The Last Lesson (Flamingo text book)
The
Last Lesson
Alphonse Daudet
The Germans, to promote the spirit of nationalism
thought it was essential to wage a war against France, which shall result in
the unification of most of German States. This war from 1870-1871 was called
Franco-Prussian war. The story that unfolds in Alsace-Lorraine, a former
territory of German empire, now located in France. Alsace-Lorraine was
re-occupied by France in 1920.
Little Franz was running late to school. On his way
through the marketplace, he noticed a crowd around the bulletin board. Wondering about the bad news, he hurried to
school. He found the school unusually quiet. When he tried entering the class
unnoticed, M Hamel, the French teacher asked him to occupy his seat. He did not
scold Franz. The teacher announced that he was about to present his “Last
Lesson” in French. German would be taught in the school of Alsace-Lorraine from
the next day. Everyone in the class was filled with remorse and regret. Franz
found learning to be easy. At noon, M Hamel, wrote “Viva la France” in big
letters and gestured to dismiss the class.
a.
Linguistic Chauvinism
b.
Importance Mother tongue
c.
Attitude of procrastination
d.
Importance of learning
e.
Patriotism, Nationalism
|
|
Expression |
Explanation |
|
A |
all
out of breath |
gasping
for breath or air |
|
B |
a
great bustle |
busy
and noisy |
|
C |
in
great dread of |
A
feeling of great fear about someone or something |
|
D |
counted
on |
to
be confident about someone or something |
|
E |
in
unison |
to
perform together at the same time |
|
F |
strange
and solemn |
unusually
serious |
|
G |
a
thunderclap |
sudden
and shocking |
|
H |
reproach
ourselves with |
to
criticize oneself for their actions |
|
I |
with
all might |
gather
one’s strength |
|
j |
Viva
la France |
Long
live France |
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