The Last Lesson

by Alphonse Daudet

Genre: Drama
Setting:
Format of Original Source: Short Story
Recommended Adaptation Length:

Candidate for Adaptation? Promising

EXCERPT:

“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 to-morrow. This is your last French lesson. I want you to be very attentive.”

COMMENTS:

What a beautiful and moving premise for a one-act: a schoolmaster’s last chance to leave an impression on his students. Very adaptable, that premise. Though there’s no CONFLICT in this story, so all you can reliably get away with is the set-up, the message for the students, and a moving final moment. Very satisfying for a short one-act; not sufficient for anything longer than that.

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