Chapter 1
The Last Lesson
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The Prussian forces under Bismarck attacked France in the year 1870. All the Germans stood by Prussia and France was defeated. The French districts of Alsace and Lorraine passed into Prussian hands. The new Prussian rulers disallowed the teaching of French in the schools of these two districts. The French teachers in these schools were asked to leave. This story describes the last day of one such French teacher in his school. Though he knows he has been transferred and will no longer remain in his old school, he gives his last lesson to his students with as much devotion and sincerity as ever. The story brings out the pathos of the whole stuation and also depicts the quiet dignity of the French teacher, named M. Hamel
TEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Q.1. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
Ans. He was expected to be prepared with the rules for the use of participles.
Q.2. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
Ans He noticed that it was all very still with no trace of the usual commotion. It was a quiet as Sunday morning.
Q.3. What special news running on the Bulletin Board that day?
Ans. It was about an order from Berlin that only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
Q.4 What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
Ans. There was complete silence everywhere. Everyone looked sad and serious Old people of the village had come to thank Mr. Hamel for his faithful service forty years.
Q.5. How did Franz's feelings about Mr. Hamel and school change?
Ans. Franz was now very sad for Mr. Hamel. He forgot all about his rod and his cranky nature. Now he no longer hated school. He looked upon books as his friends.
Q.6. The people in this story suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. What shows you this? Why does this happen?
Ans. Everyone in the class listens carefully to whatever Mr. Hamel says. Everyone is sad ar his leaving the school. All thus happens because Mr. Hamel makes them realise that when people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language, it is as if they have the key to their prison.
Q.7. Franz thinks. "Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?" What could this mean
Ans. It means that the Germans can enslave the French, but they can't take away their love of the French language. It is in their blood and cannot be finished as long as they are alive.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q.1. What dread did little Franz have when he started for school in the morning? (2013,20)
(Or) Why was Franz afraid of?(2011)
Ans. Franz was late for school that morning. He feared the teacher would scold him. Also, the teacher was to ask questions on participles. But Franz did not know a word about participles. Naturally, he was in a great fear.
Q.2. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day? (2017)
Ans. The teacher had said that he would ask questions on participles. So Franz was expected to be prepared with rules for the use of participles. But poor Franz didn't know a word of them.
Q.3. What sights did Franz see on his way to school?(2011)
Ans. First of all, he saw Prussian soldiers drilling in an open field. Then he passed by the town hall. A crowd stood in front of the bulletin-board. Franz wondered what the matter could be in the news.
Q.4. What things tempted Franz to keep away from school?
Ans. It was a warm and bright day. Birds were chirping in the trees. Some Prussian soldiers were drilling in an open field. For Franz, it was far more tempting than going to school.
Q.5. What did Franz see when he passed by the town hall?
Ans. Franz saw a crowd in front of the bulletin-board. For the last two years, all had news had come from there. Franz wondered what the matter could be there that day. However, he did not stop there. He hurried by as fast as he could.
Q.6. What did the blacksmith say to Franz?
Ans. Franz was late for school. He was going as fast as he could. The blacksmith was standing in front of the bulletin-board at the town hall. On seeing Franz, he said, "Don't go so fast, boy. You'll get to school in plenty of time.
Q7. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?(2012, 14 ,17)
Ans. There were usually lots of noises when the school began. For example, there was the opening and closing of desks. The sounds of teacher's great ruler rapping on the table could be heard. But that day, it was all very quiet. It was as quiet as Sunday morning.
Q.8. How was M. Hamel's class different the day Franz went late to school? (2019)
Ans. That day it was all very quiet unlike other days. M. Hamel was dressed in his beautiful green coat. He didn't get angry with Franz for coming late. The village people were sitting quietly on the back benches. Everybody looked sad.
Q.9. How was Mr. Hamel dressed on his last day in school?(2023)
Ans. Mr. Hamel was dressed in his best clothes. He was in his beautiful green coat and a frilled shirt. He was wearing a little black silk cap. He never wore this dress except on inspection and prize days.
Q.10. Did Mr. Hamel get angry with Franz for being late?(2011.18)
Ans.No, Mr. Hamel did not get angry with Franz. Rather he said very kindly, "Go to your place, little Franz. We were beginning without you.
Q.11. What surprised Franz most when he took his seat in the class ?(2014)
Ans. Franz saw the village people sitting quietly on the back benches. They included old Hauser, the former mayor, the former postmaster and many others. Everybody looked sad. Old Hauser had brought an old primer. He was holding it open on his knees.
Q.12. What words of Mr. Hamel were a thunderclap to Franz? (2010)
Ans. Mr. Hamel told the class that it would be his last lesson. Orders had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. He said that the new teacher was coming the next day. These words came like a thunderclap to Franz.
Q.13. How did Franz feel when Mr. Hamel said that it was his last lesson at school?(2012, 13)
Ans. Franz was shocked. He cursed the Prussian rulers. He cursed himself also. He cursed himself for not learning his lessons. He used to call his books a nuisance. But now he was sorry that he would never see Mr. Hamel again.
Q.14. What had been put up on the bulletin-board?(2011, 18)
(Or) What special news was running on the bulletin-board that day?(2023)
Ans. It was an order from Berlin. It said that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teachers were coming the next day.
Q.15. How does Mr. Hamel pay a tribute to the French language?(2019)
Ans. Mr. Hamel pays his tribute to the French language by calling it the most beautiful language in the world. He wants his people to keep it alive and never forget it. At last, his throat is too choked to speak anything. He writes on the black board, 'Vive La France (Long live France!").
Q16.What did Mr. Hamel ask Franz to recite and how did Franz fare in it?
Ans. Ms. Hatmel asked Franz to recite the rule for participles. But Franz got mixed up on the first words. He just stood there, holding on to his desk. His heart was beating fast and he did not dare to look up.
Q17. What did Mr. Hamel say when Franz failed to recite the rule for participles?
Ans. Mr. Hamel did not scold Franz. He only said that it is not good to put off learning He blamed Franz's parents for not caring about his studies. He blamed himself also.
Q18. Who did Mr. Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz? (2019)
Ans. Mr. Hamel blamed the parents of the boys like Franz. He said that they didn't care about their studies. They were anxious to put their children to some work and thus have a little more money. Mr. Hamel blamed himself also. He said. "Have I not often sent you to water my flowers instead of learning your lessons?"
Q.19. What was it that had brought the old men of the village to school?
Ans. The old men of the village had come to know that Mr. Hamel was leaving the school for ever. They had come to thank him for his forty years of faithful service. They had also come to show their respect for the country that was theirs no more.
Q.20. What did Mr. Hamel say about his lesson?
Ans. Mr. Hamel said that orders had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. So he said to the children, 'This is your last French lesson. I want you to be very attentive.'
Q.21. What did Mr. Hamel say about the French language?
Ans. He called French the most beautiful language in the world. He said that it was the clearest and the most logical language. He wanted his people to keep it alive and never forget it.
Q.22. What happened when the church-clock struck twelve ?(2010, 11)
Ans. There were sounds of the midday prayer (Angelus). At the same moment, the sound of trumpets by Prussian soldiers was heard. They were returning from their drill. Mr. Hamel stood up to say something. But something choked him and he could say nothing. He took a big piece of chalk and wrote in big letters, "Long Live France!"
Q.23. Who was Mr. Hamel? How long had he served the school where Franz studied?
Ans. He was a teacher of the French language in a district of France at the time of the Prussian invasion of France. He had served the school for forty years.
Q.24. Describe how Mr. Hamel was a dedicated teacher.(2014)
Ans. Mr. Hamel had served the school for forty years. On the day of last French lesson. Mr.Hamel was in a pathetic state of mind. But he gave his last lesson to his students with as much devotion and sincerity as ever. All this shows that Mr. Hamel was a very dedicated teacher.
Q.25. What is the background of the story, The Last Lesson'?(2014)
Ans. "The Last Lesson' is set in the days of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) in which France is defeated by Prussia. The French districts of Alsace and Lorraine pass into Prussian hands. The teaching of French in schools is disallowed and the teachers teaching this language are sacked.
Q.26. How did Mr. Hamel bid farewell to his students and villagers?(2014)
Ans. Mr. Hamel took a big piece of chalk and wrote in big letters, Long Live France! In this way, he bade farewell to his students and villagers.
Q.27. What orders had come from Berlin?
(2014)
Ans. The orders had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q.1. The order from Berlin aroused a particular zeal in the school. Comment. (2018)
(Or) What changes did the order from Berlin cause that day? (2023)
Ans. As we know from the story, 'The Last Lesson', the Prussian forces had run over many purs of France. Alsace and Lorraine were two of the French districts that had come under Prussian rule. Prussian rulers disallowed the teaching of French in the schools. Instead, German was to be taught in those schools. Mr. Hamel is a very devoted teacher in one of the schools situated in one of the districts conquered by the Prussians. He has served the school fist 40 years, but he is asked to leave and his place is to be taken over by the newly appointed German teacher. The day described in the story is the day when Mr. Hamel is to give his last lesson and the general attitude of the students is shown by the example of Franz. The order for Berlin causes a flutter in the school. The students now repent the fact that they never cared for their language and whiled away their time in other useless activities. The old people from the village also come to attend Mr. Hamel's last lecture. There is a renewed zeal in everyone's heart to learn as much as they possibly can. Mr. Hamel has put on the best clothes he has. He gives his lesson with more devotion than ever. The students now seen to learn his lesson much more easily than in earlier times. There is a flurry of activity seen in the class. But by the end of his last lesson, Mr. Hamel is lost in grief and the whole atmosphere becomes tense. The people now realize how valuable their language is to them. But the time once lost is lost forever. They cannot do anything but repent!
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