The document summarizes the short story "The Last Lesson" by Alphonse Daudet. It introduces the main characters - Franz, a French boy narrating the story, and his teacher M. Hamel. Franz arrives late to school and discovers that this will be M. Hamel's last day teaching, as the German occupation has banned the French language in their region of Alsace and Lorraine. At his final lesson, M. Hamel emphasizes the importance of maintaining one's mother tongue even in the face of oppression or slavery. The summary highlights the story's exploration of cultural identity and resistance to domination through language.

1. The Last Lesson
Alphonse Daudet
By Capt. Dr. Hardeepsinh R Gohil

2. About The Author and the Story.
‘The Last Lesson’
 The story is told by a French boy Franz
in a first person narrative style.
 A day when Franz reaches late to the
school. He has not finished his
homework.
 Afraid of his teacher M. HAMEL
On the way to school came across a
bulletin-board near town hall- Bad news.
At school unusual kind behaviour of M.
Hamel. As it was his last day!
 An order from Berlin that only German
to be taught at Alsace and Lorraine.
Alphose Daudet (1840-1897)
 French novelist
 Unstable economic situation of his
family, though bourgeoisie.
 Started career as a school teacher and
left in 1857 to pursue his dream of
creative writing.
 His well-known works – Aventures
prodigieuses de Tartarin de Tarascon,
Le Nabab, Les Rois en exil, Numa
Roumestan, Sapho and L’Immortel.
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3. Food for
Thought.
1. Importance of mother tongue in
one’s life.
2. 21st Feb as International Mother
Language Day by UNESCO.
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Important questions from the story.
1. Discuss the title of the story ‘The Last Lesson.’
2. The character M. Hamel.
3. The character of Little Franz.

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9. The Title of The Story ‘The Last Lesson.’
▪ The appropriate title.
▪ The Last lesson of French Language, M. Hamel.
▪ The significance of mother Language;- Vive La France!
‘when people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to
their language, it is as if they had the key to their prison’.
▪ The respect and concern of the whole town. Ex. Old
Mayor, Postman etc.
▪ The changing emotion of the little Franz! Love for
studies.
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10. The Character M. Hamel.
▪ A popular teacher at Alsace and Lorraine.
▪ Since last 40 years he has been teaching here, even the
old Mayor and Old postmasters were there to attend his
Last Lesson as a student.
▪ His personality is of a strict and ethical teacher. Work as
worship. Wanted to give everything he knew before
leaving.
▪ Students afraid of him due to his dedication to the job.
▪ In his Last Lesson Franz feels as if he himself has lost
best of the opportunity to study under such a unique
teacher. The psychological instability of M. Hamel.
▪ M. Hamel explains the importance of mother language
as, ‘when people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast
to their language, it is as if they had the key to their
prison’.
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11. The character of Little Franz.
▪ An ordinary student from Alsace and Lorraine.
▪ Bit irregular in learning and homework but emotional
about surrounding. Ex. Gathering at town Hall and his
self-regret at the News of Last Lesson.
▪ The feeling of loss at the time of knowing that M. Hamel
is not going to teach them.
▪ Confusing at the time of class. Unable to say thing
properly.
▪ His observation of his teacher’s psychological gestures
and significant lesson,
‘when people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their
language, it is as if they had the key to their prison’.
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