AHSEC| CLASS 12| ENGLISH| THE LAST LESSON
UNIT
– 1
FLAMINGO
PROSE
(THE LAST LESSON)
CHAPTER SUMMARY
The narrator is a boy named Franz. He studies in M Hemel's school. Franz was in a hurry to go to school because he was late. But he was also scared. M. Hamel had given homework about participles but Franz had not learned them. For a moment he wished he could leave school and enjoy himself in the open countryside. But M. Hamel was a strict teacher and Franz did not have the courage to stay away. So, he quickly moved on. Bad news. On the way he passed the town hall. There was a crowd in front of the notice board. Franz considered the notice board to be terrible because all the bad news was printed on it. He was afraid that some bad news might come again. he was right. Later he learned that orders had come from Berlin that only German would be taught. It was imposed by foreign rulers.
A blacksmith who
had read the news told Franz not to rush. There was enough time. But Franz felt
that he was making fun of him. So, he didn't slow down. Franz was worried. He
wanted to enter the school unnoticed. He hoped that he would be able to do so
in the noise and confusion. But when he reached there, he was surprised. It was
very quiet. The students remained seated at their respective places. M. Hamel
was there with his stick. Franz opened the door. But the teacher did not get
angry. He just asked her to go to her seat. Franz was surprised to see that
some old people of the town were also sitting in the back. The teacher was
dressed in his best clothes which were worn only on special days. Everyone was
quiet and serious.
M. Hemal sat in
his chair. Then he spoke in a soft but serious voice. He announced that this
was his last lesson in French. The order came from Berlin that in future only
German would be taught. It was Hemel's last day. The new teachers will come the
next day.
Franz became
very careful. This was his last lesson in French. He felt that he had wasted a
lot of his time. He no longer hated his books. He grew to like Hamel despite
his harshness. He thought that M. Hamel was a dedicated teacher. He had served
for forty years. The old men of the village were there because they also
realized that they had not learned much. They went there to read the last
lesson as a mark of respect for the teacher who was going to leave the next
day.
He was very
eager to tell them without mistake. But he could not tell. He was confused and
stood silent. Hamel said that it was not only Franz to blame. His parents were
never keen on sending him to school. He hoped that he would earn a little
money. He said that the others in Alsace were also never willing to learn. They
are just out of learning. He also blamed himself for sending the students away
when he wanted to go fishing. Hamel praised the French language. He said it was
the most logical and clearest language. He told them that they should stick to
their language and also protect it. Those who are slaves, if they stick to
their language, their freedom is certain in the long run. Then he taught
grammar and the lesson of the day as usual. Franz felt that for the first time
he could understand everything the teacher explained. Perhaps he had never
listened so attentively, and the teacher had never explained so patiently, as
on the last day. After the grammar, the teacher gave new copies to the
students. In a beautiful round hand, she wrote; France, Alsace; France, Alsace.
Everyone started writing. There was no other sound except the sound of pen
writing on paper. Small children were making fish hooks. Pigeons cooed. Franz
said to himself, "Will they teach the pigeons to coo in German?"
Hamel must have been heartbroken. He was leaving the school he had built. But
he has the courage to listen to every lesson till the last breath. Even Hauser
and old men read their book with the little ones. Suddenly the church clock
struck twelve. The Prussians blew their trumpets. Then Hamel wanted to speak to
the students. But he was adamant. Then he took a piece of chalk and wrote on
the blackboard in very large letters, "Vive la France!" Then with the
gesture of his hand, he indicated the end of the school.
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