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The - Last - Lesson - Simran Sahni

The story, narrated by Franz during the Franco-Prussian War, depicts his last French lesson as German is imposed in Alsace. M. Hamel, their teacher, emphasizes the beauty of the French language and the importance of education, while the villagers express regret for neglecting their culture. Ultimately, the narrative serves as a poignant reminder to value one's language and identity before it is lost.

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678 views3 pages

The - Last - Lesson - Simran Sahni

The story, narrated by Franz during the Franco-Prussian War, depicts his last French lesson as German is imposed in Alsace. M. Hamel, their teacher, emphasizes the beauty of the French language and the importance of education, while the villagers express regret for neglecting their culture. Ultimately, the narrative serves as a poignant reminder to value one's language and identity before it is lost.

Uploaded by

rohtashkumarpaliwal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Last Lesson – Notes by Simran Sahni

The story is narrated by Franz, a young boy from Alsace, during the Franco-Prussian War
(1870-71) when France was defeated by Prussia (now Germany, Poland, and Austria).
Bismarck, the Prussian leader, imposed German as the only language in Alsace and
Lorraine schools, ending French lessons.

Franz’s Morning – Late for School

Franz was late for school and had not prepared for his participle test. He feared M. Hamel’s
scolding and was tempted to skip school. The warm weather, chirping birds, and Prussian
soldiers outside made him feel like running away, but he resisted and hurried to school.

Scene at the Town Hall

At the Town Hall, Franz saw a crowd gathered around the bulletin board, which always
displayed bad news about war, orders, and lost battles. He wondered what had happened

B E
but did not stop. Blacksmith Wachter warned him not to rush, but Franz thought he was

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mocking him and ran to school.

Franz Reaches School – Unusual Silence


O U
I Y
Unlike other days, the school was silent, like a Sunday morning. Usually, there was noise

HN
from students reciting, desks opening, and teachers using rulers for discipline. The

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quietness made Franz nervous, and he saw villagers seated at the back benches, looking
sad and serious.
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A
Inside the Classroom N
IM R
M. Hamel, their teacher, was wearing his special green coat, frilled shirt, and black silk cap,

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clothes he wore only on prize days or inspections. Franz was surprised and nervous, but M.
Hamel did not scold him and simply said, "Go to your place quickly, little Franz. We were
beginning without you."

Among the villagers sitting at the back were:

●​ Old Hauser
●​ The former mayor
●​ The former postmaster

They had come to show regret for neglecting their language and pay respect to M. Hamel’s
40 years of teaching.
M. Hamel’s Startling Revelation

M. Hamel mounted his chair and announced that this was their last French lesson because
Berlin had ordered German to be taught in Alsace and Lorraine. A new teacher would
arrive the next day.

Franz was shocked, and the news felt like a thunderclap. He now understood why:

●​ The villagers had come to school


●​ The news was on the bulletin board
●​ M. Hamel was wearing his Sunday clothes

Franz’s Regret

Franz regretted wasting time, neglecting his studies, and skipping school for outdoor fun,
playing, and sliding on the Saar River. His French books, which once felt like a burden, now
seemed like old friends.

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He realized that M. Hamel was not just a strict teacher but a dedicated one.

Franz’s Oral Test

O U
I Y
Franz was asked to recite a lesson but failed immediately. He felt ashamed. However, M.

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Hamel did not scold him but said:

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●​ "This is what happens when we keep postponing learning!"

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●​ "Now people will call you French, but you don’t even know your own language!"

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IM R
M. Hamel blamed everyone:

S ●​ Parents – for sending children to work instead of school


●​ Himself – for sometimes giving holidays or sending students to water his plants

Beauty of the French Language

M. Hamel praised the French language, calling it:

●​ "The most beautiful, clearest, and most logical language in the world."

He told the class that language is the key to freedom and urged them never to forget it.

Final LessonsM. Hamel continued teaching:

●​ Grammar – The class listened attentively


●​ Writing – Students got new notebooks with France, Alsace written beautifully
The classroom was silent, except for the cooing of pigeons on the roof. Franz wondered,
“Will they make even the pigeons sing in German?”

M. Hamel looked nostalgically around the classroom, recalling:

●​ The old furniture


●​ The walnut tree outside, which had grown taller
●​ His sister packing their belongings upstairs

The Last Moments

During the history lesson, students recited alphabets loudly.

●​ Old Hauser, with tears in his eyes, spelled the letters emotionally.
●​ Suddenly, the church clock struck 12, and the Prussian soldiers’ trumpets sounded
outside, marking the end of the lesson.

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M. Hamel stood up, pale, and tried to speak, but his emotions choked him. Instead, he
B
TU
turned to the blackboard and wrote:​
"Vive La France!" (Long Live France!)

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Without speaking further, he leaned against the wall and made a final hand gesture:​
“School is dismissed. You may go.”
I Y
Conclusion

SA HN
A N
This story highlights the importance of language, culture, and education. M. Hamel’s last
lesson was not just about grammar—it was about patriotism.

M R
Franz, the villagers, and the students realized their mistake too late. The story teaches us to
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value our language and identity before they are taken away.

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