| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| the war | the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871) |
| the winner | Prussia, which led the newly united German states |
| the loss | France had to hand over Alsace and part of Lorraine |
| the order | only German to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine |
| "Berlin" | the capital of Prussia (later of Germany), from where the order came |
| the story's time | the first days of German rule in an Alsatian village |
Foundation first: why a language is taken over
A conqueror who wants to rule a people for ever often tries to change their language and schools, because a child who learns in a new language slowly learns a new loyalty. That is the idea behind the order in this story. A language carries a people's songs, stories and memories, so losing it feels like losing a part of oneself.
Words to know.
| Word | Meaning in this story |
|---|---|
| Prussia | the kingdom that led the German states and won the war |
| Alsace and Lorraine | border regions of France handed to the victors |
| order from Berlin | the command, from the winner's capital, to teach only German |
| bulletin board | the notice board at the town hall where the news was posted |
| the draft | orders calling men into the army |
Worked examples
Example 1 (short answer, 2 marks). What was the order that came from Berlin?
Model answer. The order was that only German should be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master would arrive the next day, so it was the last French lesson.
Why this scores: the order (1 mark) and its immediate effect (1 mark).
Example 2 (MCQ, 1 mark, ICSE 2026, Q1(xi)). Franz says 'all our bad news had come from there.' What does 'there' refer to? (a) The school building (b) The bulletin board (c) The clock tower (d) The town hall.
Solution. (b) The bulletin board in front of the town hall. It brought the lost battles, the draft and the commanding officer's orders. Why this scores: both (b) and (d) look right, and the trap is the town hall. Re-read the stem: bad news "had come from there" means the board where it was posted.
Example 3 (MCQ, 1 mark, ICSE 2025, Q1(xvi)). Why did M. Hamel have to leave the school after forty years? (a) He was not allowed to teach French any longer (b) He was tired of teaching (c) He was too strict (d) He wanted to take up farming.
Solution. (a). Under the new order only German could be taught, so a teacher of French had no place in the school.
Example 4 (3 marks). How does the historical background make the story more moving?
Model answer. The villagers have just lost a war. Two years of bad news from the bulletin board have ended with the loss of their language in school. Without this background, M. Hamel's pallor, his choked voice and the old men on the back benches would be hard to understand. With it, we see that a simple lesson is a farewell to a way of life.
Why this scores: the defeat (1 mark), the loss of language (1 mark), the effect on how we read the scene (1 mark).
Doubts cleared
Q. Why did the conquerors choose schools? Schools shape children. Teaching in German would turn the next generation towards the new rulers.
Q. Who is "they" in "the wretches"? The Prussian authorities who posted the order.
Q. Was M. Hamel forced to leave the village? The story says he and his sister must leave the country the next day, so yes, his work ends with the order.
Mistakes to avoid
- Writing that the order came from "Paris" or "the French king". It came from Berlin.
- Saying France won the war. France was defeated by Prussia.
- Mixing up the bulletin board and the town hall. The board is in front of the hall.
Check yourself
- Who won the Franco-Prussian War?
- What two regions were affected by the order?
- Where was the bad news posted?
Answers: 1. Prussia. 2. Alsace and Lorraine. 3. On the bulletin board at the town hall.