The Last Lesson - summary.

The Last Lesson is a short story written by Alphonse Daudet: a French novelist and short- story writer.  The story deals with the childhood experience of the narrator who was getting late for going to his school and therefore, he was very much worried that this time again he would be scolded by Mr M. Hamel; his french teacher.  But when he arrived at the school, then he realised that this day was completely different from other days.  Because usually when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard out in the street and the teacher's great ruler was tapping on the table.  But it was completely different on that day and everything was quiet and still.  When the narrator went towards his class and opened the door he was accepting that this time again he would be scolded but nothing happened.  M. Hamel saw him and said very kindly, "Go to your place quickly, little Franz.  We were beginning without you."

    

The narrator jumped over the bench and sat down at his desk.  He observed that the teacher was on one of the best dress which he usually wore on some special occasions. He was looking quite emotional because it was his last lesson of french.  Everybody was looking sad sitting in the class.  The amazing fact was that the crowd sitting in the class was completely different and everyone was looking quite sensible as well as disciplined. This time the students sitting in the class were the Postmaster, the Farmer, and several others.  

Thereafter, Mr M. Hamel mounted from his chair and spoke with his same grave and gentle tone which he had used usually and said, "My Children, this is the last lesson I shall give you.  The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.  The new master comes tomorrow. This is my last French lesson. I want you to be very attentive."

The narrator heard M. Hamel said to him, "I won't scold you, little Franze; you must feel bad enough. See how it is!  Every day we have said to ourselves, 'Bah! I've plenty of time. I'll learn it tomorrow. And now you see where we've come out. Ah, that's the great trouble with Alsace; she(Alsace) puts off learning till tomorrow."  

The narrator Franz seemed to be very attentive toward the last lesson given by M. Hamel.  He heard so carefully and attentively that he understand each of the concepts very easily.  He was in this school for the last forty years but this day was looking quite sensible and different as it was his last lesson.  

At the end of the story, Mr Hamel left the class without having any kind of zeal and said, "School is dismissed- You may go."  

The narrator was looking at the blackboard in which a line was written in large words i.e. 

 "Vive La France!" 

Format of Article Writing

1.  Title (Name of the Article)
2.  By Name 
3.  Introduction with factual information
4.  Presentation of facts 
5.  Explanation of facts and information
6.  Providing the causes of the problem
7.  Giving an appropriate solution
8.  Conclusion 

1. Title: For writing an effective article, it is very much required to choose an appropriate title that deals with present problems or social issues. The title should be concise, ideally not more than four words. 

2. By Name: After choosing a title, it is necessary to write your name with 'by', providing information to the reader about the article's author. 

3. Introduction with factual information: The introduction should be written to create the reader's interest in the article, focusing on a current issue or problem. 

4. Presentation of facts: The selected facts should be presented in sequence. 

5. Explanation of facts and information: Facts should be explained properly to direct thoughts in a particular direction. 

6. Providing the causes of the problem: The causes of the chosen problem should be presented to give the reader insight. 

7. Giving an appropriate solution: An appropriate solution to the problem should be provided concisely. 

8. Conclusion: The conclusion should be given in three to four lines, using words like 'Nutshell', 'Crystal clear', and 'Tea spoon'.

Important questions of Silas Marner

1. What kind of  life was led by Marner during his early days at Raveloe?  Why were people of Raveloe superstitious about him?
2. Why did Marner refuse the company of others and preferred to live alone?  Why William Dane was not considered as religious man?
3. Describe the life changing experience of Marner at Lantern yard?  Why he was convicted of robbing deacon's gold?
4. Whom would you like to be considered as a religious man and why?  Discuss.
5. What punishment was given to Marner and why did he lose his faith in God?
6. What happened after Marner treated Sally Oates back to health?
7. What was indicated by Silas's action of keeping safely his broken pot?
8. Where did Marner hide his money?  Do you agree with this statement that in the village life of Raveloe Marner turned to be a greedy person?  If not then why?
9. Write a short note on Cass family?
10. How did Wildfire die and why was Dunstion Considered as the most wicked person of the novel?
11. How did Dunstan find the hidden money?
12. What is meant by this statement, "Silas's guineas were a golden wine"?

Tenses- Indefinite Sentenses.

Online studies and notes

William Dane- A religious Man or not?

William Dane is one of the important character of Silas Marner.  Though he is a negative character but still his negativity reflects the positive qualities of Silas Marner. Without him the story of Silas Marner can't be interesting.  In the beginning of this novel we have seen that Marner and Dane were considered as David and Jonathan of Biblical character. Though both of them are bosom friends but Dane started feeling jealous from Marner's popularity.  That was the reason he decided to belittle Marner in the eyes of churchmen.  He constructed a master plan against Marner.  

Silas was suffering from epilepsy and often it was considered by the churchmen as spiritual visitation.  But Dane told Marner that it was not a sign of spiritual visitation rather it was the sign of Devil's visitation.  Marner felt very sad after listening the opinions of his brother like friend.  But he ignored it.  Later both Marner and Dane were appointed to take care of an ailing Deacon and his gold.  But Dane excused that he was feeling sickness.  Marner got another attack of epileptic fit and Dane took advantage of it.  He put Marner's knife on the Deacon's place and placed deacon's gold at Marner's dwelling.  He also killed deacon to fulfill his master plan.  

Because he backstabbed his brother like friend Marner, that's why we can say that William Dane was not a religious man but yes, he is one of the important character of the novel Silas Marner.

Therefore, it can be concluded from the above discussion that William Dane is one of the negative character of the novel Silas Marner but without him the story of the novel can't be interesting.  So in every kind of negativity there is some positiveness hidden inside.

Silas Marner

1. Character sketch of Silas Marner.

or

2. What made the people of Raveloe superstitious about Silas Marner?

or

3.  What kind of life was led by Silas during his early days at Raveloe?  Why  did he attract Jem Rodney's attention?

Answer:  Silas Marner is the main character of the Novel written by George Eliot.  Basically the story of Marner is related with the life of  Georage Eliot and she has tried to express herself with the help of the character of Silas Marner. In the beginning of the Novel we have seen that he was living his life in Lantern Yard where he was one of the respectable person and a churchman.  People often appreciate his goodness and his belief in God.  His best friend William Dane felt jealous of him because of his popularity.  Silas loved Sarah and wanted to marry with her but Dane wanted to belittle Silas so that he could marry with Sarah.  

     Marner had a disease i.e. epilepsy which was considered by people as the spiritual visitation due to their ignorance and inability to understand the disease.  Dane tried to prove that it was not spiritual visitation rather it was a Davil's visitation.  He criticized Marner that there is some evil in Marner's Mind that is why it happened with him.  

     One day Silas Marner and William Dane are appointed to take care of ailing Deacon and his Gold.  In the midnight Dane said that he had felt illness that's why he left the place.  Afterwords Marner got another attack of epileptic fit.  Dane took advantage of it and stole the gold and killed Deacon with Marner's knife.  Thereafter he put the knife and gold at Marner's dwelling.  Later Marner was proved to be the culprit for the stealing of gold and the death of deacon.  

    After getting the betrayal of bosom friend Marner decided to leave lantern yard.  He went to a place where no one knew him and started living a life of recluse.   Now the story of Marner's life shifted from lantern yard to a small village Raveloe.  Here he stopped interacting with others started doing the work of weaving.  Afterwards Marner was known as a recluse because he never talk with someone.  He talked only if had to talk about his supplies of clothes or money.

     Now no one knew him.  When the people of Raveloe had seen him in the attach of epileptic fit, they co-relate it with some supernatural power and Jem Rodney who lived near Marner's cottage considered it as if he knew how to leave the body and how to walk out of death.  That was the reason why Rodney attracted towards Silas Marner.  Due to his and the ignorance of the people of Raveloe they considered him  as a person having super-natural powers.  

     Silas had also learnt about the medicinal power of herbs from his mother and could offer cure for dreaded ailments like rheumatism.  This special quality of Silas further earned him a special and having some supernatural powers.  All these things made the people superstitious about Silas Marner.