Question.1. What tempted Franz to stay away from school?

(Delhi
2014; Medtffot)
Answer. Franz feared a scolding at school as he had not prepared hte
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 the drill of Prussian soldiers also
tempted Franz to stay away from school.

Question.2. What was unusual about M Hamel’s dress on his last

day in the school?
(Compartment 2014)
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. This was a special ceremonial attire
which he usually wore on days of inspection and prize distribution.

Question.3. 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.

Question.4. Who were sitting on the back benches during M

Hamel’s last lesson? Why? (Compartment 2014)
or
Why had the villagers come to school on the day of the last lesson?
(Foreign 2008)
or
Why were the elders of the village sitting in the classroom? (Allindia
2014)
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.5. Why does M Hamel reproach himself for his students,

unsatisfactory progress in
Studies? (Compartment 2014)
Answer. M Hamel had been rather irregular as a teacher. He took leave
whenever he wanted to. 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 reproaches himself for his students’ unsatisfactory
progress in studies.

Question.6. 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.

Question.7. What words did M Hamel write on the blackboard

before dismissing the last class?
What did they mean? (Compartment 2014)
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.8. 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.

Question.9. How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their
last French lesson? (Delhi 2013)
or
What announcement did M Hamel make? What was the impact of
this on Franz?
(All India 2011)
or
‘‘This is your last French lesson.” How did Franz react to this
declaration of M Hamel? (Delhi 2010)
or
What changes came over little Franz after he heard M Hamel’s
announcement?
(All India 2010)
or
What did the French teacher tell his students in his last French
lesson? What impact did it have on them? (All India 2009)
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 the 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 lessons. Earlier his books seemed a nuisance to him,
but at that moment they became very dear to him.

[Link] was the order from Berlin and what changes did
it cause in the school?
(AU India 2013)
or
What changes did the order from Berlin cause in the school? (Delhi
2012)
or
What was the mood in the classroom when M Hamel gave his last
French lesson?
(Delhi 2009)
Answer. The order from Berlin stated that only German will be taught in
the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The order effected many changes, as
an unusual silence prevailed in the school, compared to the hustle and
bustle earlier. M Hamel became soft in speaking to the students, while
the people realised the importance of their language. The villagers even
attended the school to show respect to M Hamel.

Question.11. How did M Hamel say farewell to his students and the
people of the town?
(All India 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.

Question.12. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for the

school that day? (Delhi 2011)
Answer. Franz was expected to be prepared with participles that day.
His teacher M Hamel, was to question him on the topic. Franz had not
learnt his lessons and feared to be scolded by him.

Question.13. What had been put up on the bulletin-board? (Delhi

2011)
Answer. Since the last two years the bulletin-board had news of lost
battles, the draft and the orders of the commanding officer. On that day a
notice had been put up stating that orders from Berlin were to teach only
German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
Question.14. Who did M Hamel blame for the neqlect of leaminq on
the part of boys like Franz?
(Delhi 2011)
Answer. M Hamel blamed himself for the neglect of learning on the part
of boys like Franz. He himself was not quite regular and took leave
whenever he needed it, which reflected on the behaviour and studies of
the students. He also blamed their parents for not taking mterest in their
education.

Question.15. 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.

Question.16. Mention two thingsLabout M Hamel that surprised

Franz on his last day at school.
(Foreign 2009)
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; he was in his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and little black
silk cap with embroidery, which he wore only on inspection or prize
days.

Question.17. How was the scene in the school in the morning of the
last lesson different from that
on other days? (Delhi 2008)
Answer. Usually, there used to be great hustle and bustle when the
school began. The din of opening and closing of the desks, lessons being
repeated in unison and the rapping of the teacher’s ruler on the table,
could be heard out in the street. But that day, it was all very quiet and
still as on a Sunday morning.

Long Answer Type Question (6 Marks, 120-150 words)

Question.1. What changes did the narrator find in the school when
the order from Berlin came?
(Ail India 2008)
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 late 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 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.

The Last Lesson Important Questions 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 [Link] 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 [Link]? (Delhi 2010)
Answer:
When [Link] 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 [Link] 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 [Link] 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 [Link]’s
announcement? (All India 2010)
Answer:
When [Link] 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 [Link] 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 [Link] 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 [Link] 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 [Link] 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 [Link] gave his last
French lesson? (Comptt. All India 2011)
Answer:
When [Link] 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 [Link] 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 [Link]
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 [Link] 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 [Link] 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 [Link] 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? (Comptt.
Delhi 2014)
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 [Link]’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.
[Link] was dressed in his formal suit. Even though Franz reached late
[Link] 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 [Link] 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 [Link] 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 [Link] 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 [Link] 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 [Link]’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.

[Link], 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 [Link]. 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 [Link] 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 [Link]’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,
[Link] for his forty years of faithful service. [Link] 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 [Link] 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 ([Link]) 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.