Flamingo

Chapter 1

The Last Lesson

FULL NOTES

1) Franz’s fears while going to school

Late for school
Dreaded a scolding
Had not learnt his lessons on particles
Thought of running away and spending the day outside because

The day was warm and & bright with birds chirping
He was tempted to watch the Prussian soldiers drilling

Overcame temptations and hurried to school

Chirping of Birds

2) Scene at the town hall

a crowd in front of the bulletin-board
it was source of all bad news: the lost battles, the draft, the orders of the commanding officer
Franz worried what the matter could be
astounded by the blacksmith's remark that there was plenty of time to reach school

3) Usual scene at school

began with a great bustle
noise of opening and closing of desks
lessons repeated in unison
teacher's ruler striking against the table hard

4) Changed scenario that day

everything very still and as quiet as Sunday morning
all classmates already in their places
M. Hamel pacing up and down with the ruler under his arms
Franz frightened to enter

5) The classroom surprises Franz

M. Hamel unexpectantly kind
had put on his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and an embroidered black silk cap which he normally wore only on inspection and prize days
whole school wore a strange and serious look
back benches strangely occupied by the village people

6) M Hamel's startling revelation

M. Hamel demanded full attention and announced that it was their last lesson in French
had received orders from Berlin to teach only German in schools of Alsace and Lorraine
new teacher to join the next day

7) A grim realisation dawns on the narrator

realised that he had so much more yet to learn
felt sorry for whiling away his time and skipping his lessons
now did not want to part with his books of grammar & history, which he had earlier considered a nuisance
deeply pained at the thought of M. Hamel going away
forgot all about the teacher's ruler and his cranky nature
realised that M. Hamel had worn his fine Sunday clothes in honour of the last lesson

8) A tribute by the villagers

villagers gathered in the classroom:
as a sign of repentance for not having gone to school more often
to thank their master for his meritorious service of forty years
as a mark of respect for the country which was no longer theirs

9) Narrator's failure and the teacher's response

Franz Asked to recite the rule for participle
wished that he was able to recite the rules flawlessly
feels guilty on getting everything mixed up
M.Hamel does not scold Franz
comments upon man's nature of postponing things thinking there's plenty of time
makes the audience realise the irony of being Frenchmen but not being able to speak or write their own language

10) Lack of learning: Hamel's view

parents ignorant; not anxious to have their children learn
children preferred to be put to work on farms or mills
also blamed himself for sending children on errands for his convenience

11) M. Hamel teaches his last lesson

eulogises French language
calls it the most beautiful language in the world
asks the audience to always guard it and never forget it
gives them their lesson in grammar
explains everything with unusual patience; probably wants to teach them everything in one go
follows up with a lesson in writing
gives new copies to the students with France Alsace written in beautiful handwriting on them

12) Students exhibit rare attention

everyone set to work very quietly
there is a pin drop silence
the only sound heard is the scratching of pens over paper
the little ones also work with concentration
even beetles fail to distract them

13) Franz recalls M. Hamel's dedicated service

Hamel had served the school for forty years
nothing has changed: the garden outside the window and his class in front of him
only the desks and the benches had worn smooth; the walnut
trees grown taller and the hopvine planted by him twined about the windows to the roof

14) M.Hamel keeps his courage

hears every lesson to the last
delivers his last lesson in history
everyone is roused to emotion when the lesson draws to its close
tears roll down their eyes

15) M.Hamel rouses the spirit of patriotism

as the church clock strikes twelve, trumpets of the Prussian soldiers sound under the windows
overwhelmed with emotions, M. Hamel writes 'Vive La France’ on the blackboard
dismisses school by making a gesture with his hand

QUESTION/ANSWERS

Q1. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?

A day before, Franz's teacher had announced that he would question the students on participles. Thus, Franz was supposed to have learned the rules governing the use of participles but he had failed to do so. As a result he feared that Mr Hamel would scold him.

Q2. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?

How was the scene in the school in the morning of the last lesson different from that on other days?

Unlike the usual din that could be heard from the street, today Franz found everything to be quiet and till as on a Sunday morning. No opening and closing of the desks, repetition of lessons and rapping of the teacher's ruler on the table was audible. His classmates were already in their places.

Q3. What had been put on the bulletin-board?

Unlike the news of lost battles, the draft and the orders of the commanding officer, the bulletin-board displayed the shocking information of replacing the teaching of French with German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine as per orders from Berlin.

Q4. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?

What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it cause in the school?

The order of replacing the teaching of French with German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine awakened in the local people love for their language. With a feeling of guilt, gloom and repentance they sat on the last benches undisturbed showing utmost interest in their mother tongue, French.

Q5. The people in the story suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this happen?

The keen interest taken by the villagers, Franz's regret at having ignored the study of his mother tongue and M. Hamel's emotionally charged last lesson reveal how all of them considered French to be a precious language. An order from Berlin to replace French with German resulted in this realization.

Q6. Franz thinks, "Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?" What could this mean?

Having a feeling of anger towards the Germans, Franz thinks that insensitivity and cruelty of the Germans would make them snatch away even the natural and spontaneous style of singing of the pigeons.

Additional Questions

Q7. What was the narrator's greatest fear as he moved towards school?

Why was Franz afraid when he was going to school that day?

Franz had got delayed in starting for the school and thus he was afraid of M. Hamel's scoldings for being late. Moreover, not having learnt rules for participles, he dreaded his teacher's anger.

Q8. What thoughts ran across Franz's mind as he walked towards the school?

Franz nurtured a keen desire to escape school and thought of spending the day outdoors enjoying its warmth and brightness. The sight of the chirping birds and the Prussian soldiers drilling tempted him more than the rules for participles he was expected to learn at school.

09. What did the narrator observe as he passed the town hall? Why did the sight trouble him?

Passing the town hall, a huge crowd in front of the bulletin board attracted Franz's attention. This sight troubled the child as for the past two years, this bulletin board had been bringing all the bad news from the war front for the French.

Q10. What was the implication of the blacksmith's remark? How did Franz respond to his remark?

Having read the orders from Berlin barring teaching of French in school, Wachter asked Franz not to rush as he had plenty to time to reach the school. Not understanding the implication of his words, Franz thought the blacksmith was making fun of him.

Q11. What surprises awaited Franz as he entered his classroom?

Franz was astounded when instead of meeting an angry teacher, he was welcomed by a kind and polite M. Hamel. This was quite contrary to his nature. Moreover, he was dressed in his best clothes, a beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and an embroidered silk cap, which he wore only on inspection and

prize days. Another surprise that he encountered was that the back benches were occupied by the village people, who had never cared to come to school till that day.

Q12. What was the 'thunderclap' the narrator received as M. Hamel began the lesson?

The narrator received a bolt from the blue when the teacher, M. Hamel mounted on the chair and announced that he was there to teach his last lesson in French that day. They had received orders from Berlin and consequently teaching of French was being barred. Only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

Q13. Why had the villagers occupied the back benches of the class that day?

The villagers had occupied the back benches of the class as a mark of respect for the teacher and their mother tongue. It was their way to atone for their guilt for not having attended school more regularly and giving due honour and respect to their country. This was the only opportunity they could avail themselves of, to thank their master for his forty years of meritorious service and a mark of respect for their country.

Q14. What did the narrator wish when he was asked to recite the rules of the participles by the teacher? How did he recite on the contrary?

The narrator had come unprepared to school without learning his lesson about the rules of participles. When he was asked to recite he repented his carelessness. He wished he could recite his lessons flawlessly and would have given anything to be able to do so. On the contrary he got all mixed up at the very first word and stood there feeling guilty.

Q15. Why didn't M. Hamel scold Franz for not learning his lesson?

Immensely pained at the French being deprived of having the privilege of learning their mother-tongue, M. Hamel felt sorry for his students and countrymen. Hence, he did not scold Franz for not learning his lesson. He rather pitied him.

Q16. What does M. Hamel mean when he says, "We've all a great deal to reproach ourselves with"?

M. Hamel voices his repentance through this remark. He felt that it were not the children alone who need to be blamed, even the adults had not been serious about the learning at school. The parents preferred to have their children work on their farms or at the mills to earn a little more money. Even Hamel had sent the children on petty errands for his convenience thus making them miss their lessons.

017. How was M. Hamel's last class different from his previous classes?

M. Hamel had been a hard taskmaster and as a strict teacher, he did not spare the rod in order to make his students learn his lessons. He was generally cross and cranky. But on the day he taught his last lesson, his voice had mellowed down. It was grave and gentle instead of being rude and impolite. He was no longer aggressive and rapping his ruler on the table as he usually did.

Q18. Why did M. Hamel insist that the people of Alsace should hold on to their language?

Why does the teacher feel the need to safeguard their language?

M. Hamel insisted on making the people of Alsace realise what they were losing upon by not learning their lessons in time. He urged upon them to be conscious of the fact that French was the most beautiful language of the world - the clearest and the most logical one. They should guard their language and must not let it die as it was the key to their prison and a symbol of their identity.

Q19. How did the people react when they realised that they will never be able to learn their language?

The people of Alsace were awakened to the fact how precious one's language is for one's identity. The villagers showed rare interest and enthusiasm in learning. Even the teacher was more patient, as if he wanted to give away all he knew at one stroke. There was perfect silence in the class. Everyone, even the littlest ones were engrossed in the lesson showing no signs of distraction even when the beetles flew in.

Q20. How does M. Hamel prove to be an ideal teacher?

M. Hamel was an ideal teacher as he selflessly dedicated himself to the cause of teaching not only the children but also the adults of Alsace for forty long years. Right from starting the school to delivering his last emotionally charged lesson arousing patriotism among all present, he religiously and conscientiously devoted himself to his profession.

Q21. How does M. Hamel arouse patriotic feelings in the people of Alsace?

M. Hamel aroused patriotic feelings in the Alsatians by making them conscious that their language was the key to their prison. He advised them to guard their identity. Finally, he wrote the words 'Vive La France' making them realise that only they could fight for the liberation of their country and restore its identity.

Q22. What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave his last French lesson?

When his last French lesson began, everyone sat in the class with a grin face. There was a pin-drop silence and nothing distracted the attention of either the children or the adults. With their patriotic feelings aroused, everybody had a sense of remorse for not having learnt French well.

Pictorial English

Class 12, The Last Lesson