The Last Lesson PDF - 1870 - Alphonse Daudet

Key Characters: Franz: ○ A young boy, the protagonist. ○ Reluctant to go to school that day due to not learning his lesson on participles. ○ Lives in Alsace, a French-speaking region. M. Hamel: ○ The French teacher of Franz's school....

Key Characters: Franz: ○ A young boy, the protagonist. ○ Reluctant to go to school that day due to not learning his lesson on participles. ○ Lives in Alsace, a French-speaking region. M. Hamel: ○ The French teacher of Franz's school. ○ A strict but kind-hearted teacher. ○ Has been teaching for 40 years. ○ Wears his special green coat, frilled shirt, and black silk cap only on special occasions (like inspections). ○ Delivers his "last lesson" as Germans have taken over Alsace and Lorraine, banning French lessons. Key Places: Alsace: ○ A French-speaking region taken over by Prussia. Lorraine: ○ Another French region that fell under Prussian rule along with Alsace. Schoolhouse: ○ Described as quiet, unusually so, during the final lesson. ○ The bulletin board outside the school usually brings bad news (about lost battles, draft notices, etc.). Key Events & Details: Important Date: ○ 1870: The Franco-Prussian War; France loses Alsace and Lorraine to Germany. Franz's Realization: ○ Initially reluctant to attend school, but realizes the importance of his language and education as it’s the last time French will be taught. M. Hamel’s Last Lesson: ○ Explains that this is the last French lesson as the German government has ordered that only German will be taught from the next day. ○ Highlights the value of one's language, calling it the "key to their prison." ○ Shows regret that the people of Alsace had not paid enough attention to learning their language. Villagers’ Presence: ○ Elderly villagers, including Hauser, attend the last lesson to show respect for their language and their teacher. ○ Old Hauser: Weeps as he repeats the recitation of the French alphabets, symbolizing the end of their cultural identity. M. Hamel’s Emotional Moment:  ○ He writes "Vive La France!" on the blackboard, showing his patriotic feelings for France despite the annexation. Key Themes: Language & Identity: ○ M. Hamel emphasizes that the French language is a cornerstone of French identity, especially for the people of Alsace. Regret: ○ Franz regrets not paying attention in class earlier, realizing too late the importance of education. Resistance through Education: ○ M. Hamel views the preservation of language and education as an act of resistance against the oppressors. Additional Details: Franz's Thoughts Before School: ○ Franz is tempted to skip school to enjoy the warm, sunny day and watch the Prussian soldiers drilling, or run around the woods. ○ He feels guilty for being lazy and afraid of facing M. Hamel without having prepared his lesson on participles. Unusual Quietness in the School: ○ Normally, the school is noisy with the opening and closing of desks, students repeating lessons loudly, and the teacher’s ruler hitting the desks. ○ That day, there is an eerie silence in the classroom, which adds to the solemn atmosphere of the last lesson. The Bulletin Board: ○ The bulletin board at the town hall, where bad news is posted, is a symbol of the changes brought by the war. ○ The villagers, including Franz, often dreaded looking at the board because it had only brought unpleasant announcements like conscription and defeats in the war. M. Hamel’s Patriotism: ○ M. Hamel's deep love for his country is shown through his emotional farewell speech. ○ He scolds the people of Alsace for neglecting their education, blaming both the students and parents for not prioritizing learning French. ○ He speaks of French as the most beautiful language in the world and urges them to never forget it, even under foreign rule. Impact on Franz: ○ Franz feels ashamed of his lack of effort in learning, as he witnesses the importance of French to his teacher and fellow villagers. ○ He views M. Hamel as more approachable and understanding that day, contrasting with the strict teacher he had feared.  ○ This emotional connection helps Franz recognize M. Hamel's dedication and the cultural loss they are about to face. Symbolism of M. Hamel's Desk & Pigeons: ○ As M. Hamel sits in his chair at the end of the lesson, unable to speak, he uses chalk to write "Vive La France!". ○ The pigeons cooing in the attic symbolize the continuity of life and freedom, a contrast to the oppression of the people of Alsace under German rule. The pigeons can continue to sing freely in their own "language." Minor Cultural Elements: M. Hamel’s Age: ○ M. Hamel has been teaching for 40 years in the same school, signifying his deep connection with the town and its people. M. Hamel’s Reference to French Language: ○ He says that French is "the clearest, most logical" language in the world, further emphasizing the pride he feels for his language and his despair at its loss. Villagers’ Behavior: ○ The older villagers attend the lesson to honor M. Hamel and acknowledge the importance of their native language, which they had ignored or taken for granted in the past. ○ Their presence also suggests a shared sense of loss and nostalgia for the cultural identity slipping away from them.