CBSE Class 12 English HOTs The Last Lesson Set 05

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS 

Question. Why did Franz not want to go to school that day?
or What tempted Franz to stay away from school?
Answer: Franz did not want to go to school that day because he feared a scolding as he had not prepared his 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 sight of the marching of Prussian soldiers also tempted Franz to stay away from school.

Question. How different was the scene in the classroom on the day of the last lesson?
or Why was Franz confused? What added to his confusion?
Answer: When Franz reached school, he found the entire place unusually quiet, strange and solemn. He was late for school and thought that M Hamel would scold him. But, to his surprise, M Hamel spoke very kindly to him and invited him in. However, what confused him the most was the presence of the village elders in the classroom.

Question. How different did M Hamel look that particular morning in 'The Last Lesson'?
or What was unusual about M Hamel's dress on his last day in the school?
Answer: M Hamel's dress on his last day in the school consisted of his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt, and a little black silk cap, all embroidered, that he never wore except on inspection and prize days.

Question. Who occupied the back benches in the classroom on the day of the last lesson? Why?
or Why were some elderly persons occupying the back benches that day?
or Who were sitting on the back benches during M Hamel’s last lesson? Why?
Answer: The old men of the village occupied the back benches that day during M Hamel's last lesson because they were sorry that they had not attended school more often. They also wanted to thank their teacher for his forty years of faithful service and to show their respect for the country that was theirs no longer.

Question. Why is the order from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz?
or What announcement did M Hamel make? What was the impact of this on Franz?
or "This is your last French lesson." How did Franz react to this declaration of M Hamel?
or "What a thunderclap these words were to me!" (Franz) What were those words and what was their effect on Franz?
or "What a thunderclap these words were to me!" What were the words that shocked and surprised the narrator?
or "What a thunderclap these words were to me!" Which were the words that shocked and surprised little Franz?
Answer: The announcement made by M Hamel that there was an order from Berlin to stop teaching French, and that this was their last French lesson, seemed to be a thunderclap to Franz. He would no longer be able to learn French, his mother tongue.

Question. What changes came over little Franz after he heard M Hamel's announcement?
Answer: After hearing the announcement, Franz was very sad and he regretted not learning his lessons, and being deprived of the opportunity to learn his own mother tongue. His books suddenly became his 'old friends' whom he could not abandon.

Question. Why were the elders of the village sitting in the classroom?
Answer: As per an order from Berlin, French was no more to be taught in the schools of Alsace. Therefore, M Hamel, the French teacher, had to leave after forty years of long and faithful service. The elders of the village felt sorry for not learning their language and were present in the classroom to express their respect and gratitude towards him.

Question. How did Franz perform when his turn came to recite?
Answer: When it was Franz's turn to recite, he got mixed up on the first words and stood at his place, ashamed. He did not have the courage to look up and face his teacher.

Question. "We've all a great deal to reproach ourselves with", said M Hamel. Comment.
or Why does M Hamel reproach himself for his students' unsatisfactory progress in studies?
Answer: M Hamel reproaches himself for his students' unsatisfactory progress in studies because he has given them his own personal work to do during school time. Besides, he also gave them a holiday when he wanted to go fishing. He also tells the villagers that they should reproach themselves for not having learnt their language.

Question. Whom did M Hamel blame for Franz's inability to answer his questions?
or How were the parents and M Hamel responsible for the children's neglect of the French language?
or What was M Hamel's regret on the day of the last lesson?
or Who did M Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz?
Answer: M 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 at his home and giving them a holiday when he wanted to go fishing. Thus, both the parents and M Hamel were responsible for the children's neglect of the French language. M Hamel also blamed the students for delaying the learning of their lessons, as they thought that there was plenty of time.

Question. How did M Hamel praise the French language?
Answer: M Hamel called French the most beautiful language in the world. According to him, it was the clearest and the most logical language. He wanted the people of France to guard it amongst themselves and never forget it.

Question. What shows M Hamel's love for the French language?
Answer: M Hamel had taught the French language in the school for forty years and was overcome with emotion when he realised that the villagers would not be able to learn it any more. He wanted them to preserve the language with them, thus showing his love for the language.

Question. What did M Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask them to do and why?
Answer: M Hamel praised the French language, calling it the most beautiful, the clearest, and the most logical language in the world. He asked them to guard or preserve their language among themselves and never forget or lose it.

Question. How is the mother tongue important?
Answer: The mother tongue is the representative of a nation's true identity and character. It acts as a binding force, creating unity among the countrymen. M Hamel rightly said that when people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language, it is as if they had the key to their prison.

Question. Franz was able to understand everything that day. Why?
Answer: Franz thought that probably he had never paid so much attention in the class, and that M Hamel had never explained everything with so much patience. Perhaps, these were the very reasons that he was able to understand everything that day.

Question. What did M Hamel teach the class in his 'last lesson'?
Answer: In his 'last lesson', M Hamel taught the class about grammar, then about writing and finally a lesson in history. More than this, he made his students realise the importance of their mother tongue, and taught them to take pride in their language.

Question. What was M Hamel's contribution to the school in Alsace?
Answer: M Hamel had given forty years of long and faithful service to the school. Though the students found him cranky, he was a true Frenchman at heart, who took immense pride in teaching his mother tongue. He loved the school and wanted the children to love their language.

Question. What made M Hamel cry towards the end of his last lesson?
Answer: M Hamel cried towards the end of his last lesson because he loved the French language and felt pity for the villagers, as they would not be able to learn their mother tongue any longer.

Question. How did M Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town?
Answer: Towards the end of his 'last lesson', M Hamel stood up to say farewell to his students and the people of the town. He then turned to the blackboard and wrote, 'Vive La France'. Then he dismissed the class with a gesture of his hand.

Question. Why did M Hamel write 'Vive La France' on the blackboard?
or What words did M Hamel write on the blackboard before dismissing the last class? What did they mean?
Answer: M Hamel wrote the words 'Vive La France!' in big letters on the blackboard before dismissing the last class. These words meant, 'Long Live France!' This shows his patriotic nature.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS 

Question. How different from usual was the atmosphere at school on the day of the last lesson?
Answer: The order from Berlin that only German will be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine henceforth changed the atmosphere at school, as an unusual silence prevailed, compared to the normal hustle and bustle earlier at the start of school every day. M Hamel had changed into a soft-speaking teacher from his harshness and strictness earlier. M Hamel had also dressed differently, wearing the clothes reserved for inspection days and other important occasions. The whole school seemed so strange and solemn to Franz. But the strangest thing was that the villagers even attended the school to show respect to M Hamel, as they had realised the importance of their language. Everybody looked sad that it was going to be their last lesson in French.

Question. How did the order from Berlin change the situation in the school?
Answer: The order from Berlin had stopped the teaching of the French language in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The people in the village were saddened by this, so that the children and villagers attending the school were silent and the normal hustle and bustle of the school starting was missing. Even M Hamel, the French teacher, was not his usual strict self. He was also dressed in his ceremonial clothes, normally reserved for inspection and prize days. However, the most surprising fact was that the villagers, regretting that they did not utilise the opportunities for learning French when it was possible, were occupying all the back benches to attend the last lesson in French. Earlier they had been more concerned about their livelihoods and so had never attended school.

Question. The order from Berlin aroused a particular zeal in the school. Comment.
Answer: The order from Berlin had stopped the teaching of the French language in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. This shocking development suddenly aroused a lot of zeal in the various people in the story to learn their native language. M Hamel, the French teacher, changed his behaviour from being a cranky and strict teacher to that of a very kind person, as it would be his last lesson, and he would be going away the next day. He also taught with more understanding and patience. Franz was not interested in learning the language earlier, but now he suddenly realised what he had been missing and became very attentive in class. The villagers regretted that they did not utilise the opportunities given to them for learning French when it was possible; so they had turned up in full strength for the last lesson.

Question. Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. Comment.
Answer: Yes, M Hamel is filled with regret because he had not taken enough interest in teaching French, as he often sent students for petty errands and gave them a holiday when he didn't want to teach. Franz regretted that he had not been learning his lessons, but skipping school for enjoying other activities. He also regretted that M Hamel was going away, that he would never see him again, despite his strictness and crankiness. The villagers regretted that they did not utilise the opportunities given to them for learning French when it was possible; that is why they had turned up in full strength for the last lesson. Thus, all of them regretted that this was their last lesson in French.

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: A language of a country is the identity of that nation. M Hamel, in his last lesson, tells his students about the beauty of their language, French, which is now being replaced by German because of the orders that have come from Berlin. He says that it is the most beautiful language in the world. He describes it as the clearest and the most logical of all the languages. The teacher elaborates the beauty of his country's language. He says that during colonial rule when the colonial power tries to enforce political and cultural dominance by imposing their own language, if the natives are attached to their native language, their identity remains intact. They could say they are having the key to their prison as long as they are holding fast with their language. These words of M Hamel create a sense of reverence in the hearts of the village elders, who have come to thank him for his forty years of faithful service to their language and regretted not paying sincere attention towards it.

Question. After reading the chapter, you realise that man has an intense desire to subjugate others. You feel that in the modern world, there is a strong need for brotherhood. Write an article in 120-150 words for a national magazine on this.
Answer:
What will You Conquer?
by Sunil
During the Franco-Prussian war, as related in the story ‘The Last Lesson’, France lost two of its provinces to Germany. The Germans passed the order in these provinces, Alsace and Lorraine, that from now on, only German will be taught in the schools. The imposition of German over French was humiliating for the local residents. It filled the people with great patriotic feelings. Suddenly, on the roof when the pigeons coo in a low tone, Franz asks himself whether they will make the pigeons also sing in German. This remark is a Frenchman's typical reaction to the imposition of learning German. The attitude of the French is full of hate and desperation. This also shows the extent the Germans would go in their attempts at linguistic chauvinism. The instance in question makes it clear that man has a strong desire to impose his will upon others and to subdue others. This very instinct of man is responsible for tension, turmoil and conflicts in the world. In today's world, only the feeling of compassion, tolerance and brotherhood towards our fellow beings can lead us towards peace and prosperity.

Question. 'Then he turned to the blackboard, took a piece of chalk and bearing on it with all his might, he wrote as large as he could Vive La France'!" After reading the lesson you begin to feel that Indian youth lack the spirit of patriotism. Write an article in 120-150 words on what is patriotism?
Answer:
What is Patriotism
by Sunita
The profound and deep love for one's country, language and culture is known as patriotism. It is the spirit of trying to do all one can for the betterment and progress of one's country, language and culture. Basically, it is putting national feelings above personal feelings and national concerns above personal gains. It is living and dying for one's motherland. The spirit of patriotism is not merely a noble sentiment within the heart. If it is so, then it is only sham patriotism. True patriotism calls for certain concrete actions and external expressions. Like offering our valuable services when national integrity and independence is threatened by external forces or neighbours. It demands offering material and moral support in the fight for national freedom. True patriotism also would mean doing all one can, when natural calamities such as earthquake, flood, famine, drought etc. strike any part of the country. Patriotism finds expression in fulfilling our fundamental duties entrusted upon us by the constitution. It calls for holding the name of the country ‘high and flying’ in international arenas. Finally, patriotism calls for respecting our national flag, national emblem and the Constitution.