Short Answer Type Questions : 3 Marks (30-40 Words)
Question 1 : Why were some elderly persons occupying the back benches that day?
Answer : The elderly villagers occupied the back benches in the classroom on the day of the last lesson. They did this to show their affection for the French language and pay respect to the teacher, M Hamel.
Question 2 : Why did Franz not want to go to school that day?
Answer : Franz did not want to go to school that day as he had not prepared his lesson on participles. His French teacher would certainly scold him for this. So, Franz wanted to avoid going to school.
Question 3 : What did Franz wonder about when he entered the class that day?
Answer : When Franz entered class that day, he was expecting a scolding from M Hamel he spoke very kindly and asked him to sit. Franz also wondered at the presence of senior villagers occupying back benches of the class.
Question 4 : Why did M Hamel write ‘Vive La France!‘ on the backboard?
Answer : M Hamel wrote ‘Vive La France!‘ on the backboard to show his love for his country as well as for the French language. In addition, he was displaying his resistance to the German occupation of France.
Question 5 : “We have all got a great deal to reproach ourselves with,” said M Hamel. Comment.
Answer : M Hamel said this as most of the people of Alsace could neither speak not write French. The parents of students preferred to put them to work to earn money and M Hamel himself did not give much importance to learning as it demanded.
Question 6 : How did M Hamel display his love for the French language?
Answer : M Hamel showed his love for the French language by telling the students that the French language was the most beautiful language in the world – the clearest and the most logical.
Question 7 : What was the bulletin board news that caused a change in the school?
Answer : A news had been put on the bulletin board stating that only German should be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine from the next day.
Question 8 : Whom did M Hamel blame for Franz’s inability to answer his question?
Answer : M Hamel blamed the habit of people of Alsace of putting off learning for tomorrow and not sending their children to school regularly. He also blamed himself for neglect of learning of boys like Franz.
Question 9 : What was unusual about M Hamel’s dress on his last day in school?
Answer : M Hamel had put on his ceremonial clothes on his last day in the school. He was wearing a beautiful green coat, a frilled shirt, and a little black embroidered silk cap.
Question 10 : What tempted Franz to stay away from school?
Answer : Franz feared a scolding at school as he had not prepared his lesson on participles. Besides, the warm, bright weather, the chirping of birds and the sight of the marching Prussian soldiers also tempted him to stay away from school.
Question 11 : “What a thunderclap these words were to me!” (Franz). What were those words and what was their effect on Franz?
Answer : M Hamel told his students that it was their last French lesson as an order had come from Berlin that henceforth only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. This announcement seemed to be thunderclap to Franz as he was surprised and shocked on hearing them.
Question 12 : Who were sitting on the back benches during M Hamel’s last lesson? Why?
Answer : Some of the elderly people from the village were sitting on the back benches during M Hamel’s last lesson. The villagers had come there to attend his last lesson as it was their way of paying respect to the master ,who had given forty years of faithful service to the school.
Question 13 : Why does M Hamel reproach himself for his students’ unsatisfactory progress in studies?
Answer : M Hamel had been rather irregular as a teacher. Besides, he had often sent the students to water his plants, and whenever he wanted to go fishing, he just gave them a holiday. So, he reproached himself for his students’ unsatisfactory progress in studies.
Question 14 : What words did M Hamel write on the blackboard before dismissing the last class. Why did they mean?
Answer : Before dismissing the last class, M Hamel turned to the blackboard and wrote the phrase, ‘Vive La France!‘ as large as he could. These words meant ‘Long Live France’, and spoke of M Hamel’s great love for his country and his deep sense of patriotism.
Question 15 : What made M Hamel cry towards the end of his last lesson?
Answer : M Hamel had taught French at the school for the last forty years. He was emotionally attached to the school and was really heartbroken to leave. All this made him cry towards the end of his last lesson.
Question 16 : What did M Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask them to do and why?
Answer : M Hamel told his students that the French language was the most clearest, most logical and most beautiful language in the world.
He asked them to safeguard the French language and never forget it because when people are enslaved the only to unlock the key to their prison is by means of their language.
Question 17 : What did Franz see when he passed the town hall?
Answer : When Franz passed the town hall he saw a crowd in front of the bulletin board. He thought to himself what the matter was and what bad news awaited them.
Question 18 : “But the thing that surprised me the most was to see….” What surprised Franz most in the class?
Answer : The thing that surprised Franz most was to see the elderly villagers seated on the back benches of the class. It surprised him as they hardly used to come to attend the class earlier.
Question 19 : How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson?
Answer : The French teacher M Hamel announced that he would be teaching his last French lesson that day because the orders had come from Berlin to teach only German in schools of Alsace and Lorraine. On hearing this, all the students as well as Franz felt very sorry that they would not be learning their mother tongue in future. Franz regretted not having learnt his lesson.
Question 20 : What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it cause in the school?
Answer : The order from Berlin stated that only German will be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Due to this an unusual silence prevailed in the school. M Hamel became soft in speaking to the students, while students realised the importance of their language.
Question 21 : When Franz reached his school, what unusual situation did he observe?
Answer : Usually, there used to be a great hustle and bustle when the school began. The noise of opening and closing of the desks, lessons being repeated in unison and the hitting of the teacher’s ruler on the table, could be heard out in the street. But that day, it was all quiet and still as on a Sunday morning.
Question 22 : What were Franz’s regrets after M Hamel’s announcement of his last lesson?
Answer : When M Hamel announced that it was their last French lesson, Franz realised he had so much more to learn. He felt sorry for whiling away his time and skipping his lessons.
Question 23 : How did M Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town?
Answer : At the end of his ‘Last Lesson’, M Hamel stood up to say farewell to his students and the people of the town but overwhelming emotion chocked his voice. He then wrote ‘Vive La France!‘ as large as he could on the blackboard; and dismissed the class with a gesture of his hand.
Question 24 : Why did M Hamel ont scold Franz when the latter fumbled with the rule for the participle?
Answer : Since it was M Hamel’s last class, he did not scold Franz when the latter fumbled with the rule of the participle. He told Franz that he would not scold him as he knew that Franz was already feeling bad about it.
Question 25 : What was Franz expected to be prepared with for the school that day?
Answer : Franz was expected to be prepared with participles that day. His teacher M Hamel, was to question him on the topic.
Question 26 : Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What does this tell us about the attitude of the Frenchmen?
Answer : This shows that the Frenchmen were full of hatred against the Germans. Besides, they feared German atrocities. They thought that they would be forced to read German and no one will be spared.
Question 27 : What had the narrator counted on to enter the school unnoticed?
Answer : The sounds that were heard daily like the banging of the desks, repetition of the lessons and rapping of the ruler, were so loud that the narrator thought he could enter the classroom without being noticed.
Question 28 : Mention two things about M Hamel that surprised Franz on his last day at school.
Answer : M Hamel didn’t scold Franz for being late; instead he told him very kindly to go to his place. Also, that day he was dressed in his best clothes; which he wore only on inspection or prize days.
Long Answer Type Questions : 6 Marks (120 – 150 Words)
Question 1 : “Our language is part of our culture and we are proud of it”. Describe how regretful M Hamel and the villagers are for having neglected their native language, French.
Answer : During ‘The Last Lesson’ everybody, including M Hamel, Franz and the villagers are filled with regret. M Hamel regrets that he had not taken enough interest in teaching French by often sending students on his personal errands like watering his flowers, besides giving them a holiday when he wanted to go fishing. The villagers regretted that they did not utilise opportunities given to them for learning French when it was possible, and that is why they had turned up in full strength for the last lesson. It was their way of thanking M Hamel for his forty years of faithful service and of showing respect for the country which was no longer theirs. Thus, all of them regretted that this was his last lesson in French that they would have.
Question 2 : “Our native language is part of our culture and we are proud of it.” How does the presence of village elders in the classroom in M Hamel’s last lesson show their love for French?”
Answer : M Hamel, in his last lesson, says that the French language was the most beautiful language of the world. It was the clearest and the most logical of all languages. He regrets that the people of Alsace had not paid much heed to the learning of this great language. He asks the people to safeguard it among themselves as it is the key to their unity and freedom.
Further, at the end of the lesson, he wrote on the blackboard, ‘Vive La France’ , meaning ‘Long Live France!’, showing his immense love for the French language.
The village elders suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. They have earlier neglected to learn their language by not attending school due to their preoccupations. But on the last day of the French lesson, they have turned up in full strength to learn French.
Question 3 : During ‘The Last Lesson’ everybody, including M Hamel, Franz and the villagers are filled with regret. Comment.
Answer : M Hamel regrets that he had not taken enough interest in teaching French by often sending students to water his flowers, besides giving them a holiday when he wanted
Question 4 : What changes did the narrator find in the school when the order from Berlin came?
Answer : The order from Berlin prohibited teaching of French in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Instead, German was to be taught in the schools. Franz was later for school that day. He noticed that the hustle and bustle was missing. There was no opening and closing of desks, no repetition of lessons or no sound of striking of the teacher’s ruler on the table could be heard. It was all very quiet and still.
Franz was further surprised because, instead of meeting an angry teacher, he was welcomed by a kind and polite one, who was dressed in his best clothes, which he wore only on inspection and prize days.
The back benches were occupied by the village people who never came to the school, as they were more concerned about earning their livelihood. He was further astounded to know that M Hamel was going to teach his last lesson that day.
Question 5 : How was M Hamel and different teacher while giving his last lesson?
Answer : For a start M Hamel wore his formal suit on the day he was giving his last French lesson. He did away with his dominating tone and spoke gently. Then assuming the role of a mentor, he advised the villagers to change their priorities and pay more attention to learning at school.
As a true patriot he displayed his love for his country and its language and called upon the class to safeguard their language, French, which was the most beautiful and logical language in the world. He did not even take Franz to task when the latter got all mixed up when his turn to recite came. By the end of the class he was chocked with emotions and could hardly speak, so he took a piece of chalk and wrote on the blackboard in large, bold letters, ‘Vive La France‘ (Long Live France).
Value Based Answer Type Questions : 6 Marks (120 – 150 Words)
Question 1 : Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?”
After reading the chapter, you realise that man has an intense desire to subjugate others. You feel that in the modern world; there is a strong need for brotherhood. Write an article in about 120-150 words for a national magazine for this.
Answer : In the chapter ‘The Last Lesson’, France loses two districts to Germany. The Germans pass the order that from now on, only German will be taught in the schools of those districts.
As Franz is attending his last class in French, he suddenly hears the pigeons on the roof, cooling in a low tone. He wonders whether the Germans will make the pigeons to sing in German too. This remark is a French boy’s typical reaction to the imposition of learning German. This also shows the extent to which the Germans would go in their attempt at forcing their language and culture on the territories they had occupied in war.
It makes it clear that man has a strong desire to impose his will upon others and to subdue others. In this strife-ridden world, there is a strong need for compassion, tolerance and brotherhood, which alone can lead us towards peace and prosperity.
Question 2 : ‘My Last French Lesson! Why I hardly knew how to write! I should never learn any more! I must stop there, then!’
The problem of school dropout and illiteracy /backwardness still plagues our country. What qualities on the part of the administration, educationists and youth do you think will help to surmount this hurdle?
Answer : India is a country with a very poor literacy rate. In spite of all the government efforts to raise the level of literacy , the problem of school dropouts and rampant illiteracy still remains. The administration and the educationists of our country must have a clarity of vision on how to go about in solving these problems, besides having a strong political will to do so.
They must bring about awareness among parents and children about the importance of education in removing backwardness and illiteracy. In this context, it is important that the affluent and well-off people need to give back to society by helping the government in such ventures. Government can use the educated youth to spearhead the process of removing this hurdle to progress by employing their services. This can be further speeded up by giving a stipend to such youths who volunteer for this task during their free time.
Short Answer Type Questions (3-4 Marks)
Question 1.
What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave his last French lesson? (Delhi 2009)
Answer:
When M.Hamel was giving his last French ; lesson, the mood in the classroom was solemn and sombre. When he announced that this was their last French lesson everyone present in the classroom suddenly developed patriotic feelings for their native language and genuinely regretted ignoring their mother tongue.
Question 2.
What had the narrator counted on to enter the school, unnoticed? (Delhi 2010)
Answer:
The narrator (Franz) had counted on the hustle and bustle that was usual when the school began in order to enter there unnoticed. He had thought he could depend on the commotion to get to his desk without anybody noticing that he was late for the class.
Question 3.
“This is your last French lesson.” How did Franz react to this declaration of M.Hamel? (Delhi 2010)
Answer:
When M.Hamel declared that it was their last French lesson a grim realisation dawned on Franz that he had so much more yet to learn. He felt sorry for whiling away his time and skipping his lessons. Now he did not want to part with his books, which he had earlier consi¬dered a nuisance. He was also deeply pained at the thought that M.Hamel was leaving.
Question 4.
“What a thunder clap these words were to me!” Which were the words that shocked and surprised little Franz? (Delhi 2010)
Answer:
When M.Hamel mounted on the chair and announced that he was there to teach his last French lesson that day, Franz was shocked and surprised. He felt very guilty for deliberately ignoring to learn his native language and he suddenly developed a strange fascination for his language and his school.
Question 5.
What changes came over little Franz after he heard M.Hamel’s announcement? (All India 2010)
Answer:
When M.Hamel announced that this was to be their last French class a grim realisation dawned on Franz that he could hardly write his language and now he was being deprived of the opportunity to learn it. He felt very guilty of neglecting his classes and escaping school. The thought of losing his teacher, M. Hamel, also pained him.
Question 6.
What was tempting Franz to keep away from school That morning’? (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Answer:
Franz was very late for school ‘that morning’. M. Hamel was to question the students on participles and Franz knew nothing and feared a scolding. The bright weather, woods, fields and chirping of birds tempted him to spend the day outdoors.
Question 7.
What was unusual about M. Hamel’s dress and behaviour on the day of his last French lesson? (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Answer:
On the day of his last French lesson M. Hamel was unexpectantly kind. He had put on his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and an embroidered black silk cap that he normally wore only on inspection and prize days. In his last lesson he explains everything with unusual patience as if he wants to teach them everything he has ever learned in their last French class.
Question 8.
Why had the bulletin-board become a centre of attention during the last two years? (Comptt. All India 2010)
Answer:
The bulletin-board had become a centre of attention because for the last two years all the bad news had come from there. It was the source of all bad news-the lost battles, the draft and the orders of the commanding officers.
Question 9.
What was Franz expected to be prepared with for the school that day? (Delhi 2011)
Answer:
Franz had started very late for school that morning. He feared facing his class-teacher, M. Hamel. Because he was expected to be prepared with his grammar lesson on participles and he did not know even the first word about them. So he feared a scolding.
Question 10.
What had been put up on the bulletin board? (Delhi 2011)
Answer:
A notice had been put up on the bulletin board informing the people about the order from Berlin which declared that only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. They had also been informed that the new German teacher was coming on the following day.
Question 11.
Who did M.Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz? (Delhi 2011)
Answer:
Mr. Hamel blamed various people for different reasons for neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz. First he blamed the parents for not being anxious to have their children learn and rather engaging them into household work. He blamed the boys themselves for preferring to work on mills and farms. He also blamed himself for sending boys on errands for his convenience.
Question 12.
Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What does this tell us about the attitude of the Frenchmen? (All India 2011)
Answer:
During his last French class Franz hears the pigeons cooing and wonders if the Prussians would make them sing in German too. His thought reveals the Frenchmen’s fear of complete domination by the Germans whereby they would try to enslave even their minds.
Question 13.
“What a thunderclap these words were to me!” – Which were the words that shocked and surprised Franz? (All India 2011)
Answer:
When M.Hamel mounted on the chair and announced that he was there to teach his last French lesson that day, Franz was shocked and surprised. He felt very guilty for deliberately ignoring to learn his native language and he suddenly developed a strange fascination for his language and his school.
Question 14.
“What announcement did M. Hamel make? What was the impact of this on Franz? (All India 2011)
Answer:
When M.Hamel declared that it was their last French lesson a grim realisation dawned on Franz that he had so much more yet to learn. He felt sorry for whiling away his time and skipping his lessons. Now he did not want to part with his books, which he had earlier consi¬dered a nuisance. He was also deeply pained at the thought that M.Hamel was leaving.
Question 15.
What did M. Hamel tell the people in the class about French language? What did he ask them to do and why? (Comptt. Delhi 2011)
Answer:
M. Hamel told the people in his class that French was the most beautiful, the clearest and the most logical language in the world. He advised them to guard it among themselves j and never to forget it because it would prove to be the key to their prison when they were I enslaved.
Question 16.
What was the mood in the classroom when M.Hamel gave his last French lesson? (Comptt. All India 2011)
Answer:
When M.Hamel was giving his last French; lesson, the mood in the classroom was solemn and sombre. When he announced that this was their last French lesson everyone present in the classroom suddenly developed patriotic feelings for their native language and genuinely regretted ignoring their mother tongue.
Question 17.
What changes did the order from Berlin cause in the school? (Delhi 2012)
Answer:
The shocking order from Berlin that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine saddened and hurt the pride of the French people. So as a gesture to express their solidarity for their language the village elders also attended school for the last French lesson. The usual hustle and bustle was missing from school and it was unusually quiet. M. Hamel was also dressed in his formal suit which he wore only on special occasions.
Question 18.
How did M.Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town? (All India 2012)
Answer:
To bid farewell to his students and the people of the town M.Hamel wore his formal suit on the day he gave his last French lesson. He assumed the role of a mentor and advised the villagers to safeguard their language, which was the most beautiful and logical language in the world. Being rimmed up with emotions, he wrote “Vive La France” which mean Tong live France’ in order to inculcate a feeling of patriotism within everyone.
Question 19.
What were Franz’s regrets after M. Hamel’s announcement of his last lesson? (Comptt. Delhi 2012)
Answer:
When M. Hamel announced that it was their last French lesson, Franz realised he had so much more to learn. He felt sorry for whiling away his time and skipping his lessons. He was also deeply pained at the thought of M. Hamel leaving the school.
Question 20.
What change was there in Franz’ attitude towards M. Hamel? (Comptt. All India 2012)
Answer:
Franz’s attitude towards M. Hamel underwent a complete change on the day of the last French lesson. He developed a strange fascination for his school and the French language. When M. Hamel read out a grammar lesson to the class, Franz was amazed at how well he understood it. All M. Hamel said seemed so easy to Franz and he genuinely regretted ignoring M. Hamel’s classes and lessons.
Question 21.
Why did M. Hamel not scold Franz when the latter fumbled with the rule for the participle? (Comptt. All India 2012)
Answer:
Since it was M. Hamel’s last class in Alsace, he did not scold Franz when the latter fumbled with the rule for the participle. He told Franz that he would not scold him as he knew that Franz was already feeling terrible enough and reproaching himself a great deal.
Question 22.
How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson? (Delhi 2013)
Answer:
When M.Hamel declared that it was their last French lesson a grim realisation dawned on Franz that he had so much more yet to learn. He felt sorry for whiling away his time and skipping his lessons. Now he did not want to part with his books, which he had earlier considered a nuisance. He was also deeply pained at the though that M.Hamel was leaving.
Question 23.
“What a thunderclap these words were to me !” What were the words that shocked and surprised the narrator? (Delhi, Comptt. All India 2013)
Answer:
When M.Hamel mounted on the chair and announced that he was there to teach his last French lesson that day, Franz was shocked and surprised. He felt very guilty for deliberately ignoring to learn his native language and he suddenly developed a strange fascination for his language and his school.
Question 24.
What did M. Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask them to do and why? (Delhi 2013)
Answer:
M. Hamel told the people in his class that French was the most beautiful, the clearest and the most logical language in the world. He advised them to guard it among themselves j and never to forget it because it would prove to be the key to their prison when they were I enslaved.
Question 25.
What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it cause in the school? (All India 2013)
Answer:
The shocking order from Berlin that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine saddened and hurt the pride of the French people. So as a gesture to express their solidarity for their language the village elders also attended school for the last French lesson. The usual hustle and bustle was missing from school and it was unusually quiet. M. Hamel was also dressed in his formal suit which he wore only on special occasions.
Question 26.
Why did Franz think of running away from the school that morning? (Comptt. Delhi 2013)
Answer:
Franz was tempted to run away and spend the day outside instead of attending school as it was a warm and bright day and he wanted to watch the Prussian soldiers’ drill. Moreover he had not done his lesson on participles from which his teacher, M. Hamel was going to question and feared a scolding from his teacher.
Question 27.
What did Franz see when he passed the town hall? (Comptt. Delhi 2013)
Answer:
When Franz passed the town hall he saw there was a crowd in front of the bulletin board. For the last two years all the bad news of lost battles, the draft etc. had come from there and Franz thought to himself what the matter was then and what bad news awaited them.
Question 28.
When Franz reached his school, what unusual situation did he observe? (Comptt. Delhi 2013)
Answer:
The usual hustle and bustle of the morning hours could not be seen on the day of the last lesson. It was all very still and quiet as it used to be on a Sunday morning. The din of opening and closing of desks and the rapping of the teacher’s ruler on the table could not be heard. The students had already taken their places and even the village elders had gathered there.
Question 29.
After sitting down at his desk what unusual things did Franz observe about M. Hamel? (Comptt. All India)
Answer:
Franz realised that M. Hamel was not his usual cranky self and said nothing to him even though he was late for the class. Moreover their teacher was wearing his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt and the little black silk cap, all embroidered, that he wore only on special days in school.
Question 30.
“But the thing that surprised me most was to see ” What surprised Franz most in the class? (Comptt. All India 2013)
Answer:
The thing that surprised Franz the most when he entered the classroom was to see the village people sitting as quietly as the students on the back benches of the class that were always empty. This included old Hauser, the former mayor, the former postmaster and several others.
Question 31.
What tempted Franz to stay away from school? (Delhi 2014)
Answer:
Little Franz was tempted to run away and spend the day outside instead of attending school as it was a warm and bright day with the birds chirping merrily. Moreover, he was tempted to watch the Prussian soldiers’ drill. All these things appeared rather tempting considering he did not know his participles and feared the French teacher M. Hamel’s scolding on that day.
Question 32.
Why were the elders of the village sitting in the classroom? (All India 2014)
Answer:
The elders of the village were sitting in the classroom as a mark of respect which they wanted to show for their language and their country. They felt sorry for not having learnt their language and wanted to thank M. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service.
Question 33.
What words did M. Hamel write on the black¬board before dismissing the last class? What did they mean? (Comptt. Delhi 2014)
Answer:
Before dismissing the last French class, M. Hamel turned to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk and wrote as large as he could -“Vive la France!” These words meant “Long Live France”. He then made a gesture with his hand that the class was dismissed.
Question 34.
Who were sitting on the back benches during M. Hamel’s last lesson? Why? (Comptt. Delhi 2014)
Answer:
The village elders were sitting on the back benches during M. Hamel’s last lesson. They included old Hauser, the former mayor, the former postmaster and several others. They were there to show their respect for their language and their country.
Question 35.
Why is the order from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz?
Answer:
The order from Berlin is called a thunderclap by Franz, because it was a complete shock for him. He had never thought that he would be deprived of the right of learning his native language. He realised he had so much more yet to learn and was going to lose the opportunity.
Question 36.
Why does M. Hamel reproach himself for his students’ unsatisfactory progress in studies? (Comptt. All India 2014)
Answer:
M. Hamel reproaches himself for his students’ unsatisfactory progress in studies. He had often sent them to water his flowers instead of learning their lessons. And when he wanted to go fishing, he gave them a holiday.
Question 37.
What made M. Hamel cry towards the end of his last lesson? (Comptt. All India 2014)
Answer:
Towards the end of his last French lesson, as the church clock struck twelve and the trumpets of the Prussians sounded under the window, M. Hamel was completely overwhelmed with emotions. Feeling choked, he was unable to talk further and dismissed the class by making a gesture with his hand.
Question 38.
What was unusual about M. Hamel’s dress on his last day in the school? (Comptt. All India 2014)
Answer:
In honour of his last French lesson in the school, M. Hamel had put on his fine Sunday clothes. He had on his green coat, his frilled shirt and the little black, all embroidered silk cap that he never wore except on inspection and prize days.
Question 39.
Who occupied the back benches in the classroom on the day of the last lesson? Why? (Delhi 2015)
Answer:
The village people occupied the backbenches in the classroom on the day of the last lesson. They included the old hauser, the former mayor, the former postmaster and several others. They had come there to thank their master for his valuable service and to show their respect for their language and country which was no longer theirs.
Question 40.
Why did M. Hamel write ‘Vive La France’ on the blackboard? (Delhi 2015 )
Answer:
Before dismissing the class, M. Hamel writes ‘Vive La France’ (Long Live France) on the blackboard. He was extremely patriotic and he does this to make the Alsacians conscious that they had to safeguard their language and identity among themselves as this was the key to their prison.
Question 41.
“We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with”, said M. Hamel. Comment. (Delhi 2015)
Answer:
M. Hamel blamed everyone for putting off learning till the next time and thus losing out on the opportunity to learn their native language, French. The parents preferred to put their children to work on a farm or at the mills so that they could earn more money. M. Hamel too sent them to water his flowers and gave them a holiday when he wanted to go for fishing.
Question 42.
How did the order from Berlin change the situation in the school? (All India 2015)
Answer:
The shocking order from Berlin after the defeat of France shocked the French people. It declared that all the schools in the two French districts of Alsace and Lorraine would now teach only German. This not only saddened but also hurt the pride of the people of France. On the day of the French teacher M.Hamel’s last lesson, even the village elders came to show their respect to him for serving the community faithfully for forty years. The usual hustle and bustle too was missing from school and Franz found it unusually quiet as it used to be on a Sunday morning. M.Hamel was dressed in his formal suit. Even though Franz reached late M.Hamel did not scold him. He then went on to praising the French language at length by referring to it as the most beautiful language. He called upon the French people to safeguard their language among themselves and not to forget it ever.
Question 43.
Whom did M.Hamel blame for Franz’s inabil¬ity to answer his questions? (Comptt. Delhi 2015)
Answer:
Hamel blamed the parents who sent the children to work instead of sending them to school. He blamed himself for making them water the plants and giving them a holiday when he wanted to go fishing. He also blamed the students themselves for delaying the learning of their lessons thinking that there was plenty of time.
Question 44.
How did M.Hamel display his love for the French language? (Comptt. Delhi 2015)
Answer:
M. Hamel had great love for the French language which he had been teaching for forty years. For him it was the most beautiful, most logical and clearest language. He wanted the French people to preserve it among themselves and this would enable them to be free from foreign rule.
Question 45.
What was the bulletin board news that caused a change in the school? (Comptt. All India 2015)
Answer:
The bulletin board news that caused a change in the school was that, that day was going to be the last French lesson for the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools and their new German teachers would come the next day.
Question 46.
Who were sitting on the backbenches on the day of the last lesson? Why? (Comptt. All India 2016)
Answer:
The village people occupied the backbenches in the classroom on the day of the last lesson. They included the old hauser, the former mayor, the former postmaster and several others. They had come there to thank their master for his valuable service and to show their respect for their language and country which was no longer theirs.
Question 47.
Why were people standing in front of the bulletin board in ‘The Last Lesson’? Why did Franz not join the crowd? (Comptt. All India 2016)
Answer:
For the past two years the bulletin board had been the bearer of all bad news—the lost battles, drafts, orders from the commanding officer. That day an order had come from Berlin that from the next day a new teacher would teach German instead of French in the school. Franz could not join the crowd as he was already late for his class and could not afford further delay.
Question 48.
Why did Franz not want to go to school that day? (Delhi 2016)
Answer:
Franz was tempted to run away and spend the day outside instead of attending school as it was a warm and bright day and he wanted to watch the Prussian soldiers’ drill. Moreover he had not done his lesson on participles from which his teacher, M. Hamel was going to question and feared a scolding from his teacher.
Question 49.
Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day? (Delhi 2016)
Answer:
It was to be their last French lesson that day. The order from Berlin allowed only German language to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Hence their teacher, M. Hamel, was in a sad and sombre mood. So he did not scold Franz for reaching school late that day.
Question 50.
What did Franz wonder about when he entered the class that day? (Delhi 2016)
Answer:
Franz wondered about a number of things when he entered the class that day. He wondered as to why he was not given a scolding by his teacher, M. Hamel for being late, why his teacher was wearing his formal clothes which he wore only on inspections and prize days and why the village elders were sitting on the backbenches in the classroom.
Question 51.
Why were some elderly persons occupying the backbenches that day? (All India 2016)
Answer:
The elders of the village were sitting in the classroom as a mark of respect which they wanted to show for their language and their country. They felt sorry for not having learnt their language and wanted to thank M. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service.
Question 52.
“What a thunderclap these words were to me!” (Franz). What were those words and what was their effect on Franz? (All India 2016)
Answer:
When M.Hamel mounted on the chair and announced that he was there to teach his last French lesson that day, Franz was shocked and surprised. He felt very guilty for deliberately ignoring to learn his native language and he suddenly developed a strange fascination for his language and his school.
Question 53.
How were the parents and M. Hamel respon¬sible for the children’s neglect of the French language? (All India 2016)
Answer:
M. Hamel blamed everyone for putting off learning till the next time and thus losing out on the opportunity to learn their native language, French. The parents preferred to put their children to work on a farm or at the mills so that they could earn more money. M. Hamel too sent them to water his flowers and gave them a holiday when he wanted to go for fishing.
Question 54.
How is the title ‘The Last Lesson’ appropriate? (Comptt. Delhi 2016)
Answer:
The title ‘The Last Lesson’ is appropriate because it was M. Hamel’s last lesson and also the last French lesson in the school. During the last lesson, the teacher, as well as all those who were attending it, were feeling nostalgic and repentant.
Question 55.
What changes did the order from Berlin cause on the day of the last lesson? (Comptt. Delhi 2016)
Answer:
The shocking order from Berlin that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine saddened and hurt the pride of the French people. So as a gesture to express their solidarity for their language the village elders also attended school for the last French lesson. The usual hustle and bustle was missing from school and it was unusually quiet. M. Hamel was also dressed in his formal suit which he wore only on special occasions.
Question 56.
How different did M.Hamel look that particu¬lar morning in ‘The Last Lesson’? (Comptt. All India)
Answer:
In honour of his last French lesson in the school, M. Hamel had put on his fine Sunday clothes. He had on his green coat, his frilled shirt and the little black, all embroidered silk cap that he never wore except on inspection and prize days.
Question 57.
What was M.Hamel’s regret on the day of the last lesson? (Comptt. All India 2016)
Answer:
M. Hamel’s regret on the last day of the French lesson was that they all had put off learning their language till the next day and now most of them who claimed to be Frenchmen could neither speak nor write their language. For this they all, including M. Hamel himself, had a great deal to reproach themselves with.
Question 58.
How different was the scene in the classroom on the day of the last lesson? (Comptt. All India 2016)
Answer:
The usual hustle and bustle of the morning hours could not be seen on the day of the last lesson. It was all very still and quiet as it used to be on a Sunday morning. The din of opening and closing of desks and the rapping of the teacher’s ruler on the table could not be heard. The students had already taken their places and even the village elders had gathered there.
The Last Lesson Important Questions Long Answer Type Questions (5-6 marks)
Question 59.
What did the French teacher tell his students in his last French lesson? What impact did it have on them? Why? (All India 2009)
Answer:
M. Hamel told his students that a new order from Berlin has declared that all schools of Alsace and Lorraine would teach only German so this was going to be their last French lesson. This new order aroused patriotic feelings in him and he, in turn, wanted to arouse similar patriotism in his students and the village elders. He made them conscious of the glory and value of the French language and told them to safeguard it among themselves and keep it alive at all costs as it was the key to their unity and liberation. Everyone listened to him sadly but with rapt attention and respect. Even little Franz listened to his teacher’s words with a new-found interest. He felt sorry that he had neglected learning French. Everyone from the village assembled in the class to thank Mr. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service to the community.
Question 60.
How different from usual was the atmosphere at school on the day of the last lesson? (All India 2015)
Answer:
Acquiring power over the Alsacians made the Prussians so dominating that they even imposed their language on them. This way the Prussians intended to dominate the hearts and minds of the Alsacians and wanted them to even think in their language and thereby lose their complete identity. An order had been received from Berlin that only German would be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine. So there was something unusual about the school on the last day of the French lesson. The usual hustle and bustle was missing. Everything was ‘strange and solemn’ as on a Sunday morning. The village elders were seated on the back desks.
M.Hamel, who had been teaching French at the school for the last forty years, was wearing his formal suit in honour of the last French lesson. While delivering the last lesson, he called upon his students and the village elders to guard the French language among themselves and never forget it, declaring French to be the most beautiful language in the world. Franz developed a sudden fascination for school and the French language and a sudden respect for M.Hamel. He wanted his teacher to stay and felt very guilty for having neglected his French lessons as now he was being deprived of the opportunity of learning his language.
Question 61.
Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. Comment. (All India 2015)
Answer:
The one common feeling that fills each and every person who is present in the last French lesson is an acute sense of regret. M. Hamel reproaches himself for putting off his students’ learning till the next day and sending them to water his flowers instead of learning their lessons. He also gave his students a holiday when he wanted to go fishing. Franz felt sorry for not learning his lessons and escaping school. He wished he had attended his classes more often and even the thought of losing his teacher saddened him. The village elders occupied the back benches of the class to atone for their guilt and express their regret for not having attended school regularly. They were now showing their respect for the country that was theirs no more.
Question 62.
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. (Delhi 2016)
Answer:
The feeling of regretfulness for having neglected their native language, French comes quite late to M. Hamel and the village elders. They realise rather late that their language is part of their culture and they should be proud of it. It is only after they have been deprived of learning their language that they understand its value. The imposition of German language made them suddenly realise the authority of their captors and they felt a loss of freedom. So on the day of the last French lesson the village elders are seated on the back desks and M. Hamel, who had been teaching French at the school for the last forty years, was wearing his formal suit as a mark of respect for the last French lesson. M. Hamel expressed how they all had a great deal to reproach themselves for as most of the people of Alsace could neither speak nor write French. Parents preferred to put their children to work on farms or mills.
M. Hamel regretfully said how he himself sometimes sent his students to water his flowers instead of learning their language lessons. While delivering the last lesson M. Hamel called upon his students and the village elders to guard the French language among themselves, declaring it to be the most beautiful language tn the world. Each one of them felt guilty for having ignored the French lessons.
Question 63.
Our native language is part of our culture and we are proud of it. How does the presence of village elders in the classroom and M.Hamel’s last lesson show their love for French? (All India 2016)
Answer:
Acquiring power over the French made the Prussians so dominating that they decided to impose even their language on them. So on the day of the last French lesson the village elders were seated on the back seats of the classroom. They felt sad and sorry for not having gone to school more often. Their presence was also their way of thanking their master, M.Hamel for his forty years of faithful service. M.Hamel himself had put on his fine Sunday clothes in honour of the last French lesson. Assuming the role of mentor he advised the class to safeguard and preserve their language among themselves and never forget it. He called French the most beautiful and logical language in the world. By the end of the class M.Hamel was so choked with emotion and could not speak so he took a piece of chalk and wrote on the blackboard “Vive la France!” (Long Live France) and then dismissed the class.
Question 64.
Describe the atmosphere in the class on the day of the last lesson. (Comptt. Delhi 2016)
Answer:
On the day of the last French lesson the atmosphere in the class was strange and solemn. The school was as quiet as if it was a Sunday morning. The teacher (M.FIamel) moving in the class with his ruler under his arm was wearing his special dress for the last class. The elders of the village were sitting on the backbenches of the classroom. All the students were studying with complete attention and the teacher was teaching with full dedication. All this was due to an order from Berlin that from the next day German would be taught instead of French by a new teacher. While delivering the last lesson, the teacher called upon his students and the village elders to guard the French language among themselves and never forget it, declaring French to be the most beautiful language in the world.
The Last Lesson Extra Questions
1. Who is the writer of ‘The Last Lesson” Story?
Ans. Alphonse Daudet.
2. What Are The Main Characters Of ‘The Last Lesson” Story?
Ans. Franz (Little Boy Who Was A Student),
Mr. Hamel (French Teacher In Franz’s School).
3. What Task did Franz get that day to be prepared for school?
Ans. On that day, Franz needs to be prepared with participles.
4. What did Franz think for a moment when he was about to leave for school that day?
Ans. For a moment he thought of running away and spending the day out.
5. When Franz was passing the town hall, Why does he found a crowd in the front of the bulletin-board?
Ans. There was some order that came from Germany.
6. What was the order that has come from Germany?
Ans. The order was to teach only the German language instead of French in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
7. What did Mr. Hamel say when Franz enters in the class?
Ans. Mr. Hamel saw him and said ‘Go to your place quickly, little Franz”.
8. What strange things do Franz experience when he was about to enter the school that day?
Ans. He found an unusual silence all around the school. Generally, on other days when school begins, there was a great noise of opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, which could be heard out from the street.
9. What does he saw when he enters the class?
Ans. He saw that all the students are silence and set on their seats. Also, he saw that some villagers set in the backside in his class.
10. What did Mr. Hamel tell at first in the class?
Ans. Mr. Hamel said that ‘My Children, this is the last lesson I shall give you all. The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. And the new master will join you tomorrow, so it’s my last class and I want you to be very attentive”.
11. What was Franz expected to be prepared for the school that day?
Ans. That day Franz needs to prepare participles, which was a task given by his teacher.
12. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
Ans. That day when Franz entered the school, He found an unusual silence all around the school. Generally, on other days when school begins, there was a great noise of opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, which could be heard out from the street. 13. What had been put up in the bulletin-board?
Ans. There was an announcement in the bulletin board, which was from the next day, German would be taught in the school of Alsace and Lorraine.
14. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in the school that day?
Ans. The order from Berlin makes an unusual silence all over the school that day. There was no noise of anything like opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, etc. When he moved towards the class, He found that the villagers (Peoples of the village) set on the backbenches of his class and Mr. Hamel Showed no anger to him and ask him to ‘Please Go to your place quickly, little Franz”.
15. How did Franz’s feelings about Mr. Hamel and school change?
Ans. When little Franz came to know that day was the last day of the French class in his school. His feelings about school and Mr. Hamel changed entirely. Suddenly he fells in love with his school & Mr. Hamel’s French class. He felt very-very sad because that was his last French school class. At that time he only wants that French class taught by Mr. Hamel to be continued for long.
Q.16 What Changes Did The Narrator (Writer) Find In The School When The Order From Berlin Came?
Or, What Changes Did The Writer Find In The School When The Order Came From Berlin?
Answer – The order from berlin stopped teaching of the French language in the school of Alsace and Lorraine. Franz was late for school that day. He noticed that there was complete silence, the was no noise of opening and closing desk and repetition of lessons. It was all very quiet and silence. Franz was further surprised because when he enters the classroom, He found that M.Hamel welcomed it and says “Where were you little Franz, we were beginning without you. Please go to your seat quickly”. Also, he saw that M.Hamel was dressed in his best clothes, which he use to wore only on inspection and prize days. Also, he saw that backbenches were occupied by the village people who have never come to school. Soon he comes to know that this is the last day of M.Hamel’s class.
Q17. The Peoples In This Story Suddenly Realise How Precious Is Their Language Is To Them. What Shows This? Why Does This Happen?
Answer: This happens because they have received the orders from Berlin that now they have to read other languages and will not be able to study Franz.
Nobody in this world will want to leave their mother tongue and culture. So this incidence makes realize to Franz peoples, how precious their language is.
Q18. After Grammar, What Lesson Did They Had?
Answer – Franz and all of them had a lesson in writing after the grammar lessons.
Q19. Franz Was Very Frightened Because He Was Late For School. What Was M.Hamel Reaction When Franz Enter His Class?
Answer – When little Franz enter his class nothing had happened, M.Hamel saw him and said: “Go to your place quickly little Franz, We were just beginning without you”.
Q20. What Did the First Thing Did M.Hamel Told That Day In Class?
Answer – The first thing that M.Hamel told me that day in class is “My children, This is the last lesson I shall give you”. The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the school of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master will come tomorrow. This is your last French class. That’s why I want you to be very attentive.
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