Summarise 'The Last Lesson'.

In one line

What happens

1. Franz, a young boy, is late for school and worries about being scolded by his teacher, M. Hamel.
2. He notices the school is unusually quiet and serious; villagers and elders are present in the classroom.
3. M. Hamel announces that this is their last French lesson because the German rulers have ordered only German to be taught from tomorrow.
4. Franz feels sad and guilty for not valuing his language and studies before.
5. M. Hamel gives a heartfelt lesson, telling everyone to hold on to their language as it is their identity and pride.
6. At the end, M. Hamel is overcome with emotion and writes "Vive La France!" (Long live France!) on the board, signalling the end of the lesson.

The characters

• Franz: A young boy who is the narrator; he realises the importance of his language too late.
• M. Hamel: The kind but strict French teacher, who is deeply emotional about leaving his job and language.
• Villagers/Elders: They attend the last lesson to show respect for their language and teacher.

The message

• Value your language and culture before it is lost.
• Education and identity are precious, especially in difficult times.
• We often realise the worth of something only when we are about to lose it.

Important lines

• "This is your last French lesson."
• "When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison."
• "Vive La France!"

Exam tips

• Remember the main theme: loss of language and identity.
• Know the feelings of Franz and M. Hamel.
• Be able to explain why the villagers came to the class.
• Quote or mention the emotional ending.