CBSE Class 12 English The Last Lesson VBQs Set 04

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alphonse Daudet is a French author, famous for his short stories and novels that depict realism, human sentiments and humour in a simple way. “The Last Lesson”, one of his best-known stories, is a story about national pride, the significance of education and how education is a privilege for some. The story emphasises on not taking education for granted. It is a powerful story with contemporary approach which is weaved in a simle narrative.

SUMMARY

The narrator of the story is a little school boy, Franz. The story opens with Franz being late for the school on a beautiful warm morning. He was scared that his teacher M. Hamel would scold him because he was late and had not learned his French lesson on participles. As it was a beautiful day, he was tempted to run away from school and spend it outdoors but he decides to go to school finall.

On his way to school, he passed through the town hall, there he saw a crowd gathered around a bulletin-board. In the past, all the bad news had come from that board during the war. Franz wondered what the news was, this time but hurried to school.

When Franz reached school, unlike other days there was an unusual silence. He hurried towards his classroom. Franz was surprised to see that everybody was already in their seats and the last benches were occupied by the elders of the village and all of them looked sad.

M. Hamel also seemed kinder than usual. He was dressed in his special clothes which he wore only on special occasions. As Franz sat wondering about what was happening, M. Hamel announced that it was his last French class. There had been an order from Berlin that only German would be taught in schools of Alsace and Lorraine. After this announcement Franz was overcome with feelings of regret for he had wasted his time in petty things. M. Hamel tells everybody that French is a very beautiful language. He further added that they would be made fun of by people for calling themselves French because they could not write or speak their own language.

Then M. Hamel asked Franz to recite the rules of participles but he was very kind when Franz was unable to recite the rules. He also remarked that many parents preferred to send their children to work rather than to school. As the class progressed M. Hamel taught the grammar for the last time very patiently followed by writing lesson. The elders came to show their respect towards M. Hamel for his hard work and dedication of forty years.

At twelve, the church bell struck and it was the end of their last lesson. M. Hamel was filled with strong emotions and wrote on blackboard, Vive La France!– Long live France!

Previous Years’ CBSE Board Questions

Question. What tempted Franz to stay away from school? 
Answer: Franz was tempted to stay away from school because he was running late, he had not revised his lessons on participles and was dreading a scolding from his teacher, M. Hamel. Moreover, it was a warm, bright day, the birds were chirping at the edge of the woods. The Prussian soldiers were drilling in the open field at the back of the sawmill. Altogether, the outdoor seemed more interesting to Franz than going to school.

Question. Why were the elders of the village sitting in the classroom?
Answer: The elders of the village were sitting in the classroom to attend the last French lesson by M. Hamel. They were there not only to pay their respect to M. Hamel, but also to their country and mother tongue that was perhaps being taught for the last time in the village.

Question. What words did M. Hamel write on the blackboard before dismissing the last class ? What did they mean ? 
Answer: Before dismissing the last class, M. Hamel wrote “Vive La France!” on the blackboard. The French expression means “Long Live France.”

Question. What made M. Hamel cry towards the end of this last lesson? 
Answer: Towards the end of the class, M. Hamel cried because he was deeply saddened by the thought that France was no longer a free country. Alsace and Lorraine had been occupied by the Germans and from now on his beloved language French would not be taught in the schools.

Question. What was unusual about M. Hamel’s dress on his last day in the school? 
Answer: On his last day in the school, M.Hamel put on his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and a silk cap. It was an attire he would wear on important occasions.

Question. How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson? 
Answer: Franz was overcome with a feeling of remorse and regret when he heard that hence forth only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. He wished that he hadn’t spent so much time in trivial pursuits like seeking birds’ eggs, or going sliding in the Saar. The books that seemed such a nuisance earlier appeared like old friends now.

Question. “What a thunderclap these words were to me!” What were the words that shocked and surprised the narrator?
Answer: The narrator was shocked and surprised to hear from M. Hamel that it was going to be their last French lesson. The order had been sent from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine and the new teacher was expected to arrive the very next day.

Question. What did M. Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask them to do and why?
Answer: M. Hamel said that the French was the most beautiful language in the world-the clearest and the most logical. He asked the students and the village elders to guard it and never forget because it would give them a cultural identity, a sense of freedom and would also help them to remain united.

Question. What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it cause in the school?
Answer: The order from Berlin was to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. As this was going to be his last day at the school M. Hamel had put on his best clothes, which he wore only on special occasions, The whole school seemed so strange and solemn. On the back benches that were always empty, the elderly village people were sitting quietly with a sad visage. Some of them were even crying. The students paid a great deal of attention during their last French lesson, even the little ones. Most affected was M. Hamel. Although he taught every lesson with dedication, he looked sombre and pensive with tears in his eyes.

Question. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in the school ? 
Answer: The order from Berlin was to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. As this was going to be his last day at the school M. Hamel had put on his best clothes, which he wore only on special occasions, The whole school seemed so strange and solemn. On the back benches that were always empty, the elderly village people were sitting quietly with a sad visage. Some of them were even crying. The students paid a great deal of attention during their last French lesson, even the little ones. Most affected was M. Hamel. Although he taught every lesson with dedication, he looked sombre and pensive with tears in his eyes.

Question. How did M. Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town ?
Answer: M. Hamel announced in the class that it was going to be the last French lesson. He regretted not being stricter when there was enough time to teach French. He asked everybody to preserve their language, French, since it was the most beautiful of all languages. He also said that their language was the key to their freedom. At last, he stood up on his chair to say something. However, his melancholy made him choke. So, instead, he wrote “Vive La France!” on the blackboard and making a gesture with his hand, he said, “School is dismissed, you may go.”

Question. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for the school that day? 
Answer: Franz was expected to be prepared with the rules of participles for the school that day.

Question. What had been put up on the bulletin board? 
Answer: There was an order from Berlin that only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

Question. Who did M. Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz? 
Answer: M. Hamel blamed the pupils, their parents and to quite an extent, himself too for the neglect of learning French. Everybody, at some point of time, thought that there was still time to learn the language.

Question. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What does this tell us about the attitude of the Frenchmen? 
Answer: It shows the pitiable state of the Frenchmen. They feared the German atrocity. They thought that they would be forced to learn and read German and no one will be spared.

Question. “What a thunderclap these words were to me!” —Which were the words that shocked and surprised Franz? 
Answer: M. Hamel announced in the class that this would be the last French lesson he would be teaching them. He disclosed that an order had come from Berlin. All the schools of Alsace and Lorraine would now teach only German. The new teacher was to come the next day. The news left everyone shocked and grieved.

Question. What had the narrator counted on to enter the school unnoticed? 
Answer: The narrator had counted on commotion, noise and hustle and bustle, in other words, preoccupation of the teacher, to enter the school unnoticed.

Question. “This is your last French lesson.” How did Franz react to this declaration of M. Hamel? 
Answer: To Franz, the words sounded like thunderclap. He was shocked, at first, to hear that it was going to be his and everybody’s last French lesson. However, he was soon overcome with a feeling of remorse and regret.

Question. What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave his last French lesson? 
Answer: The order from Berlin was to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. As this was going to be his last day at the school M. Hamel had put on his best clothes, which he wore only on special occasions, The whole school seemed so strange and solemn. On the back benches that were always empty, the elderly village people were sitting quietly with a sad visage. Some of them were even crying. The students paid a great deal of attention during their last French lesson, even the little ones. Most affected was M. Hamel. Although he taught every lesson with dedication, he looked sombre and pensive with tears in his eyes.

Question. Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day? 
Answer: On reaching the school late that day, Franz was not scolded because the atmosphere in the school was sombre; order had come from Berlin that German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine from now on. Everyone, was sad that it was going to be their last French lesson.

Question. Who occupied the back benches in the class room on the day of the last lesson ? Why? 
Answer: The village people, including the former Mayor, the former postmaster, old Hauser and several others, occupied the back benches in the classroom on the day of the last lesson. They had come to pay respect to the teacher, M. Hamel for his faithful service and also to the country that was no longer theirs. Being present for the last lesson was an opportunity for everybody to bid farewell to their mother tongue and also to rid the conscience of the guilt of not having learnt the language when there was still time.

Question. Why did M. Hamel write ‘Vive La France!’ on the blackboard? 
Answer: M. Hamel wrote ‘Vive La France!’ on the blackboard because of the love for his country. It could also be considered as an expression of rebellion against imposition of the German.

Question. “We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with,” said M. Hamel. Comment. 
Answer: M. Hamel blamed himself, the students and the parents of his students for neglecting the study of French language. They had all needlessly postponed the learning. He himself had sent his students to water his flowers and sometimes gave them a holiday when he had wanted to go fishing.

Question. Whom did M. Hamel blame for Franz’ inability to answer his questions? 
Answer: M. Hamel blamed the students, their parents and to some extent, himself too for Franz’ inability to answer his questions. M.Hamel expressed his deep regret that for various reasons, especially thinking that there was plenty of time to learn, studying French was not given due importance by the adults, let alone the children.

Question. How did M. Hamel display his love for the French language? 
Answer: M. Hamel taught French for last forty years. Knowing that his students and the village elders would never again learn a word of French, M. Hamel wanted to teach them everything in the last class. According to him, French was the most beautiful language in the world. It was the clearest and the most logical language. M. Hamel wanted the French people to preserve it as it would help them to be free from the foreign rule. Before ending his last French lesson, M. Hamel wrote “Vive La France!” on the board.

Question. 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 blames himself and the natives for neglecting their native language, French. He laments that the village elders and he himself too, did not give much importance to learning French. On many occasions, he gave the students holiday because he wanted to go fishing. He even asked the students to water his flowers. Hamel also found fault with the parents who sent their children to work instead of making them attend school. The village elders too were regretful. On the last day of the French lesson, they all sat silently crying on the back benches of the classroom. They came to learn French from M. Hamel and expressed their sadness and regret they felt in their heart. A deeply disheartened M.Hamel appealed to the class that they hold fast to French, their language, a key to their freedom.

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 ?
Answer: The order from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine left a deep impact on M. Hamel as well as the villagers. Everybody was extremely hurt by the announcement because it meant that they could no longer teach, learn or speak in their native language, French. This made the last lesson, taught by M. Hamel, all the more significant and memorable. The village people who always neglected learning French felt sorry for not having gone to school more often. M. Hamel too expressed regret for not having been stricter with his students when there was still time. On the day of the last French lesson, amidst the strange solemnity, the students and the village elders present in the classroom listened to M. Hamel quite attentively. While he carried on with the lesson, he appealed to everyone to preserve French not only because it was the most beautiful language in the world, but also because holding on to their mother tongue would always keep them united. Before the class ended, overwhelmed by emotions, M. Hamel wrote ‘Vive La France!’ on the blackboard to express his undying love for French.

Question. The entire classroom, M. Hamel as well as those present in the class, is full of regret. For what and why ? 
Answer: M. Hamel blames himself and the natives for neglecting their native language, French. He laments that the village elders and he himself too, did not give much importance to learning French. On many occasions, he gave the students holiday because he wanted to go fishing. He even asked the students to water his flowers. Hamel also found fault with the parents who sent their children to work instead of making them attend school. The village elders too were regretful. On the last day of the French lesson, they all sat silently crying on the back benches of the classroom. They came to learn French from M. Hamel and expressed their sadness and regret they felt in their heart. A deeply disheartened M.Hamel appealed to the class that they hold fast to French, their language, a key to their freedom. The order from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine left a deep impact on M. Hamel as well as the villagers. Everybody was extremely hurt by the announcement because it meant that they could no longer teach, learn or speak in their native language, French. This made the last lesson, taught by M. Hamel, all the more significant and memorable. The village people who always neglected learning French felt sorry for not having gone to school more often. M. Hamel too expressed regret for not having been stricter with his students when there was still time. On the day of the last French lesson, amidst the strange solemnity, the students and the village elders present in the classroom listened to M. Hamel quite attentively. While he carried on with the lesson, he appealed to everyone to preserve French not only because it was the most beautiful language in the world, but also because holding on to their mother tongue would always keep them united. Before the class ended, overwhelmed by emotions, M. Hamel wrote ‘Vive La France!’ on the blackboard to express his undying love for French.

Question. Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. Comment. 
Answer: M. Hamel blames himself and the natives for neglecting their native language, French. He laments that the village elders and he himself too, did not give much importance to learning French. On many occasions, he gave the students holiday because he wanted to go fishing. He even asked the students to water his flowers. Hamel also found fault with the parents who sent their children to work instead of making them attend school. The village elders too were regretful. On the last day of the French lesson, they all sat silently crying on the back benches of the classroom. They came to learn French from M. Hamel and expressed their sadness and regret they felt in their heart. A deeply disheartened M.Hamel appealed to the class that they hold fast to French, their language, a key to their freedom. The order from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine left a deep impact on M. Hamel as well as the villagers. Everybody was extremely hurt by the announcement because it meant that they could no longer teach, learn or speak in their native language, French. This made the last lesson, taught by M. Hamel, all the more significant and memorable. The village people who always neglected learning French felt sorry for not having gone to school more often. M. Hamel too expressed regret for not having been stricter with his students when there was still time. On the day of the last French lesson, amidst the strange solemnity, the students and the village elders present in the classroom listened to M. Hamel quite attentively. While he carried on with the lesson, he appealed to everyone to preserve French not only because it was the most beautiful language in the world, but also because holding on to their mother tongue would always keep them united. Before the class ended, overwhelmed by emotions, M. Hamel wrote ‘Vive La France!’ on the blackboard to express his undying love for French.

Question. The order from Berlin aroused a particular zeal in the school. Comment. 
Answer: The order from Berlin, to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine from now on, aroused a particular zeal in the school on the day of the last French lesson. The air that day, was mixed with pride and sorrow. Students as well as elderly members of the village came to attend the class. The ambiance was quite sombre as the children were serious and some of the elders, sitting at the back benches, were crying. M. Hamel, who was dressed in his best attire, appeared to be in a pensive mood. His students and the village elders too paid great attention to everything that was being taught in the class. They hoped to learn as much as possible. Even Franz seemed to love his books. M. Hamel told those present in the class to hold on to French as it was the most beautiful language in the world. He said that their mother tongue was the key to their freedom. A feeling of oneness and immense love and respect for the mother tongue showed on everyone’s face. The class ended with M. Hamel writing ‘Vive La France!’ on the board.

Question. What did the French teacher tell his students in his last French lesson ? What impact did it have on them ? Why ? 
Answer: On the day of his last French lesson, M.Hamel told his students and village elders present in the classroom that the order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. He also told them that the new master was supposed to be arriving the next day. As the last lesson progressed, M. Hamel told the class that French is the most beautiful language in the world. He asked them to preserve it because it was the key to their freedom. The whole classroom seemed so strange and solemn. On the back benches that were always empty, some of the elderly village people sat, crying. That day, the students paid a great deal of attention, even the elder ones. The news of the last French lesson sounded like a thunderclap in the ears of little Franz. He was shocked, at first, but soon he was overcome with a feeling of remorse and regret. Most of all, it was M. Hamel who was saddened by the news. He regretted not giving French language its due importance and now, their mother tongue was being taken away from them.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
Answer: He was expected to be prepared with the rules for participles.

Question. What was more tempting for Franz than going to school?
Answer: The warm and sunny weather, the birds chirping at the edge of the wood and watching Prussian soldiers drilling was much more tempting for Franz than going to school.

Question. Why was Franz reluctant to go to school?
Answer: Franz was reluctant to go to school because he had not prepared the rules for Participles and he was also late for school.

Question. What was unusual about the school that day?
Answer: The school was quiet as a Sunday morning. The villagers were sitting on the back benches. M. Hamel was wearing his special dress.

Question. What was written on the bulletin board?
Answer: The order from Berlin was written on the bulletin board that only German would be taught in the districts of Alsace and Lorraine. There would be no teaching of French language. A new teacher would come.

Question. Why were the villagers sitting on the back benches?
Answer: They had come to thank M. Hamel for his 40 years of faithful service and to pay respect to their mother tongue that was not theirs anymore.

Question. Why were the words of M Hamel like thunderclap for Franz?
Answer: Franz realised that he would not be able to learn French anymore. He did not know how to read and write.

Question. How did Franz's feelings for M Hamel and the school change?
Answer: Franz's feelings for the school and M Hamel changed when he realised that M. Hamel was leaving the School forever and he would not be able to learn French anymore. He started loving M. Hamel, his books and his school.

Question. What did M Hamel say about French language?
Answer: He said that French was the most logical, the most beautifuland the clearest language.

Question. Why was M Hamel wearing his special Sunday dress?
Answer: M. Hamel was wearing the special Sunday dress in the honour of the last lesson of French language. The special dress was the expression of his feelings and love for his mother tongue.

Long Answer type Questions

Question. 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.
Answer: Yes I do agree that Franz's attitude towards school as well as M Hamel changes when he comes to know about the order from Berlin.

In the beginning of the story Franz was reluctant to go to school. He had not done his homework. He was afraid of being scolded also. M. Hamel was a strict teacher. Moreover the warm and bright day was more tempting than the class. When he reached school he learnt that only 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 also 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.

Question. Describe the atmosphere in the class on the day of the last lesson.
Answer: The atmosphere in the class was unusual, quiet and solemn. Franz was afraid of a scolding by M. Hamel for being late. But he spoke to him very politely. The villagers were sitting on the back benches. They had come there to show their respect for their mother tongue. They were sorry for not learning their language and for not sending their children to school.

The teacher M Hamel was very sad and serious. He was wearing his special dress in the honour of the Last Lesson. He was also sorry for giving holiday to the students and for keeping them busy in his own work. He addressed the class very politely.

The students were also very serious and attentive. Whatever their teacher taught was very clear to them because everybody paid attention to the lesson. M. Hamel told them about the importance of learning the language. At the end of the lesson the teacher got very emotional and did not have words to say goodbye. He could only write on the blackboard 'Vive La France'/Long Live France.