Last Lesson Flashcards
What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
Franz was expected to be prepared with participles. Mr Hamel had told the class that he would be taking a test on the topic that day.
What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
Usually when the school begins, there would be a lot of commotion. But that day, everything was quiet and it appeared to be like a Sunday, but the students were at their places and Mr Hamel was walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm.
What had been put up on the bulletin board?
The bulletin board notified the general public about an order from Berlin. It stated that only German will be taught to the students in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
The order from Berlin brought all the routine hustle-bustle of the school life to a stand- still. The teacher, M. Hamel became more sympathetic to his students and taught his lessons with more patience. The students became more attentive in their classes. The villagers were sitting at the usually empty back benches and had come to show their respect and gratitude to M. Hamel. They regretted not going to school. The order also brought about a great change in people’s feelings towards their country and their native language. There was a general sadness about not being able to utilise the opportunities of learning French when it was possible to do so.
How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and the school change?
Franz was shocked when M. Hamel told the students about the order from Berlin and that it was their last French lesson. He forgot about his teacher’s ruler and crankiness. He developed a sudden fondness for M. Hamel, and was disturbed by the idea of never seeing him again. He understood the pain and agony his teacher was undergoing, and became more sympathetic towards his teacher.
His school, too, now carried a different meaning. His books and lessons seemed like old friends, whom he couldn’t give up. He realised with pain that how much French meant to him and regretted not being attentive in his classes earlier. Suddenly, he felt that the ‘difficult concepts’ had never actually been difficult.
Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What could this mean?
Alphonse Daudet’s ‘The Last Lesson’ very prominently raises the question of linguistic and cultural hegemony of the colonial and imperial powers and their lust for controlling the world and influencing their cultures and identities. Enforcement of German on the defeated nation was a way of realising this. The order to teach German rather than French in schools was released.
Franz is flabbergasted on hearing this and understands that this order would deprive him of learning his mother tongue. He also wondered if the pigeons would have to coo in German too. Compelling them to use a foreign language was like snatching away their language from them, which he felt would be unfair and unkind. The language was as natural to them as cooing is to the pigeon. So compulsion to speak another language is like dominating the force of nature and enslaving it. As it is next to impossible to alter the way pigeons sing, the same way, it is difficult for people to accept a language which is forcibly imposed on them. Adopting a new language causes pain and discomfort.
“We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with.” Why did M. Hamel blame the parents and himself too for not showing due attention and care to the learning of French?
M. Hamel did not hold Franz completely responsible for neglecting the learning of French. Most people of Alsace only pretended to be Frenchmen. But they could neither speak nor write their own language. The parents were not anxious to have them learn. They preferred to put children on a farm or at the mills to earn a little more money. He even held himself responsible as he often sent his students to water his flowers instead of learning their lessons. He also used to give them a holiday whenever he wanted to go for fishing.
How did M. Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town?
M. Hamel looked very pale and tall when he stood up in his chair. All the students
were quiet. The village people-old Hauser, the former Mayor, the former
postmaster
and several others were present in the schoolroom. The teacher told the villagers that French was the most beautiful language in the world. He ended the lesson by writing Vive La France on the blackboard. He made a gesture with his hand to indicate that the
school is dismissed and students could go home.
