📘 Chapter 1 – The Last Lesson (लेखक: Alphonse Daudet)
✨ Hindi Summary of ' The last lesson'
यह कहानी फ्रांस और प्रशा (जर्मनी) के युद्ध के समय की है। लेखक ने इस कहानी में भाषा, देशभक्ति और अपने कर्तव्य के महत्व को बताया है।
कहानी का नायक एक छोटा लड़का फ्रांज़ (Franz) है, जो फ्रेंच भाषा की कक्षा में देर से पहुँचता है। उसे डर रहता है कि उसका शिक्षक M. Hamel उसे डांटेंगे। लेकिन आज कुछ अजीब था — स्कूल में सन्नाटा था, और हर कोई बहुत गंभीर लग रहा था।
आज "The Last Lesson" (अंतिम पाठ) था — क्योंकि अब से जर्मन सैनिकों के आदेश के अनुसार, फ्रांस के अलसास और लोरेन प्रांतों में केवल जर्मन भाषा पढ़ाई जाएगी।
M. Hamel ने बताया कि अब उन्हें अपना देश छोड़ना होगा और यह उनका अंतिम दिन है। वे बहुत दुखी थे क्योंकि उन्हें अपनी मातृभाषा फ्रेंच से बहुत प्यार था। उन्होंने बताया कि हमें अपनी भाषा की कद्र करनी चाहिए, क्योंकि जब तक हम अपनी भाषा को संजोकर रखते हैं, तब तक हम स्वतंत्र हैं।
फ्रांज़ को आज पहली बार अपनी भाषा की कीमत समझ में आई। उसने सोचा कि अगर वह ध्यान से फ्रेंच पढ़ता, तो आज यह दिन इतना दुखद नहीं लगता।
कहानी का अंत तब होता है जब M. Hamel बोर्ड पर बड़े अक्षरों में लिखते हैं —
“Vive La France!” (फ्रांस अमर रहे!)
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🧠 Main Themes of the last lesson chapter 1 (मुख्य विचार):
1. मातृभाषा के प्रति प्रेम
2. देशभक्ति और कर्तव्य
3. शिक्षा का महत्व
4. समय रहते ज्ञान की कद्र करना
💬 Important Questions & Answers (English Only) of 'The last lesson'
🟢 2 Marks Questions
Q1. Who was Franz and what was he afraid of that morning?
👉 Franz was a young student of Alsace. He was afraid of being scolded by his teacher M. Hamel because he was late and hadn’t prepared his French lesson on participles.
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Q2. What unusual things did Franz notice at school that day?
👉 The school was unusually quiet, M. Hamel was wearing his special green coat and frilled shirt, and villagers were sitting on the back benches—something Franz had never seen before.
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Q3. What announcement did M. Hamel make in the class?
👉 He announced that it was the last French lesson as an order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
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Q4. How did Franz’s feelings for M. Hamel change that day?
👉 Franz, who earlier disliked him, suddenly felt deep respect and affection for M. Hamel, realizing his dedication and love for France and the French language.
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🟣 5 Marks Questions
Q5. What did M. Hamel say about the French language?
👉 M. Hamel said that French was the most beautiful, clear, and logical language in the world. He told the people to guard it well because when a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language, it is as if they have the key to their prison.
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Q6. How did the villagers show their respect for M. Hamel and the French language?
👉 The villagers came to the school and sat silently on the last benches to express their respect for M. Hamel and to show their regret for not learning their language earlier. Their presence symbolized love for their mother tongue.
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Q7. What made Franz realize the importance of his language?
👉 Franz realized the importance of his language when he learned it was his last lesson in French. He felt sorry for not learning it earlier and understood that language is a symbol of one’s identity and freedom.
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🔵 6 Marks Questions (Long Answers)
Q8. Describe the character of M. Hamel as revealed in the story.
👉 M. Hamel was a strict but kind and dedicated teacher. He served faithfully for forty years in the same school. On the last day, he showed deep love for the French language and his students. Though emotional, he remained calm and patient, emphasizing the value of language and patriotism. His behavior reflected his sincerity and sense of duty.
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Q9. “When people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language, they have the key to their prison.” Explain.
👉 Through this line, Alphonse Daudet highlights that language is the soul of a nation. Even if a country is captured politically, as long as people keep their language alive, their spirit and culture remain free. Language keeps national identity and unity intact. Losing one’s language means losing one’s freedom and culture.
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Q10. What is the central theme or message of “The Last Lesson”?
👉 The story conveys the message of love for one’s mother tongue and country. It teaches that we should value our language and culture before it’s too late. It also reflects regret, patriotism, and the emotional bond between teachers, students, and their nation.
