Chapter 1 The Last Lesson

Franz was expected to be prepared with participles because his teacher M.Hamel had discussed with class that he will be going to question them on participles. As he didn’t know about participles.

In normal days, school begins with a lot of notice and cheerful faces of children. The environment of school and noises can be heard from the near streets. But that day was very unusual as there was all quiet and still. It was the day like that it seems on sunday. Mr.Hamel and students in the class was very sad and with worried faces.

A bad news was there on the bulletin-board which was giving information to public about the order pawed there from Berlin which stated that now from very first moment only German Language will be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

Everybody’s life got changed after winning the order from Berlin. That order took away all their happiness and cheers from their lives. The environment of school was changed. Mr. Hamel became more caring and sweet at the day. The class was filed with all students in fact the empty last benches was occupied by the villagers. Everybody was focusing in the class as they never did before. They were there to listen the last lesson in their native language. Everybody was sad for never used the precious opportunity to learn their native language.

Franz was sunned after being told by his teacher Mr.Hamel about the order from Berlin and that he is going to being taught their last lesson. His attitude towards Mr.Hamel was changed; he suddenly started loving his teacher and his teacher’s cranky nature. But now his school became a different meaning for him. His books, begs and school was no more a burden just like a fruited for him which he never wanted to lose.  He felt respect and pain for never listening in classes and never and near learning their French language.

The people and students were being told by Mr.Hamel that henceforward only German will be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The people lost their identity of being called a Frenchman. They felt what they how lost that from now they would near be able to speak French or write in French. Mr. Hamel said that for the oppressed people, their language in key to their stocked.

Then the people realised the value love for culture, pride in one’s language or nature language.

Franz was amazed of thinking that would they make pigeons sing in German. It is just to impossible thing they can’t change the cooing of the pigeon. The worlds in full of dominating cultural which tries to dominate other.

As the cooing is too natural for pigeons some French is so precious for them. It is their identity and pride. They have grown up learning French language and now to learn German is just an impossible thing. They can’t snatch away the freedom of speaking their language.