THE LAST LESSON (Alphonse Daudet)
Main Character Franz: A school student who does not want to study therefore he is often scolded by his teachers. He likes sunny day, chirping the birds etc. Later he transformed and developed interest in studies. Mr. Hamel: He is a dedicated French Language teacher. He has been teaching in particular village of France for more than 40years. Villagers have great regard for him. Mr. Hamel has good bounding with villagers. Old Hauser: A villager who was quite old. In Mr. Hamel class he had an old primary.
Brief Summary
That day Franz left his home very late for his school and was in great fear. Actually his teacher Mr. Hamel gave him home work to learn about participle but he did not know a single word about it. For a moment he thought not to go to school and spend his time outside. It was warm sunny day and birds were chirping which he liked a lot. He felt good when he saw Prussian soldiers were drilling in a field. These things. tempted him not to go to school. However, he overcame the temptation and rushed towards the school. On the way when he passed the town hall, noticed a crowd in front of the bulletin-board. Bulletin-board was known for bad news. For last 2 years all the bad news had come from there like losing the battles, order of commanding officer etc. Franz thought about the matter but did not stop there. Even the blacksmith of the village who was reading the news said him to stop. Franz thought that he was making fun of him and reached the school panting. Finally he reached the school and surprised a lot not to find any hustle and bustle. That day everything was quiet like Sunday moming. He did not listen the sound of moving desks. The noise of students who read out the lessons and scolding of teacher were absent. Through the window, he noticed all the students were sitting on their seats.
He was afraid to enter into the class but anyhow he entered. Apposite his expectation. Mr. Hamel said him politely to take his seat. Franz noticed that his teacher was wearing a beautiful green coat, a frilled shirt and a little black cap. Generally Mr. Hamel did not wear such a dress on ordinary day. Franz was much surprise to see the villagers in the class sitting quietly on the back benches. They all looked very sad. One of them had an old primary also.
Mr. Hamel started speaking and said "it is your last lesson" because an order has come from Berlin not to leach French and he would have to leave the school the next day. Franz astonished to hear these words. from the mouth of Mr. Hamel. Now he remembered the gathering at the town hall. He did not know anything about French. Now was regretting because he had wasted his precious time away from the class, watching the birds and chasing butterflies. Suddenly his mindset about Mr. Hamel changed. He forgot Mr. Hamel ruler nature and started liking him. Now he came to know villagers had come to pay thank to Mr. Hamel for his forty years faithful service.
Later Franz tried to recite about Participles but he couldn't. He was ashamed and stood holding his desk. But this time Mr. Hamel did not scold. He criticized the people of Alsace for their bad habits about study. According to him, Parents never take interest towards their study. For this, he also blamed himself. He sent the student to water the plants or sometimes gave them a holiday when he wanted to go for fishing. During the class, Mr. Hamel said, "French is the most beautiful language in the world. It is the clearest and most logical language in the world". He insisted people to guard their language, because it the matter of dignity. According to him, whenever the people of a particular nation are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language, it is as if they have the key to their prison. That day everything Mr. Hamel taught with patience and explained every point. Actually he wanted to imparted the students what he knew. Franz was amazed to see how well he understood everything. Franz thought that probably he never paid much attention in the class. Mr. Hamel had brought new copies for them that day.
At the end everybody became emotional, even some started crying, but M Hamel had the courage and patience to face all this. He stood up and tried to speak, but something chocked him. He couldn't speak anything so he turned towards the blackboard, took a piece of chalk, wrote as large as he could 'Vive La France!" which means 'long live France'. Without speaking anything he gestured to the students "class is over.
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