The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet - Chapter Summary

  The narrator (Franz) started for school very late that morning. He feared his class teacher, would question him on participles. The narrator didn't know anything about it which may please his teacher. Hence, he expected a scolding from him. He thought of running away and spending the day out of doors as the weather was very warm and bright. On his second thought, he decided otherwise and hurried off to school. As Franz walked past the town-hall, he saw a big crowd in front of the bulletin board which displayed all the bad news for two years. The people usually got the news of lost battles and other important information only from there. Usually, there was a lot of hustle and bustle when the school began. The opening and closing of desks and lessons orally repeated loudly in unison created a lot of commotion. But now it was all so still. He could depend on the commotion to get to his desk without being noticed. But now he went in before everybody. He blushed and was quite frightened. But fortunately for him, nothing happened. No punishment. M. Hamel saw and asked him very kindly to take his seat. M. Hamel was in formal clothes that he wore only on inspection and prize days. The whole school seemed quite strange and silent. The most surprising thing was the presence of the village elders. They were sitting quietly on the back benches. M. Hamel mounted his chair and spoke in a grave and gentle tone. "My children, this is the last lesson I shall give you." He told them that an order had come from Berlin. Only German would be taught in the  schools of Alsace. The new master would join the next day. It was their last lesson in French. He wanted them to be very attentive. The narrator felt sorry for not learning his lessons. He never liked his books. He didn't have any interest in grammar and history. But now he developed a fascination for them. Even he started liking M. Hamel. The idea that he would not teach them anymore made Franz forget all about his ruler and the cranky attitude he had towards his students. When it was his turn to recite the participles, Franz got mixed up and confused. But surprisingly M. Hamel didn't scold him. M. Hamel showed his concern that people of Alsace generally gave no importance to French. They ignored learning their own native language. Franz was not the only exception as many others were also guilty on this reason. He declared that the French language was the most beautiful language in the world. It was the clearest and most logical. They must guard it among themselves and never forget it. It appeared that M. Hamel wanted to give them all he knew before going away. All at once the church-clock struck twelve. The trumpets of the Prussian soldiers sounded under their windows. M. Hamel stood up, very pale, in his chair. He tried to speak but some-thing choked him and he was unable to speak it out. Then he turned to the blackboard. He took a piece of chalk and wrote as large as he could: "Vive La France !" (Long Live France !") and made a gesture to them with his hand that  "School is dismissed— you may go."

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About this Article - The chapter summary of Class 12 CBSE English Flamingo Chapter "The Last Lesson" by Alphonse Daudet. Sent to CBSEOnlineStudy by an anonymous reader. 

The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet - Chapter in a Nutshell

"The Last Lesson", written by Alphonse Daudet narrates about the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 where the Prussian army under Bismark attacked and captured the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine. The new Prussian rulers discontinued the teaching of French in the schools of these two districts and imposed their German language in its place and the French teachers were asked to leave. The last day of one such French teacher, Mr. M.Hamel. He was transferred and could no longer remain in his old school which was his home for decades. Still with utmost devotion and sincerity as ever, he gave last lesson to his students. The story depicts the pathos of the whole on about how people feel in not learning their native language and losing an asset in M.Hamel. One of his student Franz came to the school that day thinking that he would be punished as he hasn't learned his lesson on French participles. But he found Mr. Hamel dressed in his Sunday clothes and all the old people of the village sitting at the back of his class. He later realized that it was due to the order from Berlin which was on the bulletin board. 

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About This Article - This is a very brief summary of CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo chapter "The Last Lesson" for quick revision.