Impressions of the image of teacher Ha-men in the work The Last Lesson

Essay Prompt: Impressions of the image of teacher Ha-men in the work The Last Lesson

Essay on the portrayal of teacher Ha-men in the work The Last Lesson

I. Outline: Reflection on the portrayal of teacher Ha-men in the work The Last Lesson (Standard)

1. Introduction

- Brief overview of the author, the work, and an introduction to the character Ha-men.

2. The Essence of the Story

a. Background of the Tale:
- France faced defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, leading to the annexation of the Andat and Loren regions by Prussia.
- The French lost access to their native language, and French teachers were forced to leave, leaving an educational void.

b. Image of the Teacher in the Final Class:
- Dressed elegantly in a green velvet frock coat and a silk-embroidered round hat...
- Stepping gracefully onto the lectern, the teacher solemnly announced, 'Today marks the last time I teach you.' => A poignant and melancholic moment.
- Diligently continuing the lecture, seemingly wanting to pass on the essence of a lifetime's knowledge of the French language to the students.

c. The Last Lessons of Mr. Ha-men:
- Mr. Ha-men pointed out the procrastination of the majority of students, resulting in a disaster that befell the country overnight.
- Praises for the French language, extolling its beauty as the 'best, purest, and most steadfast' language in the world.
- Asserting a timeless truth, a valuable lesson that holds true in every era: 'When a nation falls into slavery, as long as they hold onto their voice, it's like holding the key to the prison.
- The teacher's inner thoughts summed up in a few words: 'FRANCE FOREVER!', revealing a profound love for the country, never yielding to the invasions of the enemy.

3. Closing Thoughts:

Share your reflections on the character Mr. Ha-men.

II. Exemplary Essay: Reflection on the Image of Teacher Ha-men in the Work 'The Last Class' (Standard)

War always brings profound unhappiness and immense losses to humanity, including the kind of pain that, although not physical, pierces the soul and leaves one endlessly thoughtful. It's the pain of tearing apart a nation, witnessing the oppression of one's homeland, being forced to abandon the cultural heritage of the people, and embracing the language of the enemy while enduring the agony of humiliation. All these pains are vividly portrayed in the short story 'The Last Class' and the character of Mr. Ha-men.

Alphonse Daudet (An-phông-xơ Đô-đê) (1840 - 1897) was a renowned French writer, notable for works such as 'The Little One,' 'Summer Letters,' 'Women in Love,'... Daudet ventured into various genres, but it's his short stories, particularly those of An-phông-xơ Đô-đê, that left a lasting impression with their serene and warm prose. 'The Last Class' stands out as a significant work by An-phông-xơ Đô-đê, emerging against a backdrop of historical pain. The Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, resulting in the annexation of the Andat and Loren regions by Prussia, brought a painful division to the nation. Not only that, schools in this region were forced to teach in German, leading to a heartbreaking event where the French lost access to their native language, and French teachers tearfully departed. Among them, Mr. Ha-men was one who had to endure such agony.

'The Last Class' unfolds through the perspective of Phrăng, a playful boy indifferent to academic matters, often delaying classes, especially those of Mr. Ha-men. He cunningly avoids the teacher's reprimands by sneaking into class during the chaotic sessions of spelling and chalk scribbling. Today, as usual, Phrăng, in his usual hurried manner, ignores the notice on the bulletin board, missing what is happening in his homeland. Unmindful of the seemingly mocking words from the assistant director, Oát-stơ, Phrăng continues his customary tardy arrival. However, upon entering the classroom, witnessing the unusual silence through the wide-open window, and seeing Mr. Ha-men pacing with a ruler tucked under his arm, Phrăng senses an impending heaviness. In this moment, Phrăng fears severe punishment for his tardiness. Surprisingly, the typically strict teacher, upon seeing Phrăng outside, shows unexpected leniency, gently urging him, 'Phrăng, quickly take your seat; the class is about to begin, and you're late, my boy.'

Seated in his place, Phrăng, in his astonishment, notices the teacher's unusual attire today: a 'green velvet frock coat, neatly folded lotus leaf edges, and a silk-embroidered round hat reserved for special occasions and inspections.' This attire, rarely worn by Mr. Ha-men, signals to Phrăng that today's class is different and more solemn than usual. Responding to this curiosity, Mr. Ha-men gracefully ascends the lectern, displaying the most dignified and gentle demeanor of a teacher, looking down at the beloved students and speaking in a composed tone: 'Today marks the last time I teach you. Berlin's decree mandates teaching only German in the Andat and Loren regions... Today is your last French literature class...' Perhaps, for a Frenchman, a teacher imparting this information in French had to endure profound pain and sorrow. In this final French class, Mr. Ha-men dressed impeccably, exuding gravity and respect, aiming to honor the language. He hopes each student and every French person in Andat and Loren cherishes and remembers every moment of this day. In doing so, one can perceive the sacred love for the native language, the dedication in over 40 years of educational service, a commitment that Mr. Ha-men is about to bid farewell to. It's a loss, a great sorrow for the compassionate teacher, as what he relinquishes soon is not just a teaching job but a piece of land he has been devoted to for more than half his life. He witnesses the nation falling into the hands of the invaders, foresees the fate of his students, and the French people in this land. The more he thinks, the more profound the sadness becomes.

In this final class, Mr. Ha-men doesn't spend much time disciplining students or teaching them to spell in their mother tongue. Faced with Phrăng's hesitations and stumbles, unable to fluently read the French lesson he will no longer be taught, Mr. Ha-men remains gentle and understanding. Speaking to Phrăng, his words carry depth, a message he wants to convey to everyone. Mr. Ha-men points out the tendency of most students to procrastinate, thinking they have plenty of time to study, tomorrow, the day after, and the next. Little do they know that disaster has befallen their land in just one night.

The familiar homeland suddenly turned into the colony of invaders, and we, the native people, were forced to abandon our mother tongue to learn the language of the oppressors, ready to become slaves to those invaders. The pain is profound. If only people could learn and preserve their native language, passing it down to future generations. Even if sovereignty is lost, there would still be dignity and the cultural essence of the nation. Unfortunately, it's disheartening that even in the native language, students like Phrăng struggle to read fluently. As Mr. Ha-men warned, the shame will soon arrive. Invaders would arrogantly confront those who claim to be French but can't read or write their language, and this seems to be becoming a reality.

Every word from Mr. Ha-men, though gentle, struck forcefully into the hearts of each person. People always find excuses to postpone the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. Yet, Mr. Ha-men is a thoughtful person, understanding that the lack of studiousness is not solely the fault of the children. Parents share the blame for not realizing the importance of education. Mr. Ha-men also acknowledges his own shortcomings as a teacher. A man of ethics, with a profound and insightful perspective, is about to leave a place he has been attached to for forty years. It's both heart-wrenching and painful to witness the tragedy of these people and the land of Andat.

In that final class, Mr. Ha-men spoke extensively about the French language, praising it as the 'best, purest, and most robust language in the world.' These accolades expressed the teacher's deep respect and love for the nation's language, as well as a fierce pride for the homeland in the face of invasion. Through these sentiments, Mr. Ha-men affirmed a timeless truth: 'When a nation falls into slavery, as long as they hold onto their language, it's like holding the key to the prison.' The teaching seemed to illuminate a bright path in the hearts of the readers and the people of Andat, emphasizing the importance of culture and tradition, the core of a nation. Then, with a compassionate look, Mr. Ha-men continued his lecture, seemingly wanting to impart all the knowledge about the French language in his life to his students in the final moments before parting. All these expressions reveal the ethical heart and extreme pain of Mr. Ha-men faced with the adversity of the nation.

The pitiful, regretful demeanor of the teacher is evident as he stands at the lectern, gazing intensely at each object in the classroom, things that have been his companions for many decades. It's as if the teacher's eyes want to take away all the memories of the beloved small school. Despite the heartache and sorrow, Mr. Ha-men tries to finish the last teaching session well, as a farewell. The bell signaling the end of the school day rings, echoing in the teacher's soul. He wants to speak, express something in front of everyone before the farewell, but emotions overwhelm him. In the end, the words he wants to say, the thoughts in the teacher's heart, are encapsulated in a few words: 'FRANCE FOREVER!' Short but containing the heart of the teacher, a deep love for the country that never submits to the invaders. It's the last lesson that Mr. Ha-men, the venerable teacher, wants to convey to his dear students before departing.