Flamingo: 'The Last Lesson' and 'Lost Spring' Overview Quiz

In Class Twelfth's English textbook titled 'Flamingo', students encounter several short stories that explore different themes and emotions through well-crafted narratives. Among these, two standout pieces are 'The Last Lesson' by O. Henry and 'Lost Spring' by Arundhati Roy. Here is a brief overview of each story, including its main characters, plot, and key themes.

The Last Lesson

This poignant tale by O. Henry revolves around a German schoolmaster named Hilary Van Degen who must teach his last lesson under French occupation during World War I. The central theme of this story is patriotism and one's love for country over any other emotion. As the story unfolds, we see how Hilary yearns to return home to Germany, where he feels more comfortable with his family rather than staying in France to continue teaching. Despite facing numerous challenges, such as being unable to find food and having a diminishing number of pupils due to various reasons, Hilary perseveres until his final day when he gives his very last lesson to only three boys remaining from all of his students. This powerful character is truly dedicated towards educating them until it is impossible anymore because they too will soon leave their own land to go back home. Thus, the core idea here is the importance of sacrifice and devotion towards one's duty even if it means losing everything else.

Lost Spring

In contrast to the previous story, 'Lost Spring' deals with issues related to nature, ecology, and preserving our environment. It tells us the tragedy of mankind destroying what is actually precious to Mother Nature. Set in India, the narrative looks into illegal mining operations which have been carried out without considering the natural consequences. These activities lead to devastating effects like ruining wildlife habitats and polluting water systems, making life difficult for many living beings dependent upon it. Through Arundhati Roy's unique writing style, she portrays how humans can bring ruin to themselves just so they could become wealthy quickly. Therefore, the underlying message here emphasizes respect for our planet and its resources, along with learning from past mistakes before further damage occurs.

Both these stories convey significant lessons that range from loving your nation unconditionally, sacrificing for its betterment to understanding environmental concerns deeply rooted within our society. They remind readers how small actions today may seem harmless yet accumulate into large problems tomorrow unless cautiously handled now itself. By exploring different aspects of human life via imaginative plots, authors make reading interesting while imparting valuable knowledge hidden beneath each word.