The Last Lesson Summary, Theme, Character Sketch – Class 12 Flamingo Chapter 1 Notes

In this post you will get the summary of The Last Lesson chapter from Class 12 English. This is the Chapter 1 of Flamingo Book. The Last Lesson is written by Alphonse Daudet. Along with The Last Lesson summary, you will also find the Theme and Character Sketch of the chapter. Previous Year Questions (PYQs) which are repeated in different language are also added.

The Last Lesson Chapter Overview Table

Chapter Name	The Last Lesson
Author	Alphonse Daudet
Book	Chapter 1 Flamingo (Class 12 English)
Theme	Patriotism

The Last Lesson Theme

The main theme of “The Last Lesson” is about the deep importance of one’s own language and cultural identity. The story shows the sadness and regret people feel when they suddenly lose the right to learn or speak their mother tongue. It highlights the idea that we often don’t truly value things, like our language or freedom, until they are taken away. The chapter also emphasizes patriotism and the idea that keeping hold of your language is like having the “key to your prison” if you are ever enslaved. Lastly, it touches on the arrogance of conquerors who impose their will and language on others.

How to Answer Theme-Based Questions in Exams:

When answering theme-based questions, you need to do more than just repeat parts of the story. You should:

1. Understand the core themes: Know the main messages of the chapter (like patriotism, importance of language, regret).
2. Connect to specific events/characters: Show how particular actions, dialogues, or situations in the story demonstrate these themes. You need to “read between the lines” and infer meanings beyond what is directly stated.
3. Explain the connection: Clearly state how the event or character’s action illustrates the theme. This involves interpreting the “writer’s intention”.
4. Use simple, clear language: Express your ideas directly and concisely.

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The Last Lesson Character Sketch

Here are short Character Sketch of the characters in The Last Lesson-

Franz:

He is the young narrator of the story. Franz is initially a lazy student who dislikes school and prefers to spend time outdoors. He is fearful of his teacher, M. Hamel, especially because he hasn’t prepared for a lesson on participles. However, on the last day of French class, he experiences regret for procrastinating and develops a newfound appreciation for his language and teacher. His name also subtly connects him to his homeland, France.

M. Hamel:

He is the French teacher who has served for forty years in the school. He is typically seen as strict, using an “iron ruler”. However, on the last day, he shows great patience, gentleness, and deep patriotism, emphasizing the beauty and importance of the French language. He feels regret for the neglect of the language by himself and the community. At the end, he is overwhelmed with emotion and writes “Vive La France!” (Long Live France) on the blackboard.

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The Last Lesson Summary

Here is a summary of the chapter:

Franz’s Initial Fears: 

The story begins with Franz, a young schoolboy, feeling immense dread of being scolded by his teacher, M. Hamel. He was especially worried because M. Hamel was expected to question them on participles, which Franz knew nothing about. He even considered bunking school to enjoy the bright, warm day outside.

Unusual Observations on the Way: 

As Franz hurried to school, he noticed a crowd gathered at the town hall’s bulletin board. This board was usually where all the bad news, like lost battles, draft orders, and commands from the commanding officer, were displayed.

Strange Atmosphere at School: 

Upon reaching school, Franz found an unusual quietness. Typically, there would be a great bustle of opening and closing desks, lessons repeated loudly in unison, and the teacher’s ruler rapping on the table. However, that day, it was as quiet as a Sunday morning.

M. Hamel’s Appearance and Demeanor: 

Franz saw his classmates already in their places and M. Hamel walking with his “terrible iron ruler” under his arm. To Franz’s surprise, M. Hamel did not scold him for being late, but instead politely asked him to take his seat. M. Hamel was also wearing his “fine Sunday clothes”—a beautiful green coat, frilled shirt, and an embroidered black silk cap—which he only wore on special occasions.

The Village Elders’ Presence: 

Franz also noticed old men from the village sitting on the back benches, which were usually empty. These included the former mayor, the former postmaster, and old Hauser.

The “Thunderclap” Announcement: 

M. Hamel, in a grave and gentle tone, announced that it was their “last French lesson”. An order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine, and their new German teacher would arrive the next day. These words struck Franz like a “thunderclap”.

Franz’s Regret and Realization: 

This news made Franz realize the true value of his language and school. He felt deep regret for not having learned his lessons and for wasting time. His books, which had previously seemed a nuisance, now felt like “old friends”. He also forgot M. Hamel’s crankiness and his ruler, realizing that his teacher was leaving. The villagers, too, were sorry for not having gone to school more, coming to thank M. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service.

M. Hamel’s Praise for French: 

M. Hamel then spoke passionately about the French language, calling it the “most beautiful,” “clearest,” and “most logical language in the world”. He urged them to “guard it among us and never forget it,” emphasizing that as long as an enslaved people hold fast to their language, it is as if they have “the key to their prison”.

The Last Lesson’s Flow:

M. Hamel taught with immense patience that day, seemingly wanting to impart all his knowledge at once. Franz found everything he said to be incredibly easy to understand because he was paying full attention. After grammar, they had a writing lesson, with M. Hamel providing new copies that had “France, Alsace” written in a beautiful round hand, appearing like “little flags floating everywhere”. Even the youngest children diligently traced their fish-hooks, as if that too was French. Franz sarcastically wondered if the Prussians would make even the pigeons coo in German.

M. Hamel’s Farewell: 

M. Hamel sat motionless, gazing at everything as if to “fix in his mind just how everything looked” after forty years of service. He heard his sister packing in the room upstairs. As the church clock struck twelve and the Angelus rang, signifying the end of the day, M. Hamel, overcome with emotion, was unable to speak. He finally turned to the blackboard and wrote “Vive La France!” (Long Live France) as large as he could, and then, with a gesture of his hand, dismissed the class.

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The Last Lesson Previous Year Questions

To help students easily form answers by analyzing PYQs, here are some key points from “The Last Lesson” chapter, categorized for easy understanding and linking to common themes:

Patriotism and Love for Mother Tongue: The deep emotional connection people have to their own language and country.

Loss of Freedom and Cultural Identity: The sadness and impact when a conquering power takes away the right to learn one’s own language.

Procrastination and Regret: The tendency to put off important things, only realizing their value when it’s too late.

Impact of War: How political conflicts affect the daily lives and cultural rights of ordinary people.

Arrogance of Conquerors: The way new rulers impose their will and culture on the conquered.

Here are some often repeated Previous Year Questions of The Last Lesson:

Question: “You realise the true value of a thing only on losing it.” Comment on this statement in the light of the story, The Last Lesson. [CBSE SQP-2022]

How to answer: Focus on Franz and the villagers.

Answer:

This statement is very true for the characters in the story. Franz and the village elders did not truly value their French language or schooling until the Prussian order banned its teaching. They felt deep regret for having neglected it when they had the chance, only realizing its importance once it was taken away.

Question: How is the mother tongue important to a person? What does M. Hamel, the teacher say about it? [Delhi Set III, 2019]

How to answer: Focus on M. Hamel’s speech.

Answer:

M. Hamel emphasizes that the mother tongue is crucial for a person’s identity and freedom. He describes French as the “most beautiful, clearest, and most logical language”. He tells his students that holding onto their language is like having the “key to their prison” if they are ever enslaved, highlighting its role in unity and liberation.

Question: “We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with” said M. Hamel. Refer to the context and explain what he wanted to convey to his students. [CBSE SQP, 2018–19]

How to answer: Focus on M. Hamel’s blame.

Answer :

M. Hamel makes this statement to express that everyone shares blame for the neglect of French. He points out that students (like Franz) often procrastinated, parents sent children to work instead of school, and even he, as a teacher, gave them holidays for his own convenience. He wanted to convey a shared regret and responsibility for not valuing their language and education enough.

Question: Our language is part of our culture and we are proud of it. Describe how regretful M. Hamel and the village elders are for having neglected their native language, French. [CBSE SQP, 2021]

How to answer: Combine points about M. Hamel’s emotions and the elders’ actions.

Answer:

Both M. Hamel and the village elders felt deep regret for neglecting French. The elders, including Old Hauser, came to the last lesson to show their sorrow for not attending school more in their youth and to pay respect to M. Hamel’s 40 years of service. M. Hamel himself was overwhelmed with emotion, admitting his own fault and passionately emphasizing the beauty and importance of French during his final class, demonstrating his deep regret.

Question: Comment on the significance of the villagers sitting at the back in M. Hamel’s classroom. (CBSE SQP 2021)

or Why did the elders of the village attend the last lesson? (CBSE 2020)

or Why did the village elders occupy the back benches in the classroom to attend the last lesson delivered by M. Hamel? (Delhi 2019)

or Why were some elderly persons occupying the back benches that day? (All India 2017)

or Why did Hauser and the other villagers come to attend the last lesson? (CBSE SQP 2018)

Answer:

The village elders occupied the back benches in the classroom to attend the last lesson delivered by M. Hamel because they were sorry that they had not attended school more often. They also wanted to thank their teacher for his forty years of faithful service and to show their respect for the country.

Question: What surprises awaited Franz as he entered the classroom? (CBSE (C) 2020)

or What did Franz wonder about when he entered the class that day? (Delhi 2017)

Answer:

When Franz entered class that day, he was expecting a scolding from M. Hamel but he spoke very kindly to Franz and asked him to sit. Franz also wondered about the presence of senior villagers occupying back benches of the class.

Question: Why did Franz not want to go to school that day? (Delhi 2017)

or What tempted Franz to stay away from school? (Delhi 2014)

or Why did Franz think of running away from school that morning? (All India (C) 2013)

Answer:

Franz did not want to go to school that day as he has not prepared his lesson on participles. He knew his French teacher would certainly scold him for this. So, he wanted to avoid going to school.

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Frequently Asked Questions from The Last Lesson Summary

This summary of The Last Lesson is created from the NCERT PDF of the chapter.

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