THE LAST LESSON (NOTES)

THE LAST LESSON

 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. What tempted Franz to stay away from school? (Delhi 2014)

Answer. Franz feared a scolding at school as he had not prepared the lesson on participles, on which his French teacher M Hamel was to question the class that day. Besides the warm and bright weather, the chirping of birds and the watching of the drill of Prussian soldiers also tempted Franz to stay away from school.

2. Why is the order from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz? (Compartment 2014) OR “What a thunderclap these words were to me!” What were the words that shocked and surprised the narrator? : (Delhi 2013)

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 a thunderclap to Franz. He was left in surprise and shock to learn that a new master was going to arrive the next day and they would learn German instead of their mother tongue.

3. What changes came over little Franz after he heard M.Hamel’s announcement? (AI 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 about neglecting his classes and escaping school. The thought of losing his teacher, M. Hamel, also pained him.

4. Who did M.Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz? (D 2011)

Answer: Mr. Hamel blamed various people for different reasons for the 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 in 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.

5. What shows M Hamel’s love for the French language? (Foreign 2014)

OR

What did M Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask them to do and why? (Delhi 2013)

Answer. In his last lesson, M Hamel told the students that the French language was the most beautiful language in the world—the clearest and the most logical. He asked them to guard it amongst themselves and never forget it because when a people were enslaved, as long as they held fast to their language, it was as if they had the key to their prison.

6. What made M Hamel cry towards the end of his last lesson? (Compartment 2014)

Answer. M Hamel had taught French at the school for the last forty years. He was emotionally attached to the school and everything in and about it. He was really heartbroken to leave it all. Besides, his own predicament reminded him that his country would soon lose its independence. All this made him cry towards the end of his last lesson.

7. How did M Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town? (AI 2012)

Answer. At the end of his ‘Last Lesson’, M Hamel stood up to say farewell to his students and the people of the town. He tried to speak, but overwhelming emotion choked his voice. He then wrote as large as he could on the blackboard ‘Vive La France’; then he dismissed the class with a gesture with his hand.

8. 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: This shows that the Frenchmen were full of hatred and desperation against the Germans. Besides, they feared German atrocities. They thought that they would be forced to read German and no one will be spared.

Long Answer Type Question (5 Marks, 120-150 words)

Q.9. what changes did the narrator find in the school when the order from Berlin came? (AI 2008)

Answer. The order from Berlin prohibited the teaching of French in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Instead, German was to be taught in the schools. Franz was late for school that day. He noticed that the hustle and bustle were missing. There was no opening and closing of desks, no repetition of lessons and rapping 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 teacher, who was dressed in his best clothes, a beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and an embroidered silk cap, which he wore only on inspection and prize days. The back benches were occupied by the village people who never came to school, as they were more concerned about their livelihood. He was further astounded to know that, M Hamel was going to teach his last lesson that day.

Q10. Franz's attitude towards school as well as towards M Hamel changes when he comes to know about the order from Berlin. Do you agree? Discuss with reference to the last lesson.

Ans. Yes, I do agree that Franz's attitude towards school as well as towards M Hamel changed.

At the beginning of the story, Franz was reluctant to go to school. He had not done his homework. He was afraid of scolding. M. Hamel was a strict teacher. Moreover, the warm and bright day was more tempting. When he reached school he learnt that only the German language would be taught in his school. When he heard this, his attitude towards his teacher, his books and school changed completely. He started liking his teacher and was sorry for not learning his lessons. He was sorry that M. Hamel was going away. He forgot everything about his ruler and his cranky nature. His books appeared to him like his best friends. Surprisingly everything that his teacher taught him appeared so easy to him that day. He developed a great respect for M Hamel.

COMPETENCY BASED LONG ANSWER QUESTION

1.      As M Hamel deliver a speech on the last day of school urging the village elders and students never to leave their Native language.

You can begin the speech this way:

People are passionate about their country and language. Excessive pride in one's own language may lead to Language Chauvinism where they feel superior to others and try to impose their language on others

Ans. People are passionate about their country and language. Excessive pride in one's own language may lead to Language Chauvinism where they feel superior to others and try to impose their language on others. The Germans have taken over the districts of Alsace and Lorraine and an order has come from Berlin that French will no longer be taught in this school. From tomorrow the German teacher will come. This is my Last lesson. French is the most beautiful and logical language, we must owe respect to our language and know how to read and write it. No one can enslave us if we have a strong hold of our language. I emphasise on the fact that it is one's language that gives us our freedom. We must not leave our mother tongue.

I find that you all are regretting for not learning your mother tongue seriously and now realise the importance of the mother tongue in your lives.

Thank you.