CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo The Last Lesson Alphonse Daudet Assignment Set B

Short Answer Type Questions:

Question. Why was Little Franz scared to go school that morning?
Answer : That morning, Little Franz was scared to go to school because he was late for school. Moreover, his teacher M. Hamel had told them that he would question them on participles and Little Franz did not know the first word about them.

Question. What were the things that tempted/attracted Little Franz on the way to school?
Answer : On the way to school, Little Franz was attracted by the following things:
i) the bright and sunny weather, a perfect one to be spent out of doors
ii) the birds were chirping at the edge of the woods
iii) the Prussian soldiers were drilling in the open field at the back of the saw mill.

Question. Why did the school look like a Sunday morning?
Answer : The school looked different that day. There was no sound of children or desk and benches nor of M. Hamel’s terrible ruler. Everything was calm and quiet like a Sunday morning because of the order that had come from Berlin.

Question. What did Little Franz think about the pigeons?
Answer : After the announcement made by M. Hamel about their last French lesson, Little Franz was wondering on many things amidst the strangely quiet school room. Once some pigeons cooed from the roof. Little Franz wondered whether the Germans would make them sing in German too.

Question. Why did M. Hamel tell the class to guard the French language and never forget it?
Answer : According to M. Hamel, when a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language, it is as if the key to their prison. So, he requested everyone to guard their mother tongue and never forget it.

Question. How did M. Hamel end/conclude his class?
Answer : When the church clock struck twelve, M. Hamel stood up from his chair. He wanted to say something but something chocked him, he could not go on. Then he walked up to the black board and wrote on it “Vive La France” with a piece of chalk as large as he could. He leaned his head against the wall and without saying a word made a gesture with his hand that the school was dismissed, they might go.

Question. How did the teacher/M. Hamel address or behave Little Franz even if he was late?
Answer : To his surprise, Little Franz noticed that M. Hamel did not scold him for being late. When he saw Little Franz, he told him very kindly to go to his place quickly and also said that they were beginning without him. This was just opposite to the normal cranky behaviour of the teacher M. Hamel.

Question. What bad news did the bulletin board give for the last two years?
Answer : The bulletin board brought all the bad news for last two years. Some of them were like the lost battle, the draft and the order of the commanding officer etc. All these news were related to the Franco-Prussian war going on at that time.

Question. Why did the crowd gather in front of the bulletin board that day?
Answer : That day, Franz noticed a crowd gathered in front of the bulletin board. For the last two years, all the bad news had come through the bulletin board. He wondered what might be the reason that day. Later, he came to know that it was the order from Berlin which was put in the bulletin board.

Question. How was the teacher/M. Hamel dressed?
Answer : M. Hamel was wearing his best dress that day. He was wearing his green coat, frilled shirt and a little black silk cap, all embroidered which he never wore except on inspection or prize distribution days.

Question. Why were the villagers sitting at the back benches of the school/classroom?
Answer : The villagers were very sad after they came to know about the order that had come from Berlin. So, in order to show their love and respect towards their mother tongue and also to show gratitude to M. Hamel, they were sitting at the back benches of the school.

Question. What was like a thunderclap to Little Franz?
Answer : M. Hamel announced that he was going to give them the last French lesson. He also said that an order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine and the new French teacher would arrive the next day. He asked everyone to be very attentive. These words were like a thunderclap to Little Franz.Question. What were the usual sounds heard out at the street when school began?
Ans: Usually when school began, there used to be a lot of noise. Opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison and the teachers great ruler rapping on the table to make the children silent are some of them heard out in the street.

Question. How did Little Franz react to the announcement made by M. Hamel?
Answer : The announcement made by M. Hamel was like a thunderclap to Little Franz. He understood that this order had been put up in the town hall. His heart felt with regret and remorse for not learning his language. He also thought about the teacher who would leave them forever very soon.

Question. How did he feel about the last grammar lesson taught by M. Hamel?
Answer : To his utter surprise, Little Franz found the grammar lesson to be very easy. He was amazed to see how well he understood it. He also thought that he had never listened so carefully, and that M. Hamel, their teacher had never explained everything with so much patience. It looked that as if the old man wanted to give them everything he knew before going away.

Question. What were the topics/subjects discussed or taught by M. Hamel on the day of the last lesson?
Answer : On the day of the last lesson, M. Hamel taught the following topics/subjects:
i) Oral questions on participles
ii) a Grammar lesson
iii) A lesson on writing
iv) History
v) Chanting of French alphabet for the babies.

Question. What was unusual that Franz notice about the school that day?
Answer : Franz noticed that everything was calm and quiet like a Sunday morning. The children were already seated in their desks and M. Hamel was walking up and down in the class with his iron ruler under his arm. He was wearing his best dress which he never wore except on inspection or prize distribution days.

Question. What was M. Hamel’s view/opinion on the French language?
Answer : According to M. Hamel, French was the most beautiful language in the world. It was the clearest and the most logical language. He asked everyone to guard it and never forget it because when a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison.

Question. Whom did the teacher/M. Hamel blame for Little Franz not learning his mother tongue?
Answer : M. Hamel blamed the parents, the children and also himself for Little Franz not learning French. He pointed out that the parents preferred to put their children to work in a farm or in the mills to earn a little extra money. Even the teacher also used to give them a holiday whenever he wanted to go for fishing. The children put learning for tomorrow.

Question. How did the little children behave in the class that day?
Answer : That day, even the little children were doing their works quietly. Franz noticed that some beetles flying in during the writing lesson. But nobody paid any attention, even the littlest one. They were busy in tracing their fish hooks.

Long Answer type questions:

Question. What is ‘linguistic chauvinism’? Analyse the order from Berlin in this light. How do you justify M. Hamel’s views about French and the new-found love of the people towards their language?
Answer : Carrying pride in one’s language too far leads to ‘linguistic chauvinism’. We can analyse the order from Berlin in this light. It is nothing but a pure example of linguistic chauvinism. The imposition of German language over the French speaking population can’t be justified at all. It is the worst kind of colonialism.
M. Hamel’s love for French is genuine. The shocking order from Berlin arouses patriotic feelings in him. He loves French and feels it to be the most beautiful language in the world. He calls it the clearest and most logical language too. He regrets that the people of Alsace did not pay much heed to the learning of this great language. He asks the people to safeguard it among themselves. It is the key to their unity and freedom.
The people of Alsace, particularly the village elders, suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. Students like Franz too are not immune to patriotic feelings. Franz feels sorry for neglecting the learning of French. He hates the idea of German language being imposed on them. He remarks sarcastically, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” The last lesson was so impactful that it helped to revive the love for the language among the people of Alsace.

Question. How can you estimate M. Hamel as a man with a ruler and as a man with a gesture?
                                             OR
How does M. Hamel prove to be an ideal teacher?
Answer : In ‘The Last Lesson’, Alphonse Daudet presents M. Hamel’s character with due sympathy and respect. Initially, he is presented in the mould of a traditional schoolmaster. He used his terrible ruler under his arm. Everyone could hear the rapping of the ‘great ruler’ on the table even outside in the street. Franz reminds us ‘how cranky’ M. Hamel was. The students used to dread their schoolmaster. Franz was scared of being scolded as he had not prepared his lesson on participles. For a moment he even thought of running away from school. Mr Hamel was a hard task master. He maintained discipline in the class. The other side of Mr Hamel’s character is seen after the order from Berlin came. He had been transformed now. He became soft and gentle towards his students. He didn’t scold Franz for coming late. He did not even use his ruler when little Franz got mixed up and confused when his turn to recite came. He declared that it was his last lesson in French as from the next day German would be taught in the schools of Lorraine and Alsace. He would leave the next day. A new teacher would come in his place. He wore his best dress in honour of the last lesson.
M. Hamel was given respect not only by his students but even by the village elders. He was totally dedicated to the cause of teaching. He had been teaching for forty years in the same school. The village elders came to pay their respect to such a grand teacher. They sat on the back benches to listen to his last lesson.
M. Hamel loved France and French from the depth of his heart. He regarded French as the most beautiful language in the world. He told the people to guard it among themselves and never to forget it. On hearing the sound of trumpets of the Prussian soldiers under his window, patriotic feelings overpowered him. He mounted the chair and tried to speak however something choked him. He wrote “Vive La France” with a piece of chalk on the blackboard and dismissed the class.

Question. Write a character sketch of Franz.
Answer : Franz was a student of a school in Alsace. His schoolmaster was M. Hamel. Franz was not brilliant. Franz enjoyed spending time out of doors. He liked the warm and bright day and loved to listen to the chirping of the birds and watching the drilling of the prussian soldiers. He preferred this to being in the classroom. He didn’t prepare his lesson on participles. When he was asked to recite, he got mixed up and confused. He was not excited to go to school and did not show any interest in M. Hamel’s teaching. But he was scared of M. Hamel’s scolding. He always dreaded the great ruler that M. Hamel kept under his arm. Franz knew how ‘cranky’ M. Hamel was.
However, Franz was forced to change his opinion about M. Hamel. An order came from Berlin pronouncing that German language would be taught in the schools of French districts of Alsace and Lorraine. On knowing that it was the last lesson that Mr. Hamel was going to deliver, his views about him changed. He started respecting the man who had spent forty years in the same school. He felt sorry for not learning French. He shared M. Hamel’s views about French. It was the most beautiful language in the world. Franz sarcastically remarked, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” After the last lesson his views about French took a patriotic turn. He listened to M. Hamel’s last lesson with rapt attention and dignity and regretted having been careless and inattentive.

Question. 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?
                                                            OR
Our language is part of our culture and we are proud of it. Describe how regretful M. Hamel and the village elders are for having neglected their native language, French.
Answer : M. Hamel told the students and villagers that henceforth only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Those who called themselves Frenchmen would neither be able to speak nor write it. He praised French as the most beautiful, the clearest and most logical language in the world. He said that for the enslaved people, their language was the key out of prison. Only then the people realised the importance of their language. This shows people’s love for their own culture, traditions and country. Pride in one’s language reflects pride in motherland.
When Franz jumbled while it was his turn to answer, M. Hamel expresses regret at the pathetic state of the language among the folks of Alsace.
He regrets the fact that everyone chose to Procrastinate. Also he felt the parents preferred that their children worked in the farms for that extra income. He worried that the Germans would ridicule them for being incapable of speaking and writing their language. He blames everyone including himself for being careless lazy and Lackadaisical. (unenthusiastic, lack of determination).

Question. Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. Comment. (The last Lesson)
Answer : Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. There was a general sadness about not being able to utilise the opportunities of learning French when it was easily accessible. Franz wished he had attended classes more often and regretted not being attentive in his classes earlier. He suddenly found his lessons more interesting and easy. The villagers, who were sitting at the usually empty back benches and had come to show their respect and gratitude to M. Hamel, regretted not going to school more than they did. The order also brought about a great change in the feelings of the people towards their country and their native language. M. Hamel regretted sending his students to water his flowers instead of learning their lessons. He also regretted giving holiday to students whenever he wanted to go on fishing.

Question. How did the order from Berlin change the situation in the school?
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 last lesson, even the village elders came to show their respect to M. Hamel 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. Our native language is a part of 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?
Answer : According to a famous proverb, the person who does not take pride in his language, culture and nation is like an animal and he is like a dead person. Every community has a natural attachment to its culture and language. It is our native language that we naturally learn from the lap of our mother. We can communicate in our native language more effectively and proficiently than in some other foreign language. In this story, the Prussians invaded the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine. They banned the teaching and studying of the French language in these districts. All the teachers of the French language were asked to leave the districts of Alsace and Lorraine. M. Hamel was a teacher of the French language in a village in the district of Alsace. He had been teaching in a school the French language for the last forty years. The next day, he was leaving the village and school for good. The elderly persons sitting at the back benches were the old Hauser who was wearing his three-cornered hat, the former mayor, the former postmaster, and several others. Everybody was looking sad. Hauser had brought an old primer and he held it open on his knees with his spectacles lying across the pages. All these elderly persons had come to the school to pay their tribute to the selfless service of M. Hamel for forty years.

Question. Give a brief character-sketch of M. Hamel.
Answer : M. Hamel was a teacher of the French language in a village of Alsace district of France. He had been teaching French for the last forty years in that village. Everyone in the village had a great respect for him. His students thought he was cranky, but we didn’t find him cranky in any part of this story. He was very honest. When Franz failed to recite the rule for participles, he blamed himself for giving children unnecessary holidays whenever he wanted to go for fishing. He had great passion for his subject. He knew that it was now the last day of his school and he had to leave the district the next day for good. Even then he taught his students so well that they understood everything he had taught. He had great love for the French language. He called it the most beautiful, the clearest and the most logical language of the world. Indeed M. Hamel was a. great patriot.

Question. Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. Comment.
Answer : In the year 1870-71, during the Franco-Prussian war the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine fell into the hands of Prussians. They harmed the teaching and learning of the French language in these districts. All the teachers of the French language were ordered to leave these districts. M. Hamel was one such teacher who taught French in one of the villages of Alsace district. He had to leave the village the next day for good. In the chapter, he was delivering his last lesson of the French language. Not only the students but also the village elders came to attend the last French class. Everybody in the class was full of regret. M. Hamel blamed himself for giving too much holidays to his students and in this way not teaching them properly. The students like Franz blamed themselves for not learning their language properly. The village elders were also full of regret. They had not learnt their language properly.