The Last Lesson: NCERT Grade XII English

The Last Lesson

About the Lesson

• The first lesson in the Grade XII NCERT English textbook is "The Last Lesson" by Alphonse Daudet
• The story is set in the days of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)
• It revolves around the theme of patriotism, identity, and the impact of war on individuals

Plot Summary

• The story takes place in a small town in Alsace, a region in France
• The narrator, Franz, is a young boy who is sitting in his classroom, waiting for his teacher, Monsieur Hamel
• It is the last day of school before the Prussian army takes over the town
• Monsieur Hamel announces that it is the last French lesson, as the new authorities will impose German as the language of instruction
• The teacher writes "Vive la France!" on the blackboard, and the students are overcome with emotions

Characters

• Franz: The young narrator, who is struggling to come to terms with the impending Prussian occupation
• Monsieur Hamel: The teacher, who is determined to teach the students one last lesson in French

Themes

• Patriotism: The story highlights the importance of one's national identity and the struggle to preserve it
• Identity: The characters are forced to confront the possibility of losing their cultural heritage
• Impact of War: The story showcases the effects of war on ordinary people, especially children and teachers

Significant Events

• Monsieur Hamel's announcement of the last French lesson
• The writing of "Vive la France!" on the blackboard
• The emotional response of the students to the impending Prussian occupation

The Last Lesson

About the Story

• Set in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)
• Revolves around patriotism, identity, and the impact of war on individuals

Setting

• Takes place in a small town in Alsace, a region in France

Plot

• The story revolves around the last French lesson in school
• The narrator, Franz, is a young boy waiting for his teacher, Monsieur Hamel
• The last lesson is conducted on the day before the Prussian army takes over the town
• Monsieur Hamel announces that it is the last French lesson, as German will be imposed as the language of instruction

Characters

• Franz: The young narrator struggling to come to terms with the impending Prussian occupation
• Monsieur Hamel: The determined teacher who wants to teach the students one last lesson in French

Themes

• Patriotism: Highlighting the importance of national identity and the struggle to preserve it
• Identity: Characters confront the possibility of losing their cultural heritage
• Impact of War: Showcasing the effects of war on ordinary people, especially children and teachers

Significant Events

• Monsieur Hamel's announcement about the last French lesson
• The writing of "Vive la France!" on the blackboard
• The emotional response of the students to the impending Prussian occupation