Explanation of Last Lesson learned of the Afternoon by D.H.Lawrence (class 8)
Answers
The poem begins with a teacher describing his "weariness" and stating that he can no longer teach his students who have no motivation to learn. In the second stanza, the teacher says that he can no longer look at the "threescore" (sixty) books on the desks or read the carelessly written responses that the students turn in. The teacher essentially feels hopeless and questions the purpose of teaching. In the third stanza, the teacher comments that he will not waste his last bit of energy attempting to teach students who continue to insult him. The teacher refuses to endure any more of their abuse. In the fourth stanza, the teacher believes that his teaching and the students' learning are both futile pursuits. In the fifth stanza, the teacher asks "What is the point?" The teacher says that it doesn't matter whether the students can learn simple tasks like describing a dog. In the last stanza, the teacher says it is useless to waste his energy attempting to teach students who couldn't care less. The teacher finds it easier to wait for the bell to ring rather than struggle trying to teach the unruly students. Overall, the poem is about a teacher who is frustrated with his students and cannot wait for the bell to ring.