Class 12 English - ODISHA
Prose: The Last Lesson
The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet is set in the Franco-Prussian War days, where the districts of Alsace and Lorraine in France have fallen to Prussian invaders. The story follows Franz, a young, reluctant schoolboy who is dreading a scold from his French teacher, M. Hamel, because he hasn't prepared his lesson on participles. Upon reaching school, he is surprised by the unusual silence and the presence of village elders sitting quietly on the back benches. M. Hamel announces that this is the final French lesson, as an order has arrived from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
The Impact of War on Education
The chapter highlights how political conquests and wars abruptly disrupt education and suppress the cultural identity and native language of the conquered people.
Procrastination and Regret
Franz regrets wasting his school hours chasing birds' eggs or sliding on the Saar, realizing too late how valuable his native language and education truly are.
Patriotism and M. Hamel's Dedication
M. Hamel wears his fine Sunday clothes and delivers his final lesson with immense patience and dignity, viewing the French language as the most beautiful and logical language in the world.
Linguistic Chauvinism vs. Mother Tongue
The story emphasizes that holding fast to one's mother tongue serves as a key to freedom and a powerful symbol of unity and resistance against foreign domination.
The Village Elders' Awakening
The presence of Hauser, the former mayor, and other villagers at the back of the classroom signifies collective remorse for not valuing school enough when they had the chance.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Odisha CHSE (Council of Higher Secondary Education) board exams, this prose piece typically carries around 6 to 10 marks. Common question types include short answer questions about Franz's feelings, long-range character sketches of M. Hamel, and reference-to-context questions based on extracts from the text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Franz afraid of going to school that morning?
Franz was afraid because he had not prepared his lesson on French participles, and M. Hamel, the teacher, had threatened to question them on it.
What unusual things did Franz notice about the school on the day of the last lesson?
The school was unusually quiet like a Sunday morning, M. Hamel was wearing his special formal clothes, and the village elders were sitting quietly on the back benches.
What did M. Hamel say about the French language during his last lesson?
M. Hamel called French the most beautiful, clearest, and most logical language in the world, urging the students to guard it and never forget it.
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