Flamingo Text – Prose / Poem ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
1. THE LAST LESSON by Alphonse Daudet
2. LOST SPRING by Anees Jung
3. DEEP WATER by William Douglas
4. INDIGO by Louis Fischer ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

5. THE RATTRAP by Selma Lagerlof

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1. MY MOTHER AT SIXTY
ELIZABETH K M SIXDEVAMATHA
by Kamala Das
2. AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM IN A SLUM by Stephen Spender
3. AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS by Adrienne Rich
4. KEEPING QUIET by Pablo Neruda
5. A THING OF BEAUTY by John Keats
ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

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 The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

About Author:
• Alphonse Daudet: (1840-1897)
• A French novelist and short-story writer
ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
• wrote his first poems and his first novel at age 14
• was awarded the prestigious Jouy Prize by the French Academy
• portrays human emotions in a very realistic manner
Franco-Prussian War (1870-71)

ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

Background of the story

• The last lesson is set in the days of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71)
• The Prussian forces under Bismarck attacked and captured France
• The French districts of Alsace and Lorraine went into Prussian hands
• The new Prussian rulers discontinued the teaching of French
ELIZABETH K M in the schools of these two districts
DEVAMATHA

• The French teachers were asked to leave the country

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 The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

Theme: The pain that is inflicted in the people of a territory by its

conquerors by taking away the right to study or speak their own
language
ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

Message: value of time, avoid procrastination, learn a foreign language,

make a difference, make use of opportunities.

Significance of the Title: Linguistic Chauvinism -- Acquisition of power over the French
Districts
ELIZABETH K M made the Prussians so domineering that they imposed
DEVAMATHA

even their language on them.

The changing order of life and its impact on the sensibilities and
emotions of people

Symbolism of the Title : Loss of language and loss of freedom

ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

Character : M. Hamel, Franz and villagers

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 The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
GIST OF THE LESSON :
 Fear :Franz is of going to school as he has not learnt participles.

 temptations: He wants to enjoy beauty of nature. The bright ELIZABETH

sunshine,KM
theDEVAMATHA
birds chirruping in the
woods, Prussian soldiers drilling but resisted.

 Bulletin board: all bad news, lost battles, the drafts and orders of the commanding officers: wondered
what it could be now
ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

 The changes he noticed in the school. - Instead of noisy classrooms everything was as quiet as Sunday
morning - The teacher does not scold him and told him very kindly to go to his seat - The teacher
dressed in his Sunday best. - Villagers occupying the last benches- To pay tribute to M. Hamel for his
40 yrs of sincere service and also to express their solidarity with France.

ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
 M. Hamel making the announcement (thunder clap) that would be the last French lesson; realizes
that, that was what was put up on the bulletin board.

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 The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

 Regrets:
ELIZABETH KFranz
M realizes that he does not know his own
DEVAMATHA

mother tongue . Regretted why he had not taken his

lessons seriously.
o Also realizes the reason why teacher was dressed in
his Sunday best and villagers sitting at the back. ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

 “We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with” -

Blames: M. Hamel realizes that all three, the children , the
parents and he himself are to be blamed for losing respect
and regard for the mother tongue.
ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

 Importance of French Language: Always keep the mother

tongue close to your heart as it is the key to the prison of
slavery.
 Atmosphere in class: teacher teaching sincerely and patiently, students and others studying with utmost
sincerity.
ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

 Farewell: M. Hamel overcome with emotions could not speak and wrote on the black board “Long Live
France”. Highlights attachment towards motherland, profession and mother tongue.
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 ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet
ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE : Short Answer Questions (30 - 40 words)
1. Why was Franz unwilling to go to school?
2. Why didn’t M. Hamel punish Franz, even though he was late?
ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
3. Mention the three changes that Franz noticed in the school?
4. What announcement did M. Hamel make and what was its impact?
5. What do you think was written on the bulletin board?
6. Why did M. Hamel say about knowing one’s language is a key to prison?
ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

7. Whom did Mr. Hamel blame for not learning the French?
8. What changes have taken place in the school in the last forty years?
9. What did he mean by “Viva La France”?
10. Do you think that the story touches upon the brutalities of war? Explain
ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
11. How does Hamel arouse patriotism in the people of Alsace?
12. What does Franz mean when he asks: “ Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons”
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 The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS 125 -150 words.
1. Write a note on the character of M. Hamel as a teacher?
2. Do you think the story touches upon the brutalities of war? Comment.DEVAMATHA
ELIZABETH K M

3. Quote the emotional moments in the class on the last day of the French lesson, that were
etched on Franz’s mind.
4. At the end of the last lesson M. Hamel wrote, ‘Viva La France’ on the board in bold letters.
ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

Why do you think he wrote that and how did he expect the people of Alsace – Lorraine to
keep their identity intact?
5. What were Franz’ feelings about M Hamel and his French lessons? How did they undergo a
complete change? ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

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 The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
Short Answer Questions : 30 – 40 words
1. Why did the narrator dread of going to school that morning?
– Late for his school
– Likely to be scolded by his teachers for not prepared with participles
– Didn’t know first word of them ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

2. “Usually, when school began, there was a great bustle”. Justify the statement.
– Noise heard out in the street
– Desk opened and closed
– Lessons repeated ELIZABETH
in unison K Mvery DEVAMATHA
loudly
– Rapping of the ruler on the table by the teacher

3. What regrets did Franz have after hearing M.Hamel’s announcement?

– Lamented that he won’t know how to write or learn his mother tongue
– suddenly developed patriotic feelings for their native language
– Greatly sorry for not learning his lessonsELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

– Books which were nuisance a while ago, were old friends now
– Regretted that he won’t see M.Hamel and feel his crankiness
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 The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
Short Answer Questions : 30 – 40 words
4. Franz thinks ”Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” Justify the statement.
What does it tell about the attitude of Frenchmen ?
– Sarcastic remark by the narrator – unwittingly stumbles upon linguistic chauvinism
– Alsace and Lorraine was taken over by Prussians ----- German language imposed as a tool of communication
– Pain and discomfort of learning new language sarcastically remarked ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

– French language natural to French people as cooing is to the pigeons

 Regret/ Repentance / helplessness / sadness / echoes sentiment of French people/ defiance against the imposition
of German language on the people / sense of patriotism

Long Answer Question (120 – 150 words)

ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
1. Describe the effects that were brought in the life of people and at school by passing of Alsace and Lorraine
into Prussians hands?
– Order of Berlin
– Absence of bustle in school – strange and solemn
– Villagers seated in the last bench – serious and sad
– Master in ceremonial attire
– Delivers last French lesson invoking villagers to be conscious to understand the value of freedom
ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
– Explained everything with patience and shared all his learning before leaving the village
– Teacher evoked the feeling of regret in the students -– exemplary changes in Franz, the young boy.
– Realised them the value of their mother tongue
5/3/2021 – Suddenly awakened the spirit of patriotism
Flamingo Text – Prose : The Last Lesson - Prepared © by Elizabeth KM 9
 The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
ACTIVITY 1:
Write an article for your School Magazine on Student – Teacher Relationship towards better
teaching and learning process in about 150 words

• ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
Layout for Article Writing (INFORMAL) – EVENTS, INCIDENTS,EXPERIENCES,GENERAL

HEADING
By line Name , Designation
• PARAGRAPH 1: Begin with a short introduction of the topic / 5 W’S
• PARAGRAPH 2&3: ELIZABETH
HOW? KM DEVAMATHA

*Include advantages/ disadvantages depending upon the topic

*Develop the cause and effect relationship by supporting it with facts or data's
*PROCEEDINGS OF THE EVENT
• PARAGRAPH 4 : Mention the steps being taken to improvise the situation and suggest a
few solutions as well
• PARAGRAPH 5: Conclude paragraph ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
with message (or) with some quotes / opinions
NEVER PUT OFF TILL TOMORROW,
WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY
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 The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA

• ELIZABETH
Charity K M at home.
begins DEVAMATHA
If we want a clean India (Swachch Bharat) we have to begin with ourselves, make individual efforts not to
make our surroundings dirty. Write an article in 150 – 200 words on ‘Role of individuals in society to keep our environment clean’.
You are Karan/Karuna.

ROLE OF INDIVIDUALS IN KEEPING OUR ENVIRONMENT CLEAN

By Karan, School Monitor
ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
The desire to have a clean India throb in every heart but not everyone knows the golden key to unlock this burning
desire within us. Every individual has to make an effort not to litter his or her surroundings.

As kids, we are told that ‘Charity Begins At Home’. Therefore, if we want a clean India (Swachh Bharat) we have to
begin with ourselves. But how and where? The answer is quite simple. One must encourage the children to dispose off
garbage in the respective bins. It is responsibility of parents, guardians and teachers to instill good habits, such as
keeping one’s environmentELIZABETH
clean, from
KM childhood.
DEVAMATHA An unclean environment leads to a bad condition of a society,
arrival of diseases, choking of drains and many more.

As disposal of household litter is a daily problem, determining not to litter the streets and putting our garbage where
it can be collected easily, will ensure that litter does not get scattered around. Instead of dumping all our throwaways
into one package, it is best to organize garbage at home for recycling, before disposal. Encourage neighbors to plant
trees. Also, keeping the car in the garage and cycling to fetch the day’s necessities from the market will keep the
neighborhood environment clean.
ELIZABETH K M DEVAMATHA
Therefore, it is the collective responsibility of every human to clean the environment and protect the planet from
further environmental degradation. It is time to become responsible citizens and maintain sustainable waste practices
such as recycling, reusing and reducing waste wherever possible.
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