SPECIAL NOTES

THE LAST LESSON

XII

Theme : Central Idea

Linguistic chauvinism of the proud conquerors and the pain that is inflicted on the people by taking away the right to study or speak their own language and thus make them aliens in their own land of birth. Highlights the efforts of the victors to rush their victims mentally, spiritually , mentally and emotionally. Sub theme: Attitude of teachers and students to teaching and learning. The proper equation between student and teacher , his focus attention , helpful and encouraging attitude and kind treatment can encourage student to learn better. Importance of ones own language.

M. Hamel
presents his character with sympathy and respect. Has a logical mind and can analysis r!blems and dedu"e the reas!ns. #n!$s the em!ti!nal h!ld !% a lan&ua&e over its users. !ood communicator and e"plains everything patiently. Traditi!nal s"h!!l master# kept his terrible ruler under his arms., could hear the tapping of the ruler on the table, students were dreaded of their master. Hard tas' master# always maintained decorum and discipline in the class. Order %r!m (erlin# Transformed him, become e"tra soft and gentle towards his students, $idn%t scold his students or use his scale. He was in the best of dress in honour of the last lesson. Hi&hly res e"ted by the )illa&ers# worked for &' years in the same school, elders came to pay their respect to such a grand teacher. L!)ed *ran"e and *ren"h e! le %!rm the "!re !% his heart# (rench language))Asked people to guard it among themselves. *hen he heard the sound of the trumpet)mounted on the chair)

Lin&uisti" "hau)inism#
+eans an aggressive and unreasonable belief that your own language is better than all others, or e"cessive or pre,udiced support for one%s own language. L.-. is having an absurdly e"travagant pride in ones own language. .g. !ermany of /ismarck reflected that pride when it imposed !erman language on the dominantly (rench population of Alsace and Lorraine.

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-onquerors try to subdue and control of the people of the enslave territory by enforcing many measures such as use of force to curb dissent and imposing their won language on them. .g. 0oman%s imposed Latin, +uslim imposed Arabic and 1ersian in the counties of Asia. 2ot good to carry pride in one%s language too far. It is good to feel proud of our own language, culture, and tradition. /ut we must also respect other linguistic minorities.

4ea"ti!n !% *ran5 and )illa&ers:

*ran5:
-ame as a shock (ull of regret as he has hardly learnt to write. $id not pay any attention to his lesson /ooks no longer seemed burden to him. He would miss his teacher. Lali Mathe$ 6.A. 273 SheeshMhahal A artment

8illa&e e! le :
3orry they hadn%t gone more to school *ished to thank their master and show respect for their country by giving their full attention to the lesson 4ld Houser had brought an old primer and his voice trembled with emotion while spelling out the words on it.

THE LOST SP4IN9

THEME : CENT4AL I6EA *riter e"presses the national shame# -hildren condemned to poverty and a life of e"ploitation. In this bleak world the author finds stories of resilience and fortitude. (irst story unveils the utter destitute of rag pickers of 3eemapuri. 0ag picking children go about barefoot and can be seen smudging heaps of garbage. 3econd story deals with the unenviable lot of the bangle makers of (iro5abad. /angle makers are poor, illiterate. They believe fatalistically that they were born that way because it was their fate. *riter analysis the grinding poverty and tradition which condemn these children to a life of e"ploitation . These children are denied the opportunity of schooling and forced into labour early in life.

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Li%e !% 4a& Pi"'ers:

6',''' of them. -ame from /angladesh in 6786. Live in structures of mud, roofs of tin and tarpaulin $evoid of sewage, drainage) 9' years got only a ration card). (ood is more important than survival !arbage# gold for them, provide daily bread and roof.

Lali Mathe$ M.A.M.Ed Sheesh Mahal A artment Shalimar (a&h 6elhi

Li%e !% (an&le Ma'er

They are born in poverty, live in poverty, die in poverty and leave the ne"t generation in poverty. (or generations working around the furnace welding, soldering glass). 2o gain live with poverty. Living condition 1overty and hunger, social customs and tradition, stigma and caste and intrigues of powerful lobby that thrives. +oney lenders, the middle man, police). all are ranged against them. -hildren : engaged in illegal and ha5ardous work. ;ears of mind numbing toil have killed all initiatives. <nable to organi5e themselves).. 3eems to carry the burden that they can%t put down.

:The beauty !% &lass ban&les !% *ir!5abad "!ntrast $ith the misery !% e! le $h! r!du"e them.;
;ou never see the poor in this town. /y day they toil, working cranes and earthmovers, squirreling deep into the hot sand to lay foundations of chrome. /y night they are banished to bleak labour camps at the outskirts of the city). All that glitters is not gold. Appearance can be deceptive. The beauty of the glass bangles contrast with the misery of the people. This parado" is the basis of their lives. (eauty !% ban&les: 3ymboli5es suhaag of Indian woman. 3tands for auspiciousness in marriage. colour is fascinating paddy green). /angles have the colours of rainbow.

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Other side

resents the atheti" i"ture .mployment of =',''' children High temperature Illigal Live in dark hutments Around the flames of flickering oil lamps, sits boys and girls with their father and mother. .yes are mot ad,usted to the dark than the lights out side Have not en,oyed even one full meal in their entire life. >now nothing e"cept bangles ;ears of mind numbing toil had killed all their dreams and ability -an%t even organi5e themselves into cooperative

6EEP <ATE4
THEME = CEN4T4AL I6EA = TITLE

E>tra"t from +en and +ountain $eals with his personal e"perience and analysis of it (ocus on (ear# ."periencing fear of death under water and the effort of the author to overcome it 1sychological analysis of fear is presented from a child%s point view and centers around deep water drowning. The overpowering force of water at the -alifornia beach stirs an aversion for water in $ouglas. +others warning 2ine feet deep water at the swimming pool appears more than 7' *hen he conquers, he can dive? swim, in deep waters of Lake *entworth, warm lake).

HO< 6OES 6O?9LAS O8E4COME *EA4

The fear that developed in the pool stayed on (ear ruined his fishing trips, boating) Tried to overcome the fear but in vain $ecided to get an instructor to learn to swim) Training went on from 4ct. to April 1ut a belt around him and tied a rope to it Attached a pulley that ran on an overhead cable. 1racticed five days a week, an hour every day. .ach trip, a bit of panic sei5ed him. His legs fro5e

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Instructor taught him to e"hale and inhale under water +ade him to kick with his legs and make them rela". -ontinued swimming from April to @uly. *ent to Lake *entworth and dived off a dock at Triggs Island, swam = miles across the lake. 4nly once the fear returned, but he learnt to push it aside and swim on. .ventually he conquered his childish fear.

ALL <E HA8E TO *EA4 IS *EA4 ITSEL*

0oosevelt said, A all we have to fear is fear itselfA *ords have deeper meaning. 4nly those who have undergone such an e"perience as faced by $ouglas can appreciate it ."perience of $ouglas at the sea shore) ;. +. -.A pool)) (eelings each time he went down) How he tried to overcome his fear) Learnt a lesson. BAll we have to fear is fear itselfA. If we act with courage, fear is conquered. It is basically fear of death that produces fear. $ouglas reali5ed that once the fear of death is overcome there is peace. 0ome was not built in a day. .verything takes its own time. 2obody become a celebrity overnight. They require a sustained and long effort over months and years. 4nly determination and perseverance help you in the long run.

THE 4AT T4AP

THEME = TITLE = CENT4AL I6EA <niversal theme# A belief that the essential goodness in a human being can be awakened through understanding and love. 3tory is set amidst the mines of 3weden, rich in iron ore. The story is told in a fairy tale manner. The metaphor serves to highlight the human predicament. +aterial benefits are traps that most human beings are prone to fall into. Human beings do have tendency to redeem themselves form dishonest ways as does the peddler at the end of the story. The peddler is tempted by the 9' >ronor steals the money : afraid of being caught moves into a forest kind sympathetic treatment given by .dla helps him get himself free from the rattrap of the world.

Love and understanding can transform even a depraved soul. .nding pays tribute to the goodness and humanity e"hibited through +iss .dla ) inspire the readers to do noble acts. METAPHO4 O* THE 4ATT4AP

The metaphorical description of the world to be a rattrap by the peddler highlight the human weakness of getting lured by things that apparently look pleasant but ultimately prove to be troublesome. The world entices a person thorough various good things of life such as riches and ,oy, shelter and food)) these were ,ust like the baits in the rattrap. 4nce someone is tempted by the bait, world closes on him. The metaphor used to highlight the human predicament. 1eddler tempted to steal the money. Lost in a big and confusing forest. 9' kronor at the window was the bait Again the metaphor of the rattrap comes alive when the ironmaster invites him to his house. +etaphor is effectively used when the peddler describes human predicament to the ironmaster. BAll the goods that are offered are nothing but baits to drag a poor fellow into troubleA. (inally the peddler thinks that he would have been caught if he had not been raised to a captain.

?NEXPECTE6 4EACTIONS: 1eddler%s character is full of contradictions# sells rattrap doesn%t mind begging resort to petty thievery has philosophical attitude towards life ) consider the world nothing but a big trap. 4ld -rofter Cs instant hospitality : happily welcome the peddler ,supper together and played ma,olis 3tealing of 9' >ronor from the crofter is an act of thanklessness and ingratitude. Attitude of the Ironmaster# Taking the peddler for an old acquaintance 1eddler refuse to go with the ironmaster, *hen the ironmaster come to know the reality, threatened to call the police. .dla%s invitation to -hristmas dinner and the refusal to sent the peddler back. 1eddler leaves a -hristmas present for .dla and 9' >ronor for the old crofter. S?(TLE H?MO?4

Humour is a redeeming features as far as the element of seriousness is concerned in the story. His idea of entire world to be like a rat trap really entertaining. In spite of his sad, monotonous life pulled on by begging thievery and pedlary, he feels pleased at this smartness. After denying the hospitality of the ironmaster, he laughs himself when the master blacksmith urges him to stay on. His sleeping with one eye open is not lass laughter provoking At the dinner the peddler%s offer to be redressed in his ragas and be off is humorous enough and again thumping on the table with his fist and describing the world to be a rattrap are full of humour Leaving aside the dignity of a captain , the peddler comparing himself with a rat is so funny STO4@ : S?SPSENSE*?L AN6 PHILOSOPHISCAL The plot has been unraveled in a manner that at once captures the reader%s attention. The episode of crofter and the thief committed by the peddler is full of immense interest and suspense. The fluctuating fortune of the peddler is full of suspense The metaphoric description of the world to be a rat trap is purely philosophical and appeals to logic from every angle. It focuses on the weakness of the human nature : greed. The sea change in the peddler%s thinking and behaviour is not less striking. It also lays stress on a psychological philosophical truth that no human being is born wicked. It is only the circumstances that forces one to be bad. +ore over love , compassion and due care being the worst back to the best. The story is an eye opener. $otted with humourous situation, it unveils some facts that are universally true and ends leaving the reader in highly reflective form of mind

IN6I9O
CHAMPA4AN EPISO6E: T?4NIN9 POINT IN 9AN6HIAS LI*E
-hamparan district in /ihar 1easants were sharecroppers -ommercial crops was indigo

 .nglish compelled them to plant 6DE of their holding with indigo and surrender
the entire crops as a rent to the landlords. !ermany developed synthetic indigo. 3o natural indigo was no more profitable. $ecided to free the sharecroppers form 6DE 1easants have to pay the compensation to the landlord%s for being freed from the 6DE agreement. 3igned a new agreement. Later reali5ed the mistakes and wanted their money back 4!le !% 9andhi: <ent /ihar. !athered information about the plight of the peasants. Asked to quit -hamparan , 4beyed the voice of the conscience and decided to disobey the order. Asked to summon the court. Foluntary demonstration of 6'''s of poor against the govt . . !andhi was released Appointed a commission of enquiry !andhi was the sole representative Landlord agreed to refund the money. 3truggle started in 6768 /egan not as an act of defiance : grew out of an attempt to make the suffering of large number of poor peasant less severe. -onsented on their practical day to day problems. Analyses the root cause (ear and tried to eradicate it Foluntary demonstration of the poor peasants against the govt. for putting !andhi in trouble was the beginning of the end of their fear of /ritish. !andhi tried to mould a free Indian who could stand on his own feet and make India free. Taught his lawyers friends a lesson on self reliance by opposing the involvement of -.(. Andrews in their unequal fight . Their cause was ,ust. Taught self reliance, Indian independence and help to sharecroppers were all bound together.

CHA4ACTE4 O* 9AN6HI
The chapter : best tribute to !andhi -hampion the cause of oppressed people through argument and negotiations. +agnetic attraction and great persuasive power -ould draws people of all classes. 0ural uplift was his favourite programme. >nowledge of legal procedure and respect for law is highlighted. *ant to give humanitarian and national service in obedience to the higher law of our being, the voice of conscience.

1olite and friendly person Ability to read the minds of others. /elieved in self reliance, ,ust cause and purity of means to achieve India%s independence.

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POETS AN6 PANCA#ES

H?MO?4 TO POINT O?T H?MAN *OI(LE
<ses gentle humour and mild satire to make his account interesting and readable. <ses rambling and chatty style , making transitions from one thought to another and thus preparing us for a gentle tickle as he moves on to the ne"t items. Humour used by the narrator is not pungent to caustic. It tickles but doesn%t bite. .. /rand name of the make up material used by the !emini studios is 1ancake. 1. +ake up room was in a building that believed to have -live%s stable. 9. The fiery misery of those who were sub,ected to make up. &. The gang of make up man could turn any decent looking person).. 2. $escription of the office boy : He wasn%t a boy? he was in his early forties) 7. The office boy becomes unbearably boring. 3o the narrator was praying for crowd shooting all the time. B. $escription of the lawyers : officially known as legal adviser, but everybody referred to him as the opposite. G. !ently laughs at the ignorance of the +.0.A. group about animals. 7. $escription of the .nglish poet who visited the studios : what is an .nglish poet doing in studio which makes Tamil film. 6'. He was a man who could be inspired when commanded. 66. 4nly one instances in all human history where a lawyer lost his ,ob, because the poets were asked to go home. 6=. 1rose writing can not be true pursuit of genius. 69. The mild satire is also directed at people who are averse to communism and go to any length to oppose it. MA#E ?P 6EPA4TMENT 3ituated at the upstairs of a building believed to be -live%s stable. Had a look of a hair cutting saloon. Had half do5en large mirrors, incandescent lights. It radiated lot of heat. Hierarchy was maintained# -hief makeup man Hero and heroine 3enior assistant second hero and heroine @unior assistant +ain comedian

4ffice boy -rowed players. 1resented a picture of 2ational Integration. (irst a /engali, +aharashtrian, Assisted by >annadiga form $harwar, An Andhra, +adras Indian -hristian, Anglo /urmese, and local Tamil boys. <sed pancakes, lotions, potions to turn any descent looking person into a monster.

Lali +athew +.A. +..d. Lalimathew H ymail.com 7G6'96=D&7

#OTHAMAN9ALAM S?((?

2o. two at the !emini studios 4fficially on the rolls off the story department, he was always with the /oss !ave direction and definition to the !emini 3tudios +an of parts and many sided genius *ith 3ubbu around film making become so easy and sheer pleasure. 0ight hand man of the /oss. 3elf made man. .ntered the studio when there were no firmly established companies or studios. (aced difficulties and uncertain times. $o not have any formal education. /eing a /rahmin he was e"posed to more prosperous people and situations. -ould be cheerful even after making a flop films. 3ense of loyalty made him identify with the /oss. Turned all his energy and creativity to the advantage of his /oss. Tailor made for films. His success in film overshadowed and dwarfed his literary achievements. !reat poet : wrote poems for common people, composed several truly original? story poem in folk style *rote novels with do5en of neatly drawn characters. Ama5ing actor. 2ever aspired to the lead role. 1erformed better than the main players. Had a genuine love for everyone v feeding and supporting many people. -lose to the /oss that sometimes he resembled a sycophant. Had enemies : office boys was his biggest enemy, considered 3ubbu the reason of all his woes and neglect.

O**ICE (O@
*asn%t e"actly a boy, he was in his early forties .ntered the studios to become a star actor, screen writer, director or lyric writer. At present : had to do make up for the crowed (elt dissatisfied and disillusioned.

-onsidered make up department fit only for the barbers and perverts. (rustrated that his literDary talent was being allowed to go waste. *as a bit of a poet. !ot good education and had an encouraging opening in films. $id not advance an inch form his position as office boy. Typical specimen representing the youth turned by glitter and glamour of films, struggling hard to make a name , then doomed to frustration.

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INTE48IE<
INT4O6?CTION
Interview as communicative genre 6D' years old. /ecome an important tool for the ,ournalism. *e get clear impression of celebrities through interviews. The interview holds a position of power. However opinion differs and many celebrities hate being interviewed. Highlights some of the positive and negative points of interviews. P!siti)e: 3ource of truth and an art. Helps us to learn about our contemporaries and form opinions. Act like a mirror to reflect the personality of the interviews. 3upreme serviceable medium of communication. Ne&ati)e: As an unwarranted intrusion into their lives. $iminishes them 8.S.Nai aul# some people are wounded by interview and lose a part of themselves. L.Carr!l# ,ust a horror of interviewer. 4. #i lin&# as an assault. H.9.<eels# the interviewing ordeal. Saul (ell!$# is like thumbprints on the wind pipe.