THE LAST LESSON
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alphonse Daudet (1840-1897) was a French novelist and short- story writer. The last lesson set in the days of the French - Prussian war (1870 -1871) in which French was defeated by Prussia led by Bismarck. Prussia than considers of what now are the nations of the Germany. Poland and part of Austria. In this story the French district of Alsace and Lorraine have passes into Prussian hands. Read the story to find out what effect this had on life at school.
अल्फोंस डोडी (1840-1897) एक फ़्रांसिसी उपन्यासकार एवं कहानीकार थे। प्रस्तुत पाठ द लास्ट लेशन फ़्रांस- प्रशा युद्ध (1870-71) के दिनों में लिखा गया था। बिस्मार्क के नेतृत्व में प्रशा ने फ़्रान्स को पराजित कर दिया था। तत्कालीन प्रशा के अंतर्गत वर्तमान जर्मनी, पोलैण्ड और ऑस्ट्रिया राष्ट्रों का कुछ भाग सम्लित था। इस कहानी में फ़्रांस के अल्सास और लोरेन के जिले प्रशा के अधिकार में आ चुके है। स्कूली जीवन पर क्या प्रभाव पड़े इस पाठ में बताया गया है।
Main points of The Last Lesson
- The Last Lesson is written by Alphonse Daudet a French novelist and short story writer. The last lesson set in the days of the French - Prussian war (1870 -1871) in which French was defeated by Prussia led by Bismarck.
- In this story the French district of Alsace and Lorraine have passes into Prussian hands. Read the story to find out what effect this had on life at school.
- There are two main character in this chapter M. Hamel a teacher and Little Franz a careless student.
- M. Hamel had said to Little Franz that he would ask question on participle, but he knows nothing about participle.
- At first he thought he want to spend his day out of the school as the sky was clear, birds were chirping at the edge of the wood.
- Prussian soldier drill was much tempting than the monotonous rule of the participles of the class.
- The school was as silent as Sunday morning. m. Hamel was wearing green coat which he generally wear in two occasions inspection day and prize distribution day.
- M. Hamel inform them that today is their last French lesson. The new German teacher will come from tomorrow and German will be their medium of instruction from tomorrow.
- village people are there in back benches. They have come to give farewell to M. Hamel for his forty years service in the same school.
- According to M. Hamel the French language is most beautiful, logical and clearest language in the world.
SUMMARY OF THE LESSON
Introduction:
M. Hamel was a school teacher in a village of Alsace. He used to teacher French along with other subjects. He put in 40 years of faithful service in the same school.
Little Franz:
He was a student of M. Hamel. But he played truant. One day he was late. He was running towards his school. On his way to school, he was called after by the blacksmith, watcher who was reading the bulletin-board. He asked,"
Don't go so fast,bub:you will get to your school in plenty of time!"
Atmosphere of the school:
Franz reached M.Hamel's little garden all out of breath. when he reached the school,he found that day everything to be as quite as Sunday morning. His classmates were already in their places.As he opened the door of the school-room, M.Hamel saw him and said very kindly," Go to your place quickly, little Franz. We were beginning without you."
M. Hamel in his new clothes:
Franz saw his teacher in his beautiful green coat,his frilled shirt, little black silk cap. Generally he were these clothes in two special day one on the prize day and second on the day of inspection. He was surprised to see ,on the back benches that were always empty, the village people sitting quietly like the students.
M. Hamel in his new clothes:
Franz saw his teacher in his beautiful green coat,his frilled shirt, little black silk cap. Generally he were these clothes in two special day one on the prize day and second on the day of inspection. He was surprised to see ,on the back benches that were always empty, the village people sitting quietly like the students.
Order from Berlin:
M.Hamel mounted his chair and said gravely and gently, “My
children, this is the last lesion I shall give you. “The order has come from Berlin
to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master
comes tomorrow. This is your last French Lesson.”
Then Franz understood why his teacher was in his fine Sunday
clothes, and why the old men of the village were sitting there. They came there to thank M. Hamel for
his forty years of faithful service.
Courage of M.Hamel:
Franz praises the courage of the M.Hamel who taught every
subject as per time-table the last day. He performed his duty honestly till the
last day when he knew that he had to leave his residence and school the next
day.
Praise of French language:
M.Hamel said that French language was the most beautiful
language in the world- the clearest, the most logical,t hat we must guard it
among us and never forget it, because when a people are enslaved, as long as
they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison.
Goodbye:
When the church-clock struck twelve ,M.Hamel stood up and
said,” My friends, I….I…. .” But something chocked him. He could not go on.
Then he turned to the blackboard, took a pice of chalk,
and wrote as large as he could-
Vive La France!.
Conclusion:
Then he stopped and leaned but without a word, he made a
gesture to the students with his hand-
“school is dismissed- you may go.”
M. Hamel (एम् हेमल) :
एम् हेमल एक स्कूल अल्सास गांव में एक अध्यापक था। वह स्कूल में फ्रेंच भाषा के साथ अन्य विषय भी पढ़ाया करता था। उसने अल्सास के इस स्कूल अपने जीवन के ४० वर्ष ईमानदारी के के साथ अपनी सेवा दी।
लिटिल फ्रेंज़ :
Franz
Franz on the way of school
Little Franz एम् हेमल का छात्र है। वह बहुत लापरवाह छात्र है स्कूल से अनुपस्तिथ रहने के बहाने ढूंढता है।आज के दिन उसका स्कूल जाने का बिलकुल मन नहीं होता क्यूंकि स्कूल में पार्टिसिपल पर सुनाना था। परन्तु उसे एक भी शब्द पार्टिसिपल पर याद नहीं किया था। फिर भी वह स्कूल के लिए निकल जाता है और लेट हो जाता है क्यूंकि वह रस्ते में पर्सियन सेना की ड्रिल देखता है और उनको देखते रहने का उसका बड़ा मन होता है। आज आसमान भी साफ था पक्षियों का मधुर स्वर भी उसको मंत्रमुग्ध कर रहा था । फिर वह अपने स्कूल की तरफ भाग रहा होता है। तो एक लोहार उसको पीछे से आवाज देता है कि " इतनी तेज़ मत भागो बच्चे तुम समय से स्कूल पहुँच जाओगे। "
स्कूल का वातावरण :
franz हांफते हुए एम् हेमल के गार्डन में पहुँचता है। और फिर जब स्कूल पहुँचता है तो आज रविवार छुटटी के दिन जैसा स्कूल में सब कुछ सुनसान है। उसके सहपाठी पहले से ही अपनी कक्षा में बैठे हुए है। वह बड़ा डरा और घबराया होता है कि उसे सबके सामने डांट पड़ेगी। परन्तु जैसे ही वह दरवाजा खोलता है तो एम् हेमल उसको देखता है और बड़े प्यार से फ्रेंज़ को बोलते है कि " अपनी सीट पर बैठ जाओ प्यारे फ्रेंज़, हम तुम्हारे बिना ही पाठ शुरू करने वाले थे।
एम् हेमल अपने नए कपड़ों में :
आज फ्रेंज़ ने नोटिस किया कि गुरु जी काली कैप, झालरदार कमीज और हरा कोट पहन कर आ रखे है। वह इन कपड़ों को साल में दो विशेष अवसरों पर पहनता है एक जब पुरुस्कार वितरण के दिन और दूसरा स्कूल इंस्पेक्शन के दिन। एक चीज़ फ्रेंज़ को और आश्चर्यचकित करती है कि कक्षा की पिछली सीटें हमेशा खाली रहती थी परन्तु आज वहां गांव के बड़े बुजुर्ग लोग छात्रों की तरह चुपचाप बैठे है।
 |
| village people in back benches |
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| empty back benches |
बर्लिन का आदेश :
एम् हेमल सीट पर बैठता है और बड़े दुःख से कहता है की " मेरे प्यारे बच्चो आज मैं तुम्हे अंतिम पाठ पढ़ाने जा हूँ। क्यूंकि बर्लिन से आदेश आया है कि आपके लॉरेन और अल्सास में कल से केवल जर्मन भाषा पढाई जाएगी। कल से आपका नया जर्मन भाषा का अध्यापक आएगा। इस लिए आपकी मातृभाषा फ्रेंच में आपका यह अंतिम पाठ है। " यह खबर चौराहे पर बुलेटिन बोर्ड पर भी लिखी होती है जहाँ पर सभी गांव वाले इसको पढ़ रहे होते है और स्कूल पहुँच रहे होते है।
तब फ्रेंज़ की समझ में आ गया था की क्यों आज गुरु जी इतने अच्छे कपडे क्यों पहनकर आ रखे है। इसी लिए गांव के बुजुर्ग भी आज स्कूल आये है क्यूंकि वे एम् हेमल का इस विद्यालय में ४० वर्ष की ईमानदार सेवा के प्रति धन्यवाद करने आये थे।
एम् हेमल का साहस :
फ्रेंज़ अपने गुरु जी की हिम्मत और साहस की तारीफ करता है क्यूंकि आज अंतिम पाठ के दिन भी गुरु जी ने टाइम - टेबल के अनुसार ही सारे पाठ पढ़ाये। गुरु जी ने अंतिम दिन भी अपने सभी विषय ईमानदारी से पढ़ाये जबकि वो जानते थे कि आज के बाद वे सेवा निवृत हो कर घर जा रहे है।
फ्रेंच भाषा की प्रशंशा :
एम् हेमल कहता है कि फ्रेंच भाषा दुनिया की सभी भाषाओँ से बहुत सुन्दर है। यह भाषा इतनी स्पष्ट और तर्कशील है कि हमें अपनी भाषा कभी नहीं भूलना चाहिए और इसकी सुरक्षा करनी चाहिए क्यूंकि जब हम किसी के गुलाम बनते है और हमें अगर अपनी भाषा में काफी अच्छी पकड़ है तो यह हमारी गुलामी की जंजीर तोड़ने वाली चाबी का काम करती है।
अलविदा :
जब चर्च की घडी में १२ बजते है तो एम् हेमल खड़े हो जाते है और कहते है : मेरे प्यारे दोस्तों मैं .... मैं ....... और उनके गले से आवाज नहीं आती और आगे कुछ नहीं बोल पाते है। तब वे ब्लैकबोर्ड की तरफ जाते है , एक चौक का टुकड़ा लेते है और बड़े शब्दों में ब्लैकबॉर्ड पर लिखते है
"Vive La France!" (फ्रांस जिंदाबाद रहे )
निष्कर्ष :
तब एम् हेमल दीवार के सहारे खड़े हो जाते है और बिना कुछ शब्द कहे हाथों से इशारा करते है कि " स्कूल समाप्त हो गया है - आप जा सकते हो। "
Long Answer Type Question
Q.1. How did Franz's feeling about M. Hamel and School change?
Ans. Before this day of the last lesson, Franz had never loved is french lesson nor ever admired M.Hamel. He was of courses, afraid of his teacher M.Hamel and his terrible iron ruler. He had often missed school for enjoying himself. He had been Seeking birds' eggs or going sliding on the Saar instead of learning his lesson.
Today, he felt sorry for all that. Till then his books had seemed such a nuisance to him. grammer and history of the saints seemed too heavy to carry. Now these books seemed like old friends which he couldn't give up.
He had all along hated M.Hamel's ruler and thought him cranky. The thought of his going away made him forget all that. He feels much pity for him. He repeatedly calls him a poor man. He realise M. Hamel's loved for school where he had spent 40 years of his life. Finally Franz say that M.Hamel had never before looked so tall. Thus Franz's feeling were completely changed on the day of his last french lesson.
Q.२. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
Answer
The order from Berlin brought all the routine hustle-bustle of the school life to a stand-still. The teacher, M. Hamel, became more sympathetic to his students and taught his lessons with more patience. The students became more attentive in their classes. The villagers, who were sitting at the usually empty back benches and had come to show their respect and gratitude to M. Hamel, regretted not going to school more than they did. The order also brought about a great change in the feelings of the people towards their country and their native language. There was a general sadness about not being able to utilise the opportunities of learning French when it was easily accessible.
Q.3. The people in this story suddenly realize how precious their language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this happen?
Answer
M. Hamel told the students and villagers that henceforth only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Those who called themselves Frenchmen would neither be able to speak nor write it. He praised French as the most beautiful, the clearest and most logical language in the world. He said that for the enslaved people, their language was the key to their prison. Then the people realised how precious their language was to them. This shows people's love for their own culture, traditions and country. Pride in one's language reflects pride in motherland.
Q.4. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons ?” What could this means?
Answer
Alphonse Daudet’s ‘The Last Lesson’ very prominently raises the question of linguistic and cultural hegemony of the colonial and imperial powers and their lust for controlling the world and influencing their cultures and identities. Prussians acquired the districts of Alsace and Lorraine in Franco-Prussian War , but they were not satisfied with mere political domination ,they desired to enforce their own language on the people of the defeated nation. They released the order that from now German would be taught in schools rather than French. Franz wondered whether they would make even pigeons sing in German. It means that they had grown up using French as their language and now snatching away their language from them would be unfair and unkind. The language was as natural to them as cooing is to the pigeon. So, compulsion to speak another language is like dominating the force of nature and enslaving it. As it is next to impossible to alter the way pigeons sing, in the same way it is difficult for people to accept a language which is forcibly imposed on them. Adopting a new language causes pain and discomfort.
Short Answer Type Question
Q.1. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
Ans. It was expected of Franz that he would prepare the lesson on' participle' for school that day as the Mr. Hamel told the class that he would be taking a test of the topic that day.
Q.2. What had been put on the bulletin-board that day?
Ans. The bulletin board read that only German would be taught from the next day in the school of Alsace and Lorraine.
Q.3. What change did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
Ans. There was an unusual silence all around the school. Mr.M.Hamel put on his best Sunday clothes and he was very polite that day. Many villages people sat on the back seats of the class of Franz.
तब फ्रेंज़ की समझ में आ गया था की क्यों आज गुरु जी इतने अच्छे कपडे क्यों पहनकर आ रखे है। इसी लिए गांव के बुजुर्ग भी आज स्कूल आये है क्यूंकि वे एम् हेमल का इस विद्यालय में ४० वर्ष की ईमानदार सेवा के प्रति धन्यवाद करने आये थे।
एम् हेमल का साहस :
फ्रेंज़ अपने गुरु जी की हिम्मत और साहस की तारीफ करता है क्यूंकि आज अंतिम पाठ के दिन भी गुरु जी ने टाइम - टेबल के अनुसार ही सारे पाठ पढ़ाये। गुरु जी ने अंतिम दिन भी अपने सभी विषय ईमानदारी से पढ़ाये जबकि वो जानते थे कि आज के बाद वे सेवा निवृत हो कर घर जा रहे है।
फ्रेंच भाषा की प्रशंशा :
एम् हेमल कहता है कि फ्रेंच भाषा दुनिया की सभी भाषाओँ से बहुत सुन्दर है। यह भाषा इतनी स्पष्ट और तर्कशील है कि हमें अपनी भाषा कभी नहीं भूलना चाहिए और इसकी सुरक्षा करनी चाहिए क्यूंकि जब हम किसी के गुलाम बनते है और हमें अगर अपनी भाषा में काफी अच्छी पकड़ है तो यह हमारी गुलामी की जंजीर तोड़ने वाली चाबी का काम करती है।
अलविदा :
जब चर्च की घडी में १२ बजते है तो एम् हेमल खड़े हो जाते है और कहते है : मेरे प्यारे दोस्तों मैं .... मैं ....... और उनके गले से आवाज नहीं आती और आगे कुछ नहीं बोल पाते है। तब वे ब्लैकबोर्ड की तरफ जाते है , एक चौक का टुकड़ा लेते है और बड़े शब्दों में ब्लैकबॉर्ड पर लिखते है
"Vive La France!" (फ्रांस जिंदाबाद रहे )
निष्कर्ष :
तब एम् हेमल दीवार के सहारे खड़े हो जाते है और बिना कुछ शब्द कहे हाथों से इशारा करते है कि " स्कूल समाप्त हो गया है - आप जा सकते हो। "
Long Answer Type Question
Q.1. How did Franz's feeling about M. Hamel and School change?
Ans. Before this day of the last lesson, Franz had never loved is french lesson nor ever admired M.Hamel. He was of courses, afraid of his teacher M.Hamel and his terrible iron ruler. He had often missed school for enjoying himself. He had been Seeking birds' eggs or going sliding on the Saar instead of learning his lesson.
Today, he felt sorry for all that. Till then his books had seemed such a nuisance to him. grammer and history of the saints seemed too heavy to carry. Now these books seemed like old friends which he couldn't give up.
He had all along hated M.Hamel's ruler and thought him cranky. The thought of his going away made him forget all that. He feels much pity for him. He repeatedly calls him a poor man. He realise M. Hamel's loved for school where he had spent 40 years of his life. Finally Franz say that M.Hamel had never before looked so tall. Thus Franz's feeling were completely changed on the day of his last french lesson.
Q.२. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
Answer
The order from Berlin brought all the routine hustle-bustle of the school life to a stand-still. The teacher, M. Hamel, became more sympathetic to his students and taught his lessons with more patience. The students became more attentive in their classes. The villagers, who were sitting at the usually empty back benches and had come to show their respect and gratitude to M. Hamel, regretted not going to school more than they did. The order also brought about a great change in the feelings of the people towards their country and their native language. There was a general sadness about not being able to utilise the opportunities of learning French when it was easily accessible.
Q.3. The people in this story suddenly realize how precious their language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this happen?
Answer
M. Hamel told the students and villagers that henceforth only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Those who called themselves Frenchmen would neither be able to speak nor write it. He praised French as the most beautiful, the clearest and most logical language in the world. He said that for the enslaved people, their language was the key to their prison. Then the people realised how precious their language was to them. This shows people's love for their own culture, traditions and country. Pride in one's language reflects pride in motherland.
Q.4. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons ?” What could this means?
Answer
Alphonse Daudet’s ‘The Last Lesson’ very prominently raises the question of linguistic and cultural hegemony of the colonial and imperial powers and their lust for controlling the world and influencing their cultures and identities. Prussians acquired the districts of Alsace and Lorraine in Franco-Prussian War , but they were not satisfied with mere political domination ,they desired to enforce their own language on the people of the defeated nation. They released the order that from now German would be taught in schools rather than French. Franz wondered whether they would make even pigeons sing in German. It means that they had grown up using French as their language and now snatching away their language from them would be unfair and unkind. The language was as natural to them as cooing is to the pigeon. So, compulsion to speak another language is like dominating the force of nature and enslaving it. As it is next to impossible to alter the way pigeons sing, in the same way it is difficult for people to accept a language which is forcibly imposed on them. Adopting a new language causes pain and discomfort.
Or
This sentence could possibly mean that however hard the authorities try to embed German language in the culture of Alsace and Lorraine, the natural status of French, for them, will remain unchanged. French flows in the air and the entire place is imbued with its effect. Even though they train students in German, the basic mode of communication would remain unchanged like the cooing of the pigeons.Short Answer Type Question
Q.1. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
Ans. It was expected of Franz that he would prepare the lesson on' participle' for school that day as the Mr. Hamel told the class that he would be taking a test of the topic that day.
Q.2. What had been put on the bulletin-board that day?
Ans. The bulletin board read that only German would be taught from the next day in the school of Alsace and Lorraine.
Q.3. What change did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
Ans. There was an unusual silence all around the school. Mr.M.Hamel put on his best Sunday clothes and he was very polite that day. Many villages people sat on the back seats of the class of Franz.
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