Flamingo(The last lesson) Summary

 

NCERT Solutions For Class 12 English

Flamingo

The Last Lesson(Alphonse Daudet)

Summary

Franz, a French boy, tells the story. He is slow but sensitive, and he enjoys playing. He despises French and despises his teacher, M. Hamel.

 After conquering their French districts of Alsace and Lorraine, Berlin has ordered that German be taught in schools instead of French.

It is the last day of M. Hamel's forty-year tenure as their French teacher. He is overcome with grief, nostalgia, and patriotism. The village men also attend his 'last lesson' to show their appreciation for his hard work. They are disappointed because they did not learn their mother tongue, French, as children.

Franz is surprised to learn that this is his final lesson because he does not speak French. Suddenly, he becomes interested in learning it and comprehends everything taught that day!

He instantly likes and respects his teacher, M. Hamel, for his sincerity and hard work.

He is saddened by his departure from him and embarrassed by his inability to recite the participles lesson.

M. Hamel tells them that they are all to blame for not being eager to learn and putting it off until the next day. He blames himself for failing to teach them sincerely.

His patriotism is reflected in his praise for the French language as the world's most beautiful and logical language. He warns the students to guard their language because knowing one's language is the key to escaping the prison of slavery. It will aid them in their escape from the Germans.

They recognize the significance of learning their mother tongue and the fact that they were defeated by the Germans due to their illiteracy.

Franz believes that it is impossible to take away a person's language because it is natural to each being, whether it is "coo" to pigeons or "French" to Frenchmen.