NCERT Class 12 English Flamingo: Chapter 1 — The Last Lesson Alphonse Daudet
NCERT Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 1, "The Last Lesson" by Alphonse Daudet, is set during the Franco-Prussian War. The story unfolds in Alsace and Lorraine, French districts that have fallen under Prussian control. The narrative begins with the protagonist, a student, feeling apprehensive about attending school late and facing a scolding from his teacher, M. Hamel, for not knowing participles. He observes the tempting beauty of the day outside, contrasting it with the strictness of school. Passing the town hall, he notices a crowd gathered around the bulletin-board, a source of all their recent bad news. The chapter introduces themes of impending change, the impact of war on education, and the emotional weight of losing one's language and homeland. This chapter helps students understand the significance of language and national identity in the context of historical events.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | English |
| Book | Flamingo |
| Chapter | Chapter 1 — The Last Lesson Alphonse Daudet |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 335 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the historical context of the Franco-Prussian War and its impact on Alsace and Lorraine.
- Analyze the protagonist's feelings of dread and temptation.
- Recognize the significance of language and its connection to identity.
- Appreciate the role of teachers and the school environment.
- Infer the meaning of new vocabulary from context.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| in great dread of | feeling very afraid of something |
| scolding | reprimanding angrily |
| participles | a word derived from a verb that can function as an adjective or noun |
| running away | escaping from a place or situation |
| spending the day out of doors | passing the entire day outside |
| chirping | making short, sharp, high-pitched sounds (like birds) |
| sawmill | a building with machinery for sawing timber |
| Prussian soldiers | soldiers from Prussia, a German state |
| drilling | practicing military exercises |
| tempting | appealing to or attracting someone |
| resist | withstand the action or effect of |
| town hall | the main administrative building of a town |
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Practice questions
- Why was the narrator late for school? Answer: The narrator was late for school because he overslept and was enjoying the warm, bright morning.
- What was the narrator afraid of? Answer: The narrator was afraid of being scolded by M. Hamel because he had not prepared for the lesson on participles.
- What did the narrator see at the town hall? Answer: The narrator saw a crowd gathered in front of the bulletin-board at the town hall.
- What kind of news usually came from the bulletin-board? Answer: All the bad news, such as lost battles, drafts, and orders from the commanding officer, came from the bulletin-board.
- Who was Wachter? Answer: Wachter was the blacksmith who was reading the bulletin with his apprentice.
Practice MCQs
Q1. Who is the author of 'The Last Lesson'?
Explanation: Alphonse Daudet is the French novelist and short-story writer credited with writing 'The Last Lesson'.
Q2. In which war is 'The Last Lesson' set?
Explanation: The story is set in the days of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871).
Q3. Which French districts were taken over by Prussia?
Explanation: The French districts of Alsace and Lorraine had passed into Prussian hands.
Q4. What was the narrator supposed to be questioned on?
Explanation: M. Hamel had announced that he would question the students on participles.
Q5. What was the weather like on the morning the story begins?
Explanation: The narrator mentions that it was 'so warm, so bright!' that morning.
Q6. Where were the Prussian soldiers drilling?
Explanation: The text states that the Prussian soldiers were drilling 'in the open field back of the sawmill'.
Frequently asked questions
What is 'The Last Lesson' about?
'The Last Lesson' is a story set during the Franco-Prussian War, depicting the impact of Prussian occupation on the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine, particularly on school life and the importance of the French language.
Who wrote 'The Last Lesson'?
The story was written by Alphonse Daudet, a French novelist and short-story writer.
When did the Franco-Prussian War take place?
The Franco-Prussian War took place from 1870 to 1871.
What was the narrator's main concern at the beginning of the chapter?
The narrator was concerned about being late for school and facing a scolding from his teacher, M. Hamel, for not knowing the lesson on participles.
What did the bulletin-board at the town hall represent?
The bulletin-board represented a source of all the bad news for the French people, including lost battles and orders from the commanding officer.
Which two French districts are mentioned as having passed into Prussian hands?
The French districts of Alsace and Lorraine are mentioned as having passed into Prussian hands.
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NCERT Class 12 English — Flamingo — Chapter 1 — The Last Lesson Alphonse Daudet. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.