The document summarizes the short story "The Last Lesson" by Alphonse Daudet. It takes place in 1870 when Prussia attacked and captured parts of France, including Alsace and Lorraine. The new Prussian rulers discontinued French language education in these areas and required French teachers to leave. The story focuses on one French teacher, M. Hamel, who is giving his last French lesson ever to his students before his forced departure. During this final class, one student realizes for the first time the importance of learning French, though it is now too late as it is M. Hamel's last lesson he will ever teach.