The essence of this chapter for last-minute revision: characters, themes, key lines and a fast recap. The full notes, with the whole explanation, are available separately.
1 The Chapter in One Line Each
The Last Lesson
1. AuthorAlphonse Daudet, French novelist and short-story writer
2. SettingAlsace, during the Franco-Prussian War, 1870-71
3. EventThe last French lesson before German replaces it
4. TurnFranz’s regret and change of heart
5. Climax“Vive La France!” written on the blackboard
6. ThemeThe pain inflicted by conquerors by taking away the right to study or speak one’s own language
2 Characters at a Glance
| Character | Role and key trait |
|---|---|
| Franz | The narrator; careless schoolboy who suddenly regrets everything once he learns this is his last French lesson |
| M. Hamel | The schoolmaster for forty years; seems strict, is revealed as dignified, self-critical and deeply patriotic |
| Old Hauser | Village elder on the back bench; weeps while spelling out the letters with the babies; one reading: he stands for the village’s shared regret |
| Wachter | The blacksmith who calls after Franz from the bulletin-board |
3 The Day, Step by Step
MorningFranz nearly skips school, resists, hurries in
→
ArrivalSilent, dressed-up classroom; elders on back benches
→
Announcement“This is your last French lesson”
→
LessonsGrammar, writing, history, all taught with care
→
End“Vive La France!” and silent dismissal
4 Key Facts and Numbers
1870-71the Franco-Prussian War
40years M. Hamel has taught here
12the church clock strikes twelve, near the end
5 All Definitions in One Place
All definitions in one place
SettingA village school in Alsace, on the day before only German is taught from the next day
SymbolismUsing an object or image to stand for a larger idea; the coat, the flags and the chalk words can be read this way
IronyWhen the real situation is the opposite of what is expected, e.g. Franz valuing French just as it is taken away
Linguistic chauvinismThe book asks what it means; in ordinary usage, carrying pride in one’s own language too far, e.g. looking down on other languages
ThunderclapA sudden, loud shock, used for Franz’s reaction to the announcement
6 Words to Know
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| in great dread of | very afraid of |
| counted on | depended on |
| thumbed at the edges | worn soft from handling |
| in unison | all together |
| a great bustle | a lot of busy noise |
| reproach ourselves with | blame ourselves for |
7 Lines to Remember
“When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison.”
M. Hamel
“What a thunderclap these words were to me!”
Franz, on hearing the announcement
Quick Revision: read this the night before the exam
- Setting: Alsace, Franco-Prussian War, 1870-71; order from Berlin to teach only German from tomorrow
- Franz nearly skips school, dreads being questioned on participles, then finds an unusually silent, dressed-up classroom
- Village elders, including old Hauser, sit on the back benches to thank M. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service
- Franz suddenly regrets every wasted lesson once he learns this is the last one
- M. Hamel blames parents and himself too, not only the students, for the neglect of learning
- The “France, Alsace” writing copies look like little flags; old Hauser cries while spelling with the babies
- The church clock strikes twelve; M. Hamel cannot finish his farewell speech, so he writes “Vive La France!” and dismisses the class silently
- Theme (NCERT’s own): “The pain that is inflicted on the people of a territory by its conquerors by taking away the right to study or speak their own language.”
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