English Project PDF

ENGLISH PROJECT  TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE NO. INTRODUCTION 1 OBJECTIVE 2 INTERVIEW 3-4 BIBLIOGRAPHY 5  INTRODUCTION This interview is about Franz, the main character of the chapter ‘The Last Lesson’ written by...

ENGLISH PROJECT  TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE NO. INTRODUCTION 1 OBJECTIVE 2 INTERVIEW 3-4 BIBLIOGRAPHY 5  INTRODUCTION This interview is about Franz, the main character of the chapter ‘The Last Lesson’ written by Alphonse Daudet. The chapter follows the theme of linguistic chauvinism, Franz as a little boy never cared to learn the French language. But all changes when an order is sent from Berlin that all schools would be forced to teach German, and speaking French would be prohibited. His French teacher, M.Hamel receives an order that French would no longer be taught in schools, and he would be dismissed. M.Hamel made it his mission that he would teach his last French lesson with utmost sincerity. Franz now regrets that he did not learn French properly as he should’ve. Franz feels sorry for not realizing the freedom that comes when one speaks their mother tongue. Franz, realizing he would be forced to speak German forever, decided to learn French secretly and write poems to inspire people and never let them forget the importance of their mother tongue. Due to the consequences of Franco-Prussian war, their right to speak their mother tongue had been snatched away from them. The interview imagines Franz to be a prominent literary figure of France whose poems inspired people of the French nation to work towards their liberation  OBJECTIVE This project aims to remind us the importance of speaking and learning our mother tongue properly. Our mother tongue is a symbol of freedom. In the rising age of modernization, where speaking English is seen as the standard, this project helps us to understand that our mother tongue must not be forgotten. The language we speak since birth represent a part of us. To be able to read and write it is an honour. Preserving it is absolutely essential. This project highlights the need to use the mother tongue so that it is retained and maintained.  INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER: Hello, How do you do? FRANZ: I’m fine thank you, and how are you? INTERVIEWER: I’m doing well. Let’s get started, and then shall we? FRANZ: Ok, I’m ready. INTERVIEWER: What exactly got you interested in writing? FRANZ: Well, it’s quite ironic actually. My interest was sparked when long before an order was sent that speaking French would be prohibited. Seeing that a part of my identity was being taken away from me, I decided I wanted to keep it alive. INTERVIEWER: But why poems? Why not short stories or novels? FRANZ: The thing is I actually started with stories; they didn’t do well as I wrote mainly novels. But when the effects of the war started getting more serious, I wanted to help in some way. Since reading long pages would be a hassle, I resorted to poems. My ideas would still reach everyone without taking up too much space. Everything was done in secrecy in those days. INTERVIEWER: A lot of your poems mainly revolve around the importance of French, is there a reason for that? FRANZ: Yes, as I said, our right to speak French had been taken away from us. Those days we never bothered to attend school. But at last when we finally did, all was lost. I do not want kids today to end up like me, they must learn to appreciate and preserve their mother tongue. INTERVIEWER: How did you manage to learn French in those days? FRANZ: My teacher left behind his collection of learning materials and personal notes and prayed someone would find them useful. So, I took it. It was quite hard; I’d never paid attention to these things before. I had to learn everything from scratch. But his notes were written so crystal clear. Any doubts I had, he had already predicted in his notes. INTERVIEWER: Among all your poems, is there one you particularly like? Is there one which speaks to you most? FRANZ: Yes, actually. It’s titled ‘THE LAST LESSON’. It’s about my French teacher- M.Hamel. He was wonderful, very passionate. The utmost love he had for French and more importantly his dedication to teach it to us. It was quite a shame to dismiss him. The pain we had felt, it was too much. INTERVIEWER: Did you ever see him after the dismissal? FRANZ: I saw him once, when I had just started writing my poems. He was old. But he still recognized me. I still remember that he called out my name so joyously and asked about my well-being. I cried tears of joy after seeing him. INTERVIEWER: Did he play a part in your writing journey? FRANZ: Yes. He’s the reason I keep going. INTERVIEWER: Do you remember any words spoken by M.Hamel? The ones you never forgot? FRANZ: Yes, I still remember. He proudly proclaimed that French was the most beautiful language in the world. It was the clearest, the most logical one. He also mentioned that we must guard it and never forget it; because when people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison. INTERVIEWER: I’ve noticed a thing. All your old poems used simple language and the poems you write now are getting more complex. What is the reason? FRANZ: My poems originally were written to spread the ideas of liberty, and to inspire people in times of war. Simple people did not care for literature creativity; they wanted the will to keep going, to keep striving for their country. But now, we are free. I can incorporate all sorts of words and ideas which sparks the interests of even little kids. This way, they can keep expanding their knowledge of their mother tongue. INTERVIEWER: Are you currently working on any kinds of stories or will you be sticking to poems only? FRANZ: I think it’s time I broaden my horizon. I won’t stop writing my poems entirely, but definitely some novels. I’ve got a story in mind actually. INTERVIEWER: Well, I guess we’ll have to find out. FRANZ: You won’t be disappointed. INTERVIEWER: Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions today. FRANZ: You’re most welcome.  BIBLIOGRAPHY  Flamingo Textbook NCERT-Class 12  Arihant Publications – English Core -Class 12  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Prussian_War