THE LAST LESSON

 THE LAST LESSON

	1. How did M. Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town?
	Answer: M. Hamel bade farewell to his students in a very dignified and sad tone. He announced that this was their last French lesson as an order from Berlin had come that only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. He urged the students and the people to keep their language alive and close to their hearts.
	2. Who did M. Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz?
	Answer: M. Hamel blamed both parents and children for neglecting the learning of their mother tongue. They always put off learning till the next day. He blamed parents for sending their children to earn money instead of school. He even blamed himself for sending his students to water his plants or to give them a holiday when he wanted to go fishing.
	3. “He dared to hear every lesson to the very last.” What led Franz to make this remark?
	Answer: When Franz came to know that it was his last lesson in French, he felt a great love for his mother tongue. He realised the loss that he was going to suffer. So, a sense of love and interest for his mother tongue emerged in him and he said that he dared to hear every lesson to the very last.
	4. Why did Franz think of running away from school that morning?
	Answer: Franz didn’t want to go to school that day because it was a fine warm day. The weather was very fine and birds were chirping at the edge of the woods. He heard the sound of the Prussian soldiers drilling at the back of the sawmill. Moreover, he was already late for school and had not prepared his lesson on participles. He knew that he would be scolded by the teacher for that. So he wanted to run away from school.
	5. What did Franz see when he passed the town hall?
	Answer: When Franz passed the town hall, he saw a large crowd around the bulletin board. People had gathered in large numbers and they were all reading the bulletin board. All the latest news relating to the battle between the French and the Prussians was put up on the bulletin board. On that day the order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. This order was put up on the bulletin board.
	6. What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it cause in the school?
	Answer: The order from Berlin said instead of French only German had to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The order deeply shocked and upset everyone in the school. Everything became quiet and still. The teacher, M. Hamel, had put on his finest dress which he used to wear only on special occasions. All the students were quiet and the back seats of the class were occupied by the village elders.
	7. ‘What a thunderclap these words were to me!’ What were the words that shocked and surprised the narrator? Or Why is the order from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz?
	Answer: When Franz reached the school, he saw a strange stillness in the class. Then the teacher, M. Hamel, announced that it was their last lesson in French and the new German teacher would take charge on the following day. These words of M. Hamel came as a thunderclap to Franz since the announcement was unexpected and sudden for him.
	8. How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson?
	Answer: Franz was not able to accept the fact it was their last lesson in French. He was surprised and at the same time disheartened. He regretted not learning his mother tongue when he had the opportunity. He felt a sudden love for the language and his teacher.
	9. What was unusual about M. Hamel’s dress on his last day in school?
	Answer: M. Hamel was dressed in his formal dress which he used to wear only on inspection or prize-giving days. He was in his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and embroidered silk hat.
	10. What made M. Hamel cry towards the end of his last lesson?
	Answer: M. Hamel has been teaching French for the last forty years. His love for his mother tongue was a reflection of his patriotism. At the end of his last lesson, M. Hamel, overcome with emotions, broke down and could not speak anything with his throat choked. He wrote on the blackboard Vive La France.

	11. Why does M. Hamel reproach himself for his students’ unsatisfactory progress in studies?
	Answer: M. Hamel not only blamed the parents for the neglect of learning on the part of their children but also confessed that his personal preferences contributed to the unsatisfactory progress of his students. He sent his students to water the plants and gave them a holiday when he went for fishing.
	12. Who were sitting on the back benches during M. Hamel’s last lesson? Why?
	Answer: The village’s old and eminent people were sitting on the back benches of the classroom during M. Hamel’s last lesson. They all had come to attend the last lesson of M. Hamel as a mark of love and respect for their mother tongue and the teacher. They were gloomy, feeling guilty and full of repentance to recall that till that day, they had ignored their own language.
	13. What words did M. Hamel write on the board before dismissing the last class? What did they mean?
	Answer: M. Hamel wrote Vive La France which means ‘Long Live France’. These words described his patriotic feelings and his deep-rooted love for his motherland and mother tongue.
	14. What shows M. Hamel’s love for the French language?
	Answer: As a mark of his love for the French language, M. Hamel gave a tribute to his mother tongue in his last lesson. He called it ‘the most beautiful language’ in the world, the clearest and most logical. He appealed to the children and the people of the village to keep their mother tongue close to their hearts.
	15. What tempted Franz to stay away from school? Or Why did Franz not want to go to school that day?
	Answer: Franz was already late for school. He had not even prepared the topic of participles for which he was going to be tested that day. Moreover, it was a warm day and he was tempted by the chirping of birds and sounds of Prussian soldiers exercising at the back of the sawmill to miss the school that day.
	16. What changes did little Franz undergo after M. Hamel’s announcement?
	Answer: Franz was shocked at M. Hamel’s announcement that it was their last lesson in French. Suddenly he felt his love for his mother tongue and realised that he could hardly write well in French. He was full of remorse and regret for being so careless and unattentive in his class. Moreover, he also developed a liking for his teacher M. Hamel.
	17. What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave the last French lesson?
	Answer: There was complete silence in the class. Everyone was full of regret and remorse. Children as well as the village elderly were gloomy and repentant for not giving importance to their mother tongue. The order from Berlin had caused a sea change in the attitude of the people of Alsace and Lorraine to their language.
	18. What had Franz counted on to enter class unnoticed?
	Answer: Franz was late for school that day. But he was quite confident to enter the class unnoticed because usually there was a lot of confusion and noise at the beginning of the school. Every day there was a sound of the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison and the teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table. So Franz thought that he would take advantage of the situation and enter the class unnoticed.
	19. What did Franz wonder about when he entered the class that day?
	Answer: Franz was surprised when he entered the class that day as it was unusually quiet. M. Hamel spoke to him kindly which was contrary to his expectations. M. Hamel was dressed in his formal attire which he did only on special occasions. What surprised Franz most was the fact that the village people were sitting quietly on the last benches.
	20. Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day?
	Answer: Franz was not scolded that day because the scenario in the school had changed. M. Hamel spoke kindly to him and asked him to go to his seat. He blamed himself for not doing his duty faithfully and now there was the order from Berlin which had to be followed. 21. Why was M. Hamel kind to Franz even though he was late for school? Answer: It was the last lesson of M. Hamel in the school as the new German teacher was arriving the following day. M. Hamel was sad and sentimental as he was to leave the school after forty years of service as a teacher in French. He was very emotional, kind and understanding. So, he did not scold Franz even though he was late. 22. The ban on teaching French strengthened the resolve of the French to learn their language. Give evidence from the text to prove/disapprove the above statement. Answer: ‘The Last Lesson’ clearly brings out the resolve of the French to hold fast to their language. The order from Berlin imposing the German language on them made them more determined to respect and learn their language. This was evident in the last lesson of M. Hamel. All the back benches were occupied by villagers, including old Hauser, the former mayor, the former postmaster, etc. That day students in the class were quiet and eager to make the best of the last opportunity to learn their mother tongue. M. Hammel taught the last lesson with immense patience and told his students to safeguard their language. He reminded them that they would be able to liberate themselves only if they kept their language with them. Even the students realised the importance of their language and listened to their teacher carefully. They could not be distracted by beetles or the cooing of the pigeons. 23. How was the last lesson different from earlier lessons? Answer: The last lesson was different from earlier lessons in many ways. It revealed the love and respect of the teacher and students for their mother tongue. M. Hamel spoke very kindly and taught very patiently. He did not scold anybody that day. It seemed as if he wanted to give all that he knew before going away. He was in his best attire and his ‘iron ruler’ was no more in use. This lesson was attended by villagers to show their love and respect for their mother tongue and M. Hamel. The students listened very carefully and everybody was absolutely quiet. Franz was sorry for not learning his lesson. The last lesson was an emotional time which stirred patriotic feelings and awakened the villagers to the importance of their mother tongue. 24. Justify the title ‘The Last Lesson’. Answer: The title ‘The Last Lesson’ is significant and conveys the central theme of the story. The title highlights the fact that sometimes even the most precious things in our lives are taken for granted by us. The people of Alsace never gave much thought or importance to their mother tongue. They did not insist that their children should give it wholehearted attention. They did not encourage regular attendance of their children in French classes. They thought there was plenty of time to learn it. They preferred their children to work and earn rather than learn. They received a severe jolt when orders came from Berlin to ban French and make German compulsory. This brutal order from Prussians made them realise the importance of their mother tongue. So they came in full force to attend M. Hamel’s last lesson. Thus, the title ‘The Last Lesson’ reveals the theme of the story and is fully justified.   25. Write a character sketch of little Franz. Answer: Franz was a typical schoolboy. He was carefree and hated to go to school. He was afraid of his French teacher M. Hamel’s ‘iron ruler’. He was more interested in spending his time outside the school. Many times, he missed school and went in search of ‘bird’s eggs’ or watching the Prussian soldiers drilling at the sawmill. He did not realise the importance of learning his mother tongue till the time his country passed into Prussian hands and teaching French was banned. This came as a thunderbolt to him when he came to school and found it to be his last French lesson. At this point, he lamented the loss of his language. His entire perspective towards the language and the teacher changed. He was surprised to learn and understand everything on the last day and did not find M. Hamel strict during the lesson. He was not able to understand the severity of war and wondered whether “the pigeons would be made to coo in German”. 26. Our language is part of our culture and we are proud of it. Describe how regretful M. Hamel and the village elders are for having neglected their native language, French. Answer: M. Hamel in his last French lesson emphasized the importance of the mother tongue and how it binds everybody together. He exhorted all of them to guard their native language though he blamed himself also for neglecting French. He regretted giving them a holiday when he wanted to go fishing. He wished he had not sent them often to water his flowers instead of learning their lessons. The parents too were not very keen for their children to learn. They preferred to put them to work on a farm or at the mills for a little more money than to encourage them to study. But after the announcement, all elders sat quietly at the back of the classroom with regret written large on their faces. M. Hamel appealed to them again to hold fast to their language as that was the key to their freedom. 27. How did the order from Berlin change the situation in the school? Or The day of the last lesson was full of regret and sadness. Describe the events of the day in the classroom in the light of the above remark. Or “Order from Berlin aroused a particular zeal in the school.” Comment. Or “Everybody in the last lesson is filled with regret.” Comment. Or The entire classroom, M. Hamel as well as those present in the class, are full of regret. For what and why? Answer: The order from Berlin brought a sense of shock and surprise to the class. As per the order, this was the last French class. Alsace and Lorraine had been captured by the Prussians. So only German was to be taught in the schools. This made all the distinguished village elders feel guilty for ignoring their mother tongue. So, they all came to the class to show their love and respect for their mother tongue and French teacher M. Hamel. The entire school was filled with an air of remorse and regret. There was complete silence. The teacher, M. Hamel, was in his best dress and was full of emotions. Even the students in the class, including little Franz, felt remorse for their indifference to their mother tongue. There was an atmosphere of stillness and quietness in the class. 28. Give a character sketch of M. Hamel. Answer: M. Hamel was a teacher at a school in a village in the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine. He used to teach French. He had been teaching his mother tongue for the last forty years. He loved his profession from the core of his heart and had a deep sense of respect for the mother tongue. He had always been very particular and strict in imparting the knowledge of the language to his pupils. The news, that French would no more be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine and that this was going to be his last lesson, completely shattered a calm and composed M. Hamel. He tried his level best to remain calm and composed but broke down at the end. He felt tormented by the fact that people had become indifferent to learning French and appealed to them to keep their language alive. M. Hamel was a patriot in the real sense. He regarded the mother tongue to be a means of holding one’s identity and self-respect. He blamed not only the parents and children but himself also for neglecting the French. His concern and love for his country is evident at the end of his last lesson, when, he writes on the blackboard ‘Vive La France!’ in bold letters. 29. ‘Bah! I have plenty of time. I’ll learn it tomorrow.’ Franz was shocked when he heard that it was the last lesson in French and he hardly knew his mother tongue. Many of us find ourselves in similar situations and regret when all is over. What should we do so that we are able to achieve our goals? Answer: Opportunity knocks on the door only once. In fact, everyone gets only one chance in life and if it is lost there is no way to redeem it. It is said that hard work can turn the impossible into possible. But along with that, value for time is very essential. Most of us are in a habit of delaying things. Unless and until we are consistent and regular in our efforts, we cannot achieve our goals. Setting a goal is an easy task but the journey to reach that goal is tedious and demands perseverance, grit and determination. One has to be focused and consistent in one’s efforts. To achieve our goals in life, we need to understand the importance of time. Like Franz, we should not delay our efforts and sit comfortably thinking that there is enough time. As we know time and tide wait for no man. So in order to achieve our goals, we need to be vigilant, consistent, punctual, regular, hardworking and a determined person who greatly values time. 30. The people of Alsace and Lorraine did not understand the importance of learning their language — French. Emphasising the importance and need of learning one’s native language, discuss why one should learn one’s native language. Answer: One of the major effects of Westernization is that people have started losing interest in learning their native language. One’s native language is the repository of one’s culture, identity and way of living. As long as one speaks and communicates in one’s language, one can be proud of oneself. Many Indians who live abroad make it compulsory for their family to speak their native language at home so as to have a sense of belonging to their country. In fact, the native language binds us with our roots. Every language has its own speciality and the people who speak that language imbibe that speciality. Native language inculcates a sense of pride. A person who doesn’t know his native language is like a slave. 31. It was so warm, so bright! The birds were chirping at the edge of the woods, and in the open field back of the sawmill, the Prussian soldiers were drilling. It was all much more tempting than the rule for participles, but I had the strength to resist and hurried off to school. Answer the following. (a) The speaker of these lines is ____________ and he is thinking of not going to the class. Answer: Little Franz. (b) Prussian soldiers were in ____________ as there was a war going on. Answer:  Alsace. (c) The speaker is in a dilemma about going to school as he has not learnt the ____________. Answer:  participles. (d) Find a word similar to ‘withstand’ from the given lines. Answer:  resist. 32. Reading the bulletin, called after me, “Don’t go so fast, bub; you’ll get to your school in plenty of time!” I thought he was making fun of me, and reached M. Hamel’s little garden all out of breath. Answer the following. (a) Bub here refers to ____________, who was going to school. Answer:  Franz. (b) The speaker was nervous as he did not learn his lessons and was ____________. Answer:  late. (c) M. Hamel was Bub’s teacher who taught him __________. Answer:  French. (d) Find an expression from the extract which means ‘mocking’. Answer:  making fun of. 33. What a thunderclap these words were to me! Oh, the wretches; that was what they had put up at the town hall! My last French lesson! Why, I hardly knew how to write! I should never learn any more! I must stop there, then. Answer the following. (a) Hamel’s announcement ____________ Franz and he was frightened. Answer:  shocked. (b) Town hall had a ____________ that provided all the information. Answer: a bulletin board. (c) ‘Wretches’ here refers to Germans. (True/False) Answer:  True. (d) Franz was happy that his studies were over. (True/False) Answer:  False. 34. I heard M. Hamel say to me, “I won’t scold you, little Franz; you must feel bad enough. See how it is! Every day we have said to ourselves, ‘Bah! I’ve plenty of time. I’ll learn it tomorrow.’ And now you see where we’ve come out. Ah, that’s the great trouble with Alsace; she puts off learning till tomorrow. Answer the following. (a) Hamel was not ____________ with Franz because it was the last lesson. Answer:  angry. (b) Franz would feel bad because he always learnt his lessons on time. (True/False) Answer:  False. (c) ‘Ourselves’ here refers to all the teachers. (True/False) Answer:  False. (d) Find a word for ‘problem’ from the extract. Answer:  trouble. 35. Then, from one thing to another, M. Hamel went on to talk of the French language, saying that it was the most beautiful language in the world — the clearest, the most logical; that we must guard it among us and never forget it, because when a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison. Then he opened a grammar and read us our lesson. Answer the following. (a) M. Hamel is the speaker and he is overwhelmed with ____________ for his language. Answer:  love. (b) ‘French people’ here refers to ‘they’. (True/False) Answer:  True. (c) Here the word ‘prison’ means the real prison. (True/False) Answer:  False. (d) Find a word from the passage that means the same as ‘dominate’. Answer:  enslave. 36. But he dared to hear every lesson to the very last. After the writing, we had a history lesson, and then the babies chanted their ba, be bi, bo, bu. Down there at the back of the room old Hauser had put on his spectacles and, holding his primer in both hands, spelt the letters with them. Answer the following. (a) Hamel was ____________ with each and every student. Answer: patient. (b) Old Hauser spelt the letters from the primer. (True/False) Answer:  True. (c) Babies had come to school for the first time so they had to learn the alphabet. (True/False) Answer:  False. (d) Find the synonym of ‘bravery’ from the extract.   Answer:  courage. 37. But now it was all so still! I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen; but, of course, that day everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morning. Through the window, I saw my classmates, already in their places, and M. Hamel walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm. Answer the following. (a) Franz was counting on ____________ as he did not wish to be seen by his teacher. Answer:  commotion. (b) Find the synonym of ‘peaceful’ from the extract. Answer:   still. (c) Who was terrible: the teacher or the ruler. Answer:  The teacher. (d) M. Hamel had called the students on a Sunday. (True/False)    Answer:  False. 38. Besides, the whole school seemed so strange and solemn. But the thing that surprised me most was to see, on the back benches that were always empty, the village people sitting quietly like ourselves; old Hauser, with his three-cornered hat, the former mayor, the former postmaster, and several others besides. Answer the following. (a) The school was ____________and solemn because it was the last lesson. Answer:  strange. (b) Franz was surprised to see a class full of villagers. (True/False) Answer:  True. (c) The benches were ____________ earlier but not today. Answer:  vacant. (d) Give the synonym for ‘sober’ from the extract.       Answer:  solemn. 39. Poor man! It was in honour of this last lesson that he had put on his fine Sunday clothes, and now I understood why the old men of the village were sitting there in the back of the room. It was because they were sorry, too, that they had not gone to school more. It was their way of thanking our master for his forty years of faithful service and of showing their respect for the country that was theirs no more. Answer the following. (a) Franz was sorry for his teacher as he was going to lose his job. (True/False) Answer:  False. (b) Hamel wore Sunday clothes in honour of the ____________. Answer:  last lesson. (c) Old men came for the class in the honour of ____________ services. Answer:  Hamel’s. (d) Pick the antonym of ‘dishonour’.    Answer: Honour. 40. I was amazed to see how well I understood it. All he said seemed so easy, so easy! I think, too, that I had never listened so carefully, and that he had never explained everything with so much patience. It seemed almost as if the poor man wanted to give us all he knew before going away, and to put it all into our heads at one stroke. Answer the following. (a) The speaker here is ____________. Answer:  Franz. (b) The speaker felt ____________ for not being inattentive in the class. Answer:  sorry. (c) Hamel was sorry for not being regular with his classes. (True/False) Answer:  True. (d) Find a word from the extract that means ‘the ability to stay calm’ from the extract.   Answer:  patience. 41. I started for school very late that morning and was in great dread of a scolding, especially because M. Hamel had said that he would question us on participles, and I did not know the first word about them. For a moment, I thought of running away and spending the day out of doors. It was so warm, so bright! The birds were chirping at the edge of the woods, and in the open field back of the sawmill, the Prussian soldiers were drilling. (a) Alphonse Daudet, the author of ‘The Last Lesson’ was a ...................... novelist and short story writer. (i) Spanish (ii) German (iii) French (iv) Austrian Answer: (iii) French. (b) Franz was late and wanted to skip going to school as he dreaded (i) beating from M. Hamel (ii) scolding from the teacher (iii) taunts from his classmates (iv) scolding from parents   Answer: (ii) scolding from the teacher. (c) What would have M. Hamel questioned Franz about? (i) adjectives (ii) writing skills (iii) the previous days’ activities (iv) participles   Answer: (iv) participles. (d) Which of the outdoor activities were tempting Franz more than attending school that day? (i) chirping of the birds (ii) the drill practice by Prussian soldiers (iii) both (i) and (ii) (iv) children playing outside   Answer: (iii) both (i) and (ii). 42. I thought he was making fun of me, and reached M. Hamel’s little garden all out of breath. Usually, when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard out in the street, the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, very loud, with our hands over our ears to understand better, and the teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table. But now it was all so still! I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen; but, of course, that day everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morning. (a) ‘I thought he was making fun of me.’ Who is Franz referring to here? (i) the blacksmith Wachter    (ii) the gardener    (iii) the old Hauser    (iv) his teacher    Answer: (i) the blacksmith Wachter. (b) The expression ‘out of breath’ means (i) exhaled breath    (ii) excess breath   (iii) feeling short of breath   (iv) respiratory failure   Answer: (iii) feeling short of breath. (c) What were the pointers to a great bustle in the school? (i) the opening and closing of desks   (ii) the teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table   (iii) lessons repeated in loud unison    (iv) all the above    Answer: (iv) all the above. (d) What was Franz banking upon to go to his seat unnoticed? (i) the fight in the class   (ii) the teacher’s absence   (iii) the commotion in the class   (iv) tip-toeing in the class   Answer: (iii) the commotion in the class. 43. I jumped over the bench and sat down at my desk. Not till then, when I had got a little over my fright, did I see that our teacher had on his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt, and the little black silk cap, all embroidered, that he never wore except on inspection and prize days. Besides, the whole school seemed so strange and solemn. But the thing that surprised me most was to see, on the back benches that were always empty, the village people sitting quietly like ourselves; old Hauser, with his three-cornered hat, the former mayor, the former postmaster and several others besides. (a) ‘Got a little over his fright’ means that Franz (i) was still feeling frightful   (ii) had overcome his fright   (iii) was out of his wits   (iv) all of the above   Answer: (ii) had overcome his fright. (b) Besides, the whole school seemed so (i) noisy and scary   (ii) messy and strange   (iii) queer and in ruins   (iv) strange and solemn    Answer: (iv) strange and solemn. (c) What struck Franz the most about M. Hamel that day which was quite different was (i) his formal attire   (ii) his mannerisms   (iii) his behaviour   (iv) all of the above   Answer: (i) his formal attire. (d) Who were sitting on the back benches on the last day of the lesson? (i) parents   (ii) village people   (iii) only young children   (iv) other staff members   Answer: (ii) village people. 44. While I was wondering about it all, M Hamel mounted his chair, and, in the same grave and gentle tone which he had used to me, said, “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 is coming tomorrow. This is your last French lesson. I want you to be very attentive.” What a thunderclap these words were to me! Oh, the wretches; that was what they had put up at the town hall! (a) What was Franz wondering about as mentioned in the first line? (i) about M. Hamel’s behaviour   (ii) about the turn of events   (iii) both (i) and (ii)   (iv) about his study of participles   Answer: (iii) both (i) and (ii). (b) From where did the orders come to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine? (i) Paris   (ii) Spain   (iii) London   (iv) Berlin   Answer: (iv) Berlin. (c) Which words were a thunderclap to Franz? (i) This is your last French lesson.   (ii) I want you to be very attentive.   (iii) The order has come from Berlin.   (iv) None of the above   Answer: (i) this is your last French lesson. (d) What had been put up on the bulletin board that day the realization of which hit Franz in the class? (i) Only French will be taught.   (ii) German will take over French in the schools.   (iii) Everyone will speak only English.   (iv) A third language will be introduced.   Answer: (ii) German will take over French in the schools. 45. Poor Man! It was in honour of this last lesson that he had put on his fine Sunday clothes and now I understood why the old men of the village were sitting there in the back of the room. It was because they were sorry, too, that they had not gone to school more. It was their way of thanking our master for his forty years of faithful service and of showing their respect for the country that was theirs no more. (a) Who is the poor man being referred to here? (i) old Hauser  (ii) a villager  (iii) the apprentice  (iv) M. Hamel Answer: (iv) M. Hamel. (b) For how many years had the master served the school? (i) 20 years   (ii) 10 years   (iii) 40 years   (iv) 30 years   Answer: (iii) 40 years. (c) What made the villagers come to meet M. Hamel in the school that particular day? (i) to bid goodbye   (ii) to express their gratitude   (iii) to have a meeting   (iv) to gossip with the teacher   Answer: (ii) to express their gratitude. (d) What does the lesson ‘The Last Lesson’ signify? (i) importance of one’s language and freedom   (ii) loss of one’s mother tongue   (iii) loss of speech  (iv) loss of freedom   Answer: (i) importance of one’s language and freedom. 46. I heard Mr. M. Hamel say to me, “I won’t scold you, little Franz; you must feel bad enough. See how it is! Every day we have said to ourselves, ‘Bah! I’ve plenty of time. I’ll learn it tomorrow. And now you see where we have come out. Ah, that’s the great trouble with Alsace; she puts off learning till tomorrow. Now those fellows out there will have the right to say to you, ‘How is it; you pretend to be Frenchmen and you can neither speak nor write your own language?’ But you are not the worst, poor little Franz. We have all a great deal to reproach ourselves with.” (a) “I have plenty of time. I will learn it tomorrow.’ What trait does it reflect of the people of Alsace? (i) putting off things  (ii) procrastination  (iii) postponing matters  (iv) all of the above Answer: (iv) all of the above. (b) M. Hamel’s tone and tenor while speaking is filled with (i) eagerness  (ii) regret  (iii) pleasure  (iv) sorrow    Answer: (ii) regret. (c) In the above extract, what is Hamel trying to emphasize on? (i) freedom of expression   (ii) importance of a language   (iii) importance of one’s mother tongue  (iv) all of the above    Answer: (iii) importance of one’s mother tongue. d) “We have all a great deal to reproach ourselves with.” By saying this, Hamel is holding .......... responsible. (i) himself   (ii) parents  (iii) parents and himself   (iv) none    Answer: (iii) parents and himself. 47. Then, from one thing to another, M. Hamel went on to talk of the French language, saying that it was the most beautiful language in the world—the clearest, the most logical: that we must guard it among us and never forget it, because when a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to our language it is as if they had the key to their prison. Then he opened a grammar and read us our lesson. I was amazed to see how well I understood it. All he said seemed so easy, so easy! (a) What made M. Hamel praise the French language so much? (i) Because he is a French citizen.  (ii) Because he is in love with the language.  (iii) Because it is the clearest and most logical.   (iv) Because he teaches the language.    Answer: (iii) because it is the clearest and most logical. (b) How does M. Hamel make the people of the district realize the preciousness of their mother tongue? (i) after the sudden orders from Berlin  (ii) by being emotional  (iii) by giving them a long lecture  (iv) all of the above   Answer: (i) After the sudden orders from Berlin. (c) If the people are enslaved, what will hold the key to their prison? (i) lock  (ii) hammer  (iii) their behaviour  (iv) their language    Answer: (iv) their language. (d) After listening to the Grammar lesson, what was Franz’s observation? (i) he felt repentant  (ii) he felt It was not worth the effort  (iii) he was amazed at how easy it all was  (iv) he disliked the rules of grammar    Answer: (iii) he was amazed at how easy it all was. 48 Fancy! For forty years he had been in the same place, with his garden outside the window and his class in front of him, just like that. Only the desks and the windows had been worn smooth; the walnut trees in the garden were taller, and the hopvine that he had planted himself twined about the windows to the roof. How it must have broken his heart to leave it all, poor man: to hear his sister moving about in the room above, packing their trunks! For they must leave the country the next day. (a) For forty years, he had been in the same place. What trait of M. Hamel’s personality, does it bring out? (i) laziness to shift  (ii) loyalty  (iii) stubbornness  (iv) all of the above Answer: (ii) loyalty. (b) What indicates the passage of time? (i) the growth of walnut trees  (ii) hop vine twined about the windows to the roof   (iii) both (i) and (ii)   (iv) the desks and benches had been worn smooth Answer: (iii) both (i) and (ii). (c) What was the kind of atmosphere prevailing at this time in the school and particularly in Franz’s classroom? (i) villagers were feeling sorry  (ii) atmosphere was emotionally charged  (iii) there was a feeling of regret  (iv) all of the above Answer: (iv) all of the above. (d) Packing their trunks and moving about in the room above was Mr. M. Hamel’s (i) mother  (ii) sister  (iii) helper  (iv) father Answer: (ii) sister. 49 All at once the church clock struck twelve. Then the Angelus. At the same moment, the trumpets of the Prussians, returning from the drill, sounded under our windows. M. Hamel stood up, very pale, in his chair. I never saw him look so tall. “My friends,” said he, “I—I—” But something choked him. He could not go on. (a) The Angelus prayer is said (i) in the morning, noon and at sunset  (ii) in the morning and evening  (iii) only in the morning  (iv) at noon and sunset Answer: (i) in the morning, at noon and at sunset. (b) I never saw him look so tall. This expression means (i) he looked taller than before   (ii) he had a good height   (iii) dignified and great   (iv) shy and quiet Answer: (iii) dignified and great. (c) He needed help to complete what he wanted to say. What sea of emotions was he going through? (i) exhorted the people to love their language   (ii) his last message had love, respect and loyalty for his country  (iii) his voice choked and he couldn’t go on   (iv) all the above Answer: (iv) all the above. (d) How can a linguistic minority in a state keep their language alive? (i) by writing   (ii) by safeguarding their language in every possible way.   (iii) by conversing in that language   (iv) none of the above Answer: (ii) by safeguarding their language in every possible way. 50. Then he turned to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk, and, bearing on with all his might, he wrote as large as he could “Vive La France!” Then he stopped and leaned his head against the wall, and, without a word, he made a gesture to us with his hand— “School is dismissed—you may go.” (a) “Vive Live France” means (i) France is great   (ii) learn French   (iii) French cuisine is famous   (iv) Long Live France Answer: (iv) Long Live France. (b) The author of the lesson belonged to which country? (i) England   (ii) France   (iii) Canada   (iv) New Zealand Answer: (ii) France. (c) “He made a gesture and couldn’t speak.” What does it tell the reader about M. Hamel? (i) he was proud of being a French national   (ii) his ideas that one’s mother tongue binds people together   (iii) his loyalty towards his country   (iv) all the above Answer: (iv) all the above. (d) Alphonse Daudet belonged to (i) New Zealand   (ii) Greece   (iii) Austria   (iv) France Answer: (ii) France.

Q: I started for school very late that morning. Who is the 'I' 'here? (HS 2012)

Answer: The 'I' refers to Franz, the young narrator of the story.

Q: What did M. Hamel do when he wanted to go on a holiday? (HS 2013)

Answer: In "The Last Lesson" by Alphonse Daudet, when M. Hamel wanted to go on a holiday, he would give his students a day off (holiday).

Q: Why was the lesson called the 'Last Lesson"? (HS 2014)

Answer: The lesson is called "The Last Lesson" because it marks the final/last French lesson that the narrator, Franz, and the other villagers will receive from their teacher, M. Hamel, in their native language, French.

Q: What had been put up on the bulletin board? (HS 2014)

Answer: The bulletin board had an important notice from the Prussian authorities. It declared that an order had come from Berlin stating that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine from then on, and French lessons would no longer be allowed.

Q: What did M Hamel write at the end of the class? (HS 2015)

Answer: "Vive La France!"

Q: What did Franz think 'for a moment'?(HS 2016)

Answer: For a moment, Franz thought of running away and spending the glorious day outdoors in a more pleasurable manner.

Q: What was written in the new copies brought by M. Hamel for the students in a beautiful round hand? (HS 2017)

Answer: The words 'France, Alsace' were written in the new copies brought by M. Hamel for the students in a beautiful round hand.

Q: What is the name of the blacksmith in "The Last Lesson"? (HS 2018)

Answer: In Alphonse Daudet's short story The Last Lesson, the blacksmith's name is Wachter/Witcher.

Q: What is the Name of the river mentioned in "The Last Lesson”? (HS 2019)

Answer: The river mentioned in "The Last Lesson" is the Saar. 

Q: Who is the writer of the story "The Last Lesson"?   (HS 2022,2023)

Answer: Alphonse Daudet.

Q: Why did little Franz want to spend his day out of doors? (HS 2012)

Answer: Before heading to school, little Franz wanted to enjoy the lovely weather and have some fun, so he chose to spend his day outside. He was excited to escape the rigid teachings and school routine that lay ahead of him. At first, Franz in Alphonse Daudet's story "The Last Lesson" is sluggish and reluctant to attend school. He didn't anticipate the significance of the day's lesson, so he preferred the idea of spending the day outside to going to his regular lessons.

Q: What are M Hamel's views about the French language? (HS 2012, 2013, 2016) 

Answer: According to M. Hamel, the French language is the most elegant, logical, and clearest in the world; as such, it should be preserved and not forgotten. He also added that love for one's own language can be proven as the key to the prison for the people who are enslaved.

Q: What was the commotion that Franz anticipated in the classroom? (HS 2013, 2015)

Answer: When Franz arrived at the school, he expected the usual scenario. There used to be a lot of activity that could be heard in the street, including desks opening and closing, loudly repeated lessons, and the teacher's large ruler tapping on the table.

Q: Why was the lesson called the last lesson? (HS 2014)

Answer: Berlin had ordered Alsace and Lorraine schools to teach only German, which is why the lesson was called the "last lesson." It was the previous teacher's final French class because the new teacher was scheduled to arrive the next day.

Q: What had been put up on the bulletin board? (HS 2014)

Answer: The bulletin board had been the source of all the bad news for the last two years. And now the town and its citizens were horrified by yet another piece of awful news. Berlin has issued an order forcing the inhabitants of Alsace and Lorraine to speak German. Now only the German teachers will teach German to the French-speaking population school that day.

Q: What was Franz expected to be prepared with for (HS 2015)

Answer: Franz was expected to be prepared with participles that day for school, as Mr. Hamel had said that he would question them on participles.

Q: Why did Franz want to spend his day out of doors? (HS 2016, 2017)

Answer: The weather was bright and pleasant, and Franz was persuaded by the beauty of nature to spend his day outside. The Prussian soldiers were drilling in the open field while the birds were chirping at the wood's edge. Because he had not prepared his lesson on participles and was afraid of being scolded by his teacher, M. Hamel, these distractions made Franz unwilling to attend school.

So, his desire to stay outdoors was a mix of enjoying the pleasant day and avoiding the schoolwork he had neglected.

Q: Why did M. Hamel not blame Franz alone for his inability to learn? (HS 2017)

Answer: M. Hamel did not blame Franz alone for his inability to learn because he recognised that many factors contributed to the neglect of learning French—not just Franz’s lack of attention. M. Hamel admitted that he himself was partly to blame. He often sent students to water his garden or dismissed them when he wanted to go fishing. He realised he had not been strict or serious enough in ensuring that his students learned properly. He also pointed out that the parents of the children were at fault. They were more interested in having their children work on farms or in mills to earn money than in sending them to school regularly. While M. Hamel didn’t blame Franz solely, he did acknowledge that students like Franz had often put off learning, thinking there was always plenty of time to do it later.

Q: Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons? What does this sentence suggest? Or Franz thinks, "Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?" What could this mean? (HS 2018, 2025)

Answer: "Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?" expresses Franz's deep anguish and sarcasm about the loss of his native language, French, due to the imposition of German by the Prussian authorities. It alludes to the extreme extent of cultural domination, where even nature—symbolised by the pigeons—is imagined to be forced to conform. This rhetorical question highlights Franz's emotional turmoil and resistance to the forced erasure of his identity and heritage.

Q: What words did M. Hamel write on the blackboard before dismissing the last class? What did they mean? (HS 2019)

Answer: In The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet, before dismissing the last class, M. Hamel wrote the words "Vive La France!" on the blackboard.

"Vive La France!" is a French phrase that translates to "Long live France!" in English.

It is a patriotic expression used to show love and pride for the country.

 Q: What would Franz love to do on that sunny morning instead of going to school? (HS 2019)

Answer: On that bright and sunny morning, Franz would have loved to spend his time outdoors enjoying the pleasant weather instead of going to school. The monotony of school and the worry of being punished for not learning his participles were considerably less interesting to him than the sound of birds and the sight of Prussian soldiers drilling in the wide fields. Because he had not prepared his lesson and was afraid of his teacher, M. Hamel, he was particularly hesitant that day. The temptation to skip school and bask in the warmth of nature or watch the bustle in the village was strong, reflecting his youthful desire for freedom and his lack of seriousness toward studies at that time.

Q: What, according to M. Hamel, is the great trouble with Alsace? (HS 2020)

Answer: According to M. Hamel, the main issue with Alsace was that people neglected and postponed learning the language, frequently claiming they had plenty of time to do it later.

Q: What would Franz love to do on that sunny morning instead of going to school? (HS 2022)

Answer: Instead of going to school that sunny morning, Franz would have preferred to spend the day outside, enjoying the lovely weather, watching the birds and watching the Prussian troops drill.

Q: Why did M. Hamel write "Viva La France" before dismissing his class? (HS 2023)

Answer: M. Hamel wrote "Viva La France" before dismissing his class to express his deep love and patriotism for his country, mourning the loss of the French language and freedom.

Q: What changes came over Frantz after he heard M. Hamel's announcement? (HS 2023)

Answer: When Franz heard M. Hamel's announcement, he felt guilty for putting his studies on hold. He felt intense grief and shame and developed a newfound respect for his teacher and recognised the value of his language.

Q: How different from usual was the atmosphere at school on the day of the last lesson? (2022)

Answer: The order from Berlin caused some changes in the school that day. The entire school seemed strange and solemn. In silence, the villagers sat on the rear benches of the classroom to express their gratitude to M. Hamel for his four decades of devoted work and for showing their respect for the country. M Hamel also had put on his best dress on that day, though it was not an inspection or prize day. The order from Berlin also brought a sense of repentance for those who, despite having time, didn't learn French properly.

Q: What was the order from Berlin? How did that order affect the people of Alsace, particularly M. Hamel and his students? (HS 2012)

Answer: The order from Berlin was that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine instead of French. The Alsacian people were greatly impacted by this. M. Hamel, the French teacher, was heartbroken as it was his last French lesson. He felt guilty for the students’ lack of learning. The students, too, realised the importance of their language too late and were filled with regret, shame, and sadness.

Q: Describe the unusual things that Franz noticed on the day of the last lesson. (HS 2013, 2017)

Or

Give a detailed account of the scene in the classroom on the day of the last old (HS 2015)

Answer: On the day of the final lesson, Franz saw several oddities. The school was unusually quiet, unlike the usual hustle and bustle.M. Hamel, his teacher, was dressed in his unique green coat and frilled shirt, which he usually reserved for special events. The postmaster and the former mayor were among the locals who respectfully sat in the back of the classroom. Franz could feel the intense sadness and severity in the air, making the day feel strange and solemn.

Q: How does M. Hamel make the people realize how they, the students and he have been responsible for not learning their language well? (HS 2020)

Answer: In The Last Lesson, M. Hamel elucidates the collective negligence of people for the neglect of their language by highlighting how they had taken French for granted until it was too late.  He admits his shortcomings, claiming that rather than teaching students, he frequently offered them holidays or allowed them to water his plants.  He criticises the parents for putting money before education by sending their kids to work in the mills or fields instead of going to school.  Additionally, he reminds the kids of their lack of diligence and commitment to learning.  M. Hamel makes everyone aware of the repercussions of their neglect by explaining in his heartbreaking farewell lecture that losing one's language equates to losing one's identity.

 

Q: Give a character sketch of M. Hamel. (HS 2025)

Answer: M. Hamel, the schoolmaster in The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet, is a dedicated, disciplined, and patriotic teacher who deeply loves his language and country. On the day of his last lesson, he appears solemn and emotional, dressed in his finest clothes, symbolising the importance of the moment. Known for his strictness, he shows an unexpectedly gentle and patient side, expressing regret for not being stricter earlier and for the general neglect of French by both students and villagers. M. Hamel’s pride in the French language and his sorrow over the Prussian takeover make him a poignant symbol of lost identity and cultural pride. His final lesson is a powerful tribute to his devotion and the value of one’s mother tongue.