Question

The people in this story suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this happen?

Answer 1

M. Hamel told the students and villagers that henceforth only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Those who called themselves Frenchmen would neither be able to speak nor write it. He praised French as the most beautiful, the clearest and most logical language in the world. He said that for the enslaved people, their language was the key to their prison. Then the people realised how precious their language was to them. This shows people's love for their own culture, traditions and country. Pride in one's language reflects pride in motherland.

Answer 2

After Alsace and Lorraine were annexed by Prussia, Berlin issued an order that only German would be taught in schools. During his final French lesson, M. Hamel expressed his sorrow that the French people would lose the ability to speak and write in their own language. He praised French as the most beautiful, clear, and logical language, urging his fellow countrymen to preserve it, comparing it to a key to the prison they were about to enter. This made the people realize the true value of their language, reflecting their deep love for their country and culture through their attachment to the French language.