Chapter the-last-lesson: The Last Lesson | Summary

The chapter "The Last Lesson" by Alphonse Daudet is set against the backdrop of the Franco-Prussian War in which France was defeated by Prussia. As a result, the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine fell into Prussian hands. The story highlights the pain of the conquered people who are deprived of their mother tongue. The narrative begins with a young boy named Franz, who is late for school and dreads being scolded by his teacher, M. Hamel, especially because he has not prepared his lesson on participles. Franz is initially tempted to skip school and enjoy the warm day, listening to the birds and watching the Prussian soldiers drill. However, he resists the temptation and hurries to school. On his way, he notices a crowd reading the bulletin board, which has been the source of all bad news for the past two years. When Franz reaches the school, he is surprised by an unusual silence. Instead of the typical noisy bustle, the school is as quiet as a Sunday morning. He quietly enters the classroom, expecting a reprimand, but M. Hamel kindly asks him to take his seat. Franz then notices that his teacher is wearing his formal Sunday clothes, reserved only for inspection and prize days. To his further astonishment, the back benches, usually empty, are occupied by village elders, including old Hauser. They look sad and are there to pay their respects to the teacher and their country. The real shock comes when M. Hamel mounts his chair and announces that an order has come from Berlin. From the next day, only German will be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. This is their last French lesson. Franz is overwhelmed with regret for neglecting his studies and treating his books as a burden. He suddenly realizes the immense value of his mother tongue. M. Hamel does not solely blame Franz for this failure. He points out that the parents preferred putting their children to work, and even he himself often gave them holidays. The teacher then delivers a passionate speech about the French language, calling it the most beautiful, clearest, and most logical language in the world. He urges the students and villagers to guard it among themselves, explaining that when people are enslaved, holding fast to their language is like having the key to their prison. The final lesson proceeds with profound concentration from everyone. As the church clock strikes twelve and the Prussian trumpets sound, M. Hamel becomes choked with emotion. Unable to speak, he turns to the blackboard and writes "Vive La France!" with all his might, bringing the deeply moving last lesson to an end.