THE LAST LESSON By Alphonse Daudet Theme The

THE LAST LESSON By: Alphonse Daudet

Theme: The theme deals with language imposition and language loyalty. The pain that is inflicted on people of a territory by its conquerors by taking away the right to study or speak their own language. The story also deals with students and teacher attitudes to learning.

Map Of Lorraine and Alsace :

FRANCO PRUSSIAN WAR (1870 -71): The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War (19 July 1870 – 10 May 1871) was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and Bavaria. The complete Prussian and German victory brought about the final unification of Germany under King Wilhelm I of Prussia. For more info. Please click :

Bismarck Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg (1 April 1815 – 30 July 1898), simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a. Prussian. German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871. For more info. Please click on below icon :

A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY ! Alphonse Daudet was born in Nîmes, France. His family, on both sides, belonged to the bourgeoisie. The father, Vincent Daudet, was a silk manufacturer — a man dogged through life by misfortune and failure. Alphonse, amid much truancy, had a depressing boyhood. In 1856 he left Lyon, where his schooldays had been mainly spent, and began life as a schoolteacher at Alès, Gard, in the south of France. The position proved to be intolerable. As Dickens[clarification needed] declared that all through his prosperous career he was haunted in dreams by the miseries of his apprenticeship to the blacking business, [citation needed] so Daudet says that for months after leaving Alès he would wake with horror, thinking he was still among his unruly pupils.

Franz was late for school. As he was hurrying along he saw a crowd in front of the village notice board. When he arrived at school he found it strangely silent, with the students working at their lessons most diligently. He was more surprised at M Hamel’s kind and gentle behavior.

M. Hamel kind and gentle behavior who was dressed in his Sunday best. Usually he had his iron ruler with him. Then M Hamel announced that from the next day French would no more be taught. Instead they would be taught German. This news was terribly shocking to all the children as well as the villagers. The villagers were also present in the classroom for the last lesson. It was their way of showing respect and gratitude to M. Hamel for his 40 years of service. Franz regretted that he had not paid more attention to his studies. His books which seemed such a nuisance now

M. Hamel taught with great patience the children listened with great concentration. The lesson seemed so easy to understand that day. M. Hamel then told the villagers that all of them were responsible for the poor learning of the children as they kept postponing their lessons to the next day. The parents because they sent their children to work in the fields instead of to school and he himself when he sent the children to water the flowers and gave them a holiday since he wanted to go fishing.

M. Hamel explained that the French language was the most beautiful language in the world the clearest, most logical that they must guard it and never forget it because for the enslaved people their language is the key to their prison. Therefore one must hold fast to it. When it was time Hamel dismissed the school after writing "Vive La France" on the black board.

THE REGIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED DURING FREEDOM STRUGGLE Bengal Gazette (1780) Kesari Maharatta Sudharak Amrita Bazar Vande Mataram Hindu Patriot J. K. Hikki B. G. Tilak G. K. Gokhale Sisir Kumar Ghosh Aurobindo Ghosh Girish Chandra Ghose These newspapers helped to spread the freedom spirit, thus language plays an important role.

Language gives people their unique identity. It helps to foster unity and fight for the cause of freedom. Creating social and political awareness. Contemplate on and relate to the realities of the society that we live in. To comment on an issue of Universal significance.

Task: Find out about the following: (a) Linguistic human Right (b) Constitutional guarantees for linguistic minorities in India. Discuss in pairs/groups and then write an article for the school magazine on the topic. “Depriving People of their language is depriving them of their freedom” Debate on “India being multilingual is a detrimental rather then beneficial for her progress. ”

First regional newspaper during freedom struggle:

Freedom Fighters

B. G GHOKLE

FOR EVALUATIONS THE LAST LESSON Answer In One Word Or Sentence 1. What was M Hamel going to question the students on? Ans. participles 2. Describe M Hamel’s appearance on the last day? Ans. He wore a beautiful green coat , frilled shirt , and black silk cap. 3. Who were the surprise visitors to school? Ans. Old Hauser, former mayor, former postmaster. 4. For how many years did M Hamel serve as teacher? Ans. 40

What was the only sound in class? Ans: Scratching of pens on paper. 5. During which period does the incident take place? Ans: Franco-Prussian war 6. Name the cities that passed into Prussian Hands. Ans: Alsace and Lorraine. How does Franz describe M. Hamnel’s confidence? Ans: I never saw him look so tall. What tempted Franz on his way to school? Ans: birds chirruping, Prussian soldiers in a mill.

Fill in the blanks. Prussia was led by ……………. . Bismark All bad news generally, was displayed on the………………. bulletin board It gave details about ……………. . , ………… and ………………… lost battles, drafts, orders of commanding officers Franz counted on the ……………in the class to enter unnoticed. Commotion

The news about the last lesson made Franz forget how ……………. his teacher was. Cranky M. Hamel sent his students to ………………… and declared holidays when he went ………… water his flowers , fishing French, as for M. Hamel, was the most ……………. & ……………. . language. beautiful and logical

Peoples’ language is their…………… identity Franz never saw M. Hammel…………. . so tall M. Hammnel, with all his night, wrote……………. . vive la france. When people are enslaved as long as they hold fast to their…………… Language, it is as if they hold the key to their prison

The teacher wore his beautiful…………. . , ………………… and ……………… green coat , frilled shirt, silk hat The old Hauser had brought a ……………… with him. primer

Chorus : (a)In unity (b) in unison Ans: (c)In unison To depend on : (a)To count on (b) to rest on Ans: (a) To count on A huge clatter of sound : (a)beetle (b) rapping Ans: (b) rapping Thunder Clap : (a)Loud (b)startling Ans: (b)startling A book with basic rules (a)copies (b) primer Ans: (b) primer (c) in union (c) to lay on (c) pleasant (c) guide

GLOSSARY E-FLASH CARD ASK ME Word Resist Meaning A beginner; a learner. To move or cause to move energeti and busily. Civil disturbance or insurrection; disorder. Having a bad disposition Apprentice Bustle Commotion Cranky To strive to fend off or offset the act

Word Enslaved To Count on Meaning To make into or as if into a slave. To depend on

CONCLUSION The tasks and reading this story will help you to understand the language, rights of the citizen the problem of linguistic minorities as well as develop social and political awareness.