want to put him to work on a farm or mill. He blames himself too for his condition.
- Hamel considers the French language to be the most logical, beautiful, clearest, and dignified. He takes it to be the identity of the French people. He also asks the people to guard it till their last breath.
- Hamel brings special test copies for them written in a beautiful round hand- France, Alsace, France, Alsace.
- The narrator thinks of pigeons, “ Will they make them sing in German.”
- He becomes emotional and writes “Vive La France” on the blackboard and then the class is dismissed.
The Last Lesson Video Explanation
5. Short Question and Answer
5.1 Think as You Read
1. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
Franz was expected to be prepared with the participles for a school that day. He was a very dull student and hardly knew reading and writing the French language. He was very much sorry for passing his days without studying.
2. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
The school earlier began with a great bustle, which could be heard out in the street like opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison… But, the school was so silent like Sunday morning on that day.
3. What had been put up on the bulletin board?
On the bulletin board, it had been put up that French would no longer be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The German teachers were to be appointed to teach the German language at the schools. They would join tomorrow.
5.2 Think as You Read
1. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
The environment of the school was altogether different from any usual day. The Old Hauser, former mayor, the former postmaster, and several others were sitting on the last benches. They had to give a nice farewell to their honourable teacher M. Hamel.
2. How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and school change?
Franz’s feelings about M Hamel and the school changed because the teacher had great concern for the French language. He also makes me understand Little Franz with utmost kind and love. These all happenings put an everlasting impression on Little Franz.
5.3 Understanding the Text
1. The people in this story suddenly realize how precious their language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this happen?
The French language is not only a language for the French. It is also the identity and origin for them. The French language is the most logical, beautiful, clearest, and dignified. French is replaced by German-language because Germany has defeated France in Franco Prussian War.
2 . Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What could this mean?
This sentence shows the complete impact of language on France. The people are shocked to hear such sad news of being replaced by their national language. The language is the identity and origin of the people of a nation.
6. The Last Lesson Summary
The Last Lesson has been written by Alphonse Daudet shows the importance of language for a nation. The chapter has been set in the days of the Franco-Prussian War which takes place in the year 1870-71.
France is defeated by Prussia (Germany) led by the chancellor, Otto Von Bismarck, and Alsace, and Lorraine, two districts of France are captured by Prussia. The order comes from Berlin to teach only the German language in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
Little Franz starts school very late and has fear of scolding. He has not prepared his lesson on participles. The day is very warm with chirping birds and Prussian soldiers are drilling.
The day is much tempting than going to school. There is a bulletin board near the town hall which brings all bad news like the lost battles, the draft, the orders of commanding officers. The blacksmith makes his fun and says that he is going to catch his school in plenty of time.
Usually, the class begins with a great bustle which can be heard out in the street like the opening and closing of desks and lessons repeated in unison. But, the school is as silent as Sunday morning on that day.
M. Hamel is the central character in the story who teaches the French language at his school for the last forty years. He is a very strict teacher and has love, care, and honest feeling for the people and the country.
He wears a beautiful green coat, a frilled shirt, and a little black silk cap for his last day of school. Old Hauser with his three-cornered hat, the former mayor, the former postmaster, and several others are sitting on the empty benches.
M. Hamel mounts his chair and addresses the people with a grave and gentle tone that this is their last lesson. The German teachers join us from tomorrow.
They are there to give a nice farewell to their teacher, M. Hamel for his sincere service of 40 years. Little Franz is not in the position to utter a single word of participles.
He is very sorry for passing his days without studies. Hamel blames Franz’s parents as they do not want to send him to a school for learning.
They want to put him to work on a farm or mill. He blames himself too for his condition. M. Hamel appreciates the French language and takes it to be the most logical, beautiful, clearest, and dignified language.
He takes it to be the identity of the French people too. He also asks the people to guard it till their last breath. After grammar, they had a test in writing.
He brings new copies for the students written- France, Alsace, France, Alsace in a beautiful round hand.
There are many little flags hung from the rod at the top of our desks. Franz (the narrator) thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” This sentence shows the deep impact of language on French.
All of a sudden, It hits 12 in the church clock. M. Hamel takes the chalk and writes Vive La France! As large as he could. The class is dismissed with a gesture.
The chapter gets close with a very important note to guard our nation at any cost.
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7. Difficult Words from the Last Lesson Summary and Text Books
Scolding (chide) डांटना
In a great dread of (greatly scared) बहुत ज्यादा डरा हुआ
Woods (Forest) जंगल
Tempting (enticing) लुभावना
Resist (oppose) विरोध करना
Draft (recruitment in the army) सेना में भर्ती
Apprentice (learner) नौसिखया
Bustle (making noise) शोर शराबा
Ruler (Iron rod) लोहे की छड़ी
Blushed (felt ashamed) लज़्ज़ित महसूस करना
Frilled (with ornamental edges) झालरदार
Embroidered (with ornamental needlework) कढ़ाई किया हुआ
Wretch (wicked) दुष्ट
Cranky (high tempered) क्रोधी
Enslaved (kept as a slave) गुलाम बनाया हुआ
At one stroke (In a single go) एक बार में
Beetles (a kind of insect) झींगुर
Twined (coiled) लिपटी हुई
Tremble (shiver) कांपना
Choked (clogged) गला रुंध जाना
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