Revision- Texts

Class: XII - FLAMINGO

THE LAST LESSON----- ALPHONSE DAUDET

·         Incidents in series-

Franz – (at home)

Ø  getting late for school

Ø  Scared (of M. Hamel and) to go to school

Ø  As he didn’t do his homework

Ø  Tempted towards the bright, warm weather, birds chirping, Prussian soldiers drilling

Ø  Thought of roaming outside

Ø  Could resist the temptation

Ø  Hurried off  to school

Franz (on the way to school)

Ø  Passed town hall

Ø  Crowd in front of bulletin board(giving all bad news since 2 years-of lost battle, the draft and order of commanding officer)

Ø  Hurried as fast as he could

Ø  Blacksmith, watcher standing there asked not to hurry

Ø  Thought he was making fun

Franz- reached M Hamel’s garden

Ø  Sensed unusual(about school campus-as quite as Sunday morning, no humdrum, no opening and closing of doors, no lesson repeated in unison and very loud, no teacher rapping their ruler on table )

Ø  looked through the window (M Hamel with his ruler under his arms, classmates sitting in their places)

Ø  Unusual kind behaviour of M Hamel (kindly asked Franz to sit)

Ø  Unusual dress up of M Hamel(as its on inspection and prize days )

Ø  Unusual about last benches(which use to be empty are occupied by villagers-old Hauser former mayor, former postman)

Ø  All are sad, came to pay tribute to M Hamel

M. Hamel- lecturing

Ø  In gentle tone

Ø  Announced it as his last lesson

Ø  About the order from Berlin(to teach German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine)

Ø  News of new master joining by the following day to teach German

Franz’s – realisation

Ø  Reason why people gathering in front of town hall

Ø  Feeling sorry (for not learning well, seeking birds’ egg, going sliding on the saar)

Ø  Rediscovering affection for books(which were heavy to carry a while ago)

Ø  Affection for going M Hamel(forgetting his ruler, cranky nature)

Ø  Reason behind his putting special dress and villagers presence to pay tribute M Hamel for his forty years of honest service

Ø  Franz- Reciting rules of participle- loud and clear, without any mistake

M Hamel’s lecture on importance of time and French language

Ø  People of Alsace postponing lesson for tomorrow thinking they have plenty of time to learn

Ø  French but don’t know how to speak or write(as was replaced by German lessons)

Ø  Parents preferred their child to work on farms and mills then attending school

Ø  M Hamel preferred to water the plants than learning

Ø  To go fishing more than teaching

Ø  French worlds’ the most beautiful , clear and logical language

Ø  Asked to guard it and never to loose.

M Hamel’s grammar lessons

Ø  Franz understood it better

Ø  M Hamel explained with patience

Ø  Tried to give all he knew

Writing lessons

Ø  Had new copies for children written France Alsace France Alsace

Ø  Every one set to work, quiet and calm

Ø  Franz thought will these Germans make the pigeons sing in German

M Hamel- being emotional

Ø  Gazing intently one thing to other

Ø  Changes in the class – desk and benches worn smooth, walnut trees grow taller, hopvine trees twined

Ø  M Hamel’s sister packing to leave following day

Ø  He had courage to hear the lesson to the last

Ø  Had lessons on History

Ø  Old Hauser holding the primer spelled the letters in a trembled voice, crying

Ø  Church clock sound 12

Ø  Sound of the soldiers returning from drill

Ø  Trumpets of the Prussians

Ø  M Hamel’s voice choked and wrote

“VIVE LA FRANCE” (in big and large letters)

Ø  Declared school dismissed

Important questions-

1.  The story has been set in the background of ------------------- war.

2.  What was Franz expected to be prepared with?

3.  What was the significance of the bulletin – board?

4.  What was the order from Berlin?

5.  What changes did Franz notice in the school?

6.  What surprised Franz the most?

7.  Now Franz didn’t mind M Hamel’s ----------- or his ----------.

8.  Hamel reproached the --------- and --------- for poor learning of French in Lorraine and

Alsace.

9.  M Hamel aroused patriotism among the people by telling them that French was the

Most-------, ----------, and ------- language.

10.  Who had come to school with a primer?

11.  M. Hamel dismissed the class with a -------- after writing --------------- on the blackboard.

12.  Who, do you think, is guilty of linguistic chauvinism - the Prussians or the French? Why?

13.  Tick the answers which you consider to be correct

i. The story conveys that we often value the things after we lose them

ii. One should love one’s mother tongue as it is one’s identity and keeps the people united.

iii.M Hamel was a chauvinist as he believed that the French was the most beautiful, logical and clearest language.

14.  What is the theme of the lesson?

15.  How did the young ones show that they had realized how precious their language was?