ALS-PROJECT PORTFOLIO

CHELLAPPAN VIDYA MANDIR

NAME: DHARSHIKA NANCY.K

CLASS: XII-A
REG NO:

“Knowledge of languages is the doorway to

wisdom.”
-Roger Bacon
 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project work was done under the
guidance and this work entitled as “THE LAST
LESSON” submitted by DHARSHIKA NANCY.K to
Chellappan Vidya Mandir International School in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Higher
Secondary- Second year during the year 2021- 2022. Also
certified that this work has not been submitted in full or in
part to this school or any other institution.

PRINCIPAL GUIDE
MR.VIJETH KRISHNA MR.VIJAYAKUMAR

EXTERNAL EXAMINER
 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the dissertation entitled “THE LAST

LESSON” is an original work done by me and that it has not
previously formed the basis for the award of any higher
degrees.

Place: CHELLAPPAN VIDYA MANDIR

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Date:

DHARSHIKA NANCY.K
ACTION PLAN FOR THE PROJECT

 Selection of topic for project.

 Approval of topic by the teacher.
 Preparations of Questionnaire for viva.
 References from Flamingo.
 Bibliography.
 THEME OF THE STORY.

A project study based on the lesson “THE LAST LESSON” is

written by Alphonse Daudet.
The project looks into the theme of the story “THE last
lesson” that revolves around the language and its importance
to the citizens of a country. It is the duty of every citizen to
safeguard the language of the country as it is the identity of
that country. The lesson depicts how after defeating France in
the war, the Prussians wanted to rule over not only the
territory of France but also over the minds and hearts of the
people. The story reinforces the fact that we value something
more when it is lost. The pain and anguish of the students and
the teacher is evident as everyone realizes how things were
taken for granted.
The lesson emphasizes the importance of the mother tongue
for everyone and the need to realize the fact that it is our
language which gives us our identity, respect and freedom.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

Alphonse Daudet (13 May 1840 – 16 December 1897) was a

French short story writer and novelist. He is remembered chiefly
as the author of sentimental tales of provincial life in the south
of France. All his life he recorded his observations of other
people in little notebooks, which he used as a reservoir of
inspiration.

Daudet represents a synthesis of conflicting elements and his

actual experience of life, at every social level and in the course
of travels, helped to develop his natural gifts. His major works
include ‘Tastain’, ‘Le Petit Chose’, ‘In the land of Pain’ and
‘The Last Lesson’.
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY.

'The last lesson ' written by Alphonse Daudet narrates

about the year 1870 when 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 in the schools of these two districts.
The French teachers were asked to leave. Now M.
Hamel could no longer stay in his old school. Still he
gave the last lesson to his students with utmost devotion
and sincerity as ever.
One such student of M. Hamel, Franz who dreaded
French class and M. Hamel‘s iron rod, came to the
school that day thinking he would be punished as he had
not learnt his lesson on participles. But on reaching
school he found Hamel dressed in his fine Sunday
clothes and the old people of the village sitting quietly
on the back benches. It was due to an order from Berlin.
That was the first day when he realized for the first time
that how important French was for him, but it was his
last lesson in French.
SUMMARY OF THE LAST LESSON
The narration of this story is by a French boy, Franz. Franz is a
lazy boy. However, in spite of his laziness, Franz likes to play
and is of a sensitive nature. Furthermore, Franz hates his teacher
M. Hamel in his school and has no interest in studying French.

An order has come from Berlin after taking over the districts of
Alsace and Lorraine in France that the German language rather
than the French should be taught in the schools there.
Furthermore, it is the school French teacher M. Hamel’s last day.
This teacher has been working there for forty years. Moreover,
the teacher has feelings of patriotism. He is also full of nostalgia
and grief.  The village men also attend his ‘last lesson’ so as to
honour and respect him.  The village is regretting and is sad that
they didn’t learn their mother tongue in their childhood.

Franz receives a big shock when he

learns that this is his last lesson in
French.  He is shocked because he
does not know French. Furthermore,
on learning about the last lesson, a
sudden interest arises in him for learning French. Moreover, he
pays careful attention and learns everything taught on this last
day. Instantly, he develops liking for the teacher M. Hamel. His
feelings of hatred for him suddenly came to an end. Moreover,
Franz develops respect for the hard work and sincerity of his
teacher.  Franz is sad and ashamed for being unable to recite his
lesson.
Hamel explains that they all are at fault for lacking eagerness to
learn. Furthermore, he also includes himself in this fault. He
blames himself for lack of sincerity in
teaching them.

There is a reflection of his patriotism in

his praise for the French language. He
says that the French language is the
most logical and beautiful language in
the world. It seems that M. Hamel got
emotional on this occasion.
Furthermore, he asks the class to guard their language. He says
that being close to one’s language is a way to escape the clutches
of slavery.  This language will assist them in attaining freedom
from the Germans.  The people realize the significance of their
mother tongue. Moreover, they feel the reason for their defeat is
illiteracy.

Franz feels that it is impossible to remove one’s language from a

person. This is because it is something that is natural to a person.
This means that no matter how hard the opposition may try, they
will fail to remove one’s language.
MAIN CHARACTERS OF THE STORY.

 Franz
 M. Hamel
 Old Hauser
 Prussian Soldiers
 Wachter
PREPARATIONS OF QUESTIONNAIRE.

Q1. What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave
his last French lesson?
Ans: When M.Hamel was giving his last French ; lesson, the
mood in the classroom was solemn and sombre. When he
announced that this was their last French lesson everyone
present in the classroom suddenly developed patriotic feelings
for their native language and genuinely regretted ignoring their
mother tongue.

Q2. What had the narrator counted on to enter the school,

unnoticed?
Ans: The narrator (Franz) had counted on the hustle and bustle
that was usual when the school began in order to enter there
unnoticed. He had thought he could depend on the commotion
to get to his desk without anybody noticing that he was late for
the class.

Q3. “This is your last French lesson.” How did Franz react to
this declaration of M.Hamel?
Ans: When M.Hamel declared that it was their last French
lesson a grim realisation dawned on Franz that he had so much
more yet to learn. He felt sorry for whiling away his time and
skipping his lessons. Now he did not want to part with his
books, which he had earlier consi¬dered a nuisance. He was also
deeply pained at the thought that M.Hamel was leaving.
Q4. “What a thunder clap these words were to me!” Which were
the words that shocked and surprised little Franz?
Ans: When M.Hamel mounted on the chair and announced that
he was there to teach his last French lesson that day, Franz was
shocked and surprised. He felt very guilty for deliberately
ignoring to learn his native language and he suddenly developed
a strange fascination for his language and his school.

Q5. What changes came over little Franz after he heard

M.Hamel’s announcement?
Ans: When M.Hamel announced that this was to be their last
French class a grim realisation dawned on Franz that he could
hardly write his language and now he was being deprived of the
opportunity to learn it. He felt very guilty of neglecting his
classes and escaping school. The thought of losing his teacher,
M. Hamel, also pained him.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 https:/www.edumantra.in
 https:/www.learinsta.com
 References from FLAMINGO