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The Last Lesson

• The short story, "The Last Lesson," takes place in a small French village in Alsace and Lorraine during the Franco-Prussian War.
• Franz is a young, lazy student who dislikes his French lessons and teacher, M. Hamel.
• Following Germany's takeover of Alsace and Lorraine, Berlin mandates German be taught in schools instead of French.
• M. Hamel regrets not having taught the students more effectively.
• French is the most beautiful and logical language, and key to escaping the "prison of slavery" and the Germans.
• On the last day of school, M. Hamel is sad and Franz and his classmates are surprised it is his last day after 40 years.
• The importance of the French language is stressed for cultural heritage preservation.
• Language is an essential part of a nation's identity, and losing it means losing one's freedom.
• Franz becomes interested and understands everything taught.
• Franz regrets not paying attention and learning more.
• Learning his mother tongue is important and illiteracy contributed to the defeat by the Germans.
• One's language is inherent.
• At the end, M. Hamel dismisses the students, all leaving in silence.
• Franz realizes he will not have another chance to learn French.
• The story highlights language's significance as a cultural identity and a symbol of freedom.
• It encourages readers to appreciate and preserve their cultural heritage and language.

Lost Spring

• The story is about the slums of Firozabad, India, where children of migrant workers live in bad conditions.
• The story follows the lives of Saheb and Mukesh, who struggle to escape poverty.

'Sometimes I Find a Rupee in the Garbage'

• The story is about Saheb, a young ragpicker, who came to the city with his family because his house in Dhaka was destroyed.
• Saheb dreams of escaping poverty and going to school but he has never been to school.
• He works long hours and has no time for education.
• Saheb should go to school.
• There are often promises made to people like him that are not kept.
• Children in poverty walk barefoot on the streets due to a lack of resources.
• A man from Udipi that prayed for shoes as a child, and his prayers were answered.
• Saheb's family is from Seemapuri near Delhi, where ragpickers from Bangladesh have lived since 1971.
• They have ration cards to eat and vote but no official identity or permits.
• Saheb found a job at a tea stall where he is paid more and given meals, but he misses his freedom.
• The steel canister he carries seems heavier than the plastic bag he used for ragpicking.
• Ragpicking has become an art form, and finding even a small amount of money is a big deal.
• Saheb is wearing a pair of tennis shoes.

I Want to Drive a Car section:

• Mukesh is a young boy who has given up his dreams of being a motor mechanic to work in a bangle factory.
• He believes there is no way out of poverty.
• The author sees grim working conditions with high temperatures, inadequate air, and light.
• The bangle-making trade has been passed down through generations, yet families are poor.
• The bangle makers have lost their craft to machines, resulting in cheap, low-quality products.
• Child labor is illegal, but the bangle makers are unaware, and fear of the police hampers organizing.
• The bangle makers have been in the trade for generations but struggle to make a living.
• Mukesh is asked about being a pilot, but is embarrassed and prefers being a motor mechanic.
• Flying a plane is beyond his reach.
• Poverty strips children of innocence, education, and forces them into child labour.
• They are unable to realize their dreams and are resigned to a life of struggle.
• "Lost Spring" is a commentary on the dehumanizing impact of poverty and the need for education and social change.*

Deep Water

• The author had a fear of water due to when he was three or four.
• There was an unpleasant event when he was around ten or eleven.
• He was knocked down by the waves and buried in the water at a California beach with his father.
• He decided to learn swimming at the Y.M.C.A pool.
• He paddled in water with his water wings.
• He copied other boys in the pool.
• He was scared of going into the water alone.
• An 18 year old, big muscular boy bullied him and tossed him into the pool.
• He fell in sitting position an swallowed a lot of water.
• He planned his comeback out of the water and imagined he would kick off the floor.
• He tried to reach the surface after kicking hard, but failed.
• He tried to scream, but no sound came out.
• He was able to reach the surface and briefly take a breath, quickly starting to drown again,
• He was unable to move his legs and sank to the bottom.
• He lost consciousness.
• The boy who pushed him said it was all a joke.
• Author felt weak, emotionally disturbed, and unable to handle physical exertion after the event .
• Struggled with a fear of water and was paralyzed, not able to enjoy swimming or boating.
• In October, he took a step-by-step approach to learning to swim with an instructor.
• Over 3 months, he practiced with a rope tied and became able to breathe underwater.
• Instructor declared the author was ready to swim on his own.
• The author was still unsure of his abilities, even though he received instructor approval.
• Practicing in the pool continued in July while still fearing.
• He swam two miles across Lake Wentworth, but faced fear while putting his face underwater in the lake.
• Went swimming in Warm Lake and could swim across and back without trouble.
• He was finally rid of his fear of water and felt immense joy.
• Overcoming fear can be a significant experience.
• "There is there is peace in death", said Roosevelt.*

The Rattrap

• "The Rattrap" short story by Selma Lagerlöf is about a poor, homeless man who sells rat traps.
• He thinks the world is a giant rat trap, with comforts trapping us and leading to miseries.
• One evening he asked an old crofter for shelter.
• The crofter gave him shelter, however, the peddler stole the crofter's milk money and ran into the forest.
• He found shelter at the forge of an ironmaster, who mistook him for an old friend an d invited to Christmas celebration.
• The peddler rejects the iron master's offer but accepts his daughter's.
• He left a gift for Edla, with a letter of thanks.
• He asked the ironmaster and daughter to return the money to the crofter.
• Kindness was genuine and not just a trap
• It highlights human compassion and kindness to transform people.
• Goodness can be awakened at any time.