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Cheat sheet · Class 12 · CBSE · Commerce English

Flamingo (Prose): The Last Lesson cheat sheet

The whole chapter on one page: key formulas, facts and the points to remember, for quick revision before a test.

CBSE Class 12 · English

Cheat sheet

Chapter 1The Last Lesson

Last French lesson in Alsace — Franz finally values his language.

1. About

Author: Alphonse Daudet. Set in 1870, when Prussia took over Alsace and Lorraine.

2. Summary

  • Franz is late for school, afraid of a test on participles, and is tempted to skip.
  • The class is unusually quiet; M. Hamel wears his best clothes and village elders sit at the back.
  • M. Hamel announces an order from Berlin: only German will be taught from tomorrow — this is the last French lesson.
  • Franz regrets wasting time; the lesson suddenly seems easy and precious.
  • At noon, overcome, M. Hamel writes ‘Long live France’ on the board and dismisses the class.

3. Characters

Franz

careless boy who grows in understanding.

M. Hamel

strict teacher who has taught 40 years.

Village elders

come to pay respect and regret their neglect.

4. Themes

  • linguistic chauvinism
  • love of mother tongue
  • procrastination
  • loss of freedom

5. Key Points

  • Language is the key to a people's identity.
  • Everyone, including parents, had put off learning.
  • Bulletin board brought bad news for two years.
  • Franz's thought about the pigeons shows how absurd the order is.

Remember: Order from Berlin | M. Hamel | Franz's regret | Vive la France

Flamingo (Prose): The Last Lesson: questions and notes

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