CBSE Class 12 English The Last Lesson Worksheet Set D

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS :

Question. For Franz, what was much more tempting than going to school and why ?
Answer : Playing in the bright warm sun, hearing birds chirp in the trees and seeing Prussian soldiers drilling in the open field tempted Franz much more than going to school.

Question. What usual noises could be heard in the street when the school began ?
Answer : One could hear the opening and closing of desks. Then there was the loud noise of lessons repeated in unison. The teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table could also be heard.

Question. What did Mr Hamel ask Franz to recite and how did Franz fare in it ?
Answer : Mr Hamel asked Franz to recite the rule for participles. But Franz got mixed up on the first words. He just stood there, holding on to his desk. His heart was beating fast and he did not dare to look up.

Question. What did Franz see when he passed by the town hall ?
Answer : Franz saw a crowd in front of the bulletin board. For the last two years, all bad news had come from there. Franz wondered what the matter could be there that day. However, he did not stop there. He hurried by as fast as he could.

Question. Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day ? 
Answer : That day, Franz was not scolded because it was Mr Hamel’s last day at the school. He was sad to leave the school. Besides, the village people were sitting there on the back benches.

Question. ‘We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with,’ said M. Hamel. Refer to the context and explain what he wanted to convey to his students. 
Answer : By the given statement, M. Hamel wanted to convey that it was not Franz only who had done something wrong. He said that everyone, including himself, has done some or the other thing wrong.

Question. What did Mr Hamel say when Franz failed to recite the rule for participles ?
Answer : Mr Hamel did not scold Franz. He only said that it is not good to put off learning. He blamed Franz’s parents for not caring about his studies. He blamed himself also.

Question. What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it cause in the school ?
Answer : The order from Berlin said that German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teachers were coming the next day. There was complete silence everywhere. Everyone looked sad and serious. Old people of the village had come to thank Mr Hamel for his faithful service of forty years.

Question. What changes came over little Franz after he heard Mr Hamel’s announcement ? 
Answer : Franz was shocked when he heard that Mr Hamel was leaving the school for ever. His feelings now changed altogether. He cursed himself for not learning his lessons. He forgot all about Mr Hamel’s ruler and his cranky nature.

Question. Why were some elderly persons occupying the back benches that day ? 
Or
Why did Hauser and the other villagers come to attend the last lesson ?
Answer : They were the elders of the village. They had come to school to thank Mr Hamel for his forty years of faithful service. They sat on the back benches with the students.

Question. What did the blacksmith say to Franz ?
Answer : Franz was late for school. He was going as fast as he could. The blacksmith was standing in front of the bulletin board at the town hall. On seeing Franz, he said, “Don’t go so fast, boy. You’ll get to school in plenty of time !”

Question. How was Mr Hamel dressed on his last day in school ?
Answer : Mr Hamel was dressed in his best clothes. He was in his beautiful green coat and a frilled shirt. He was wearing a little black silk cap. He never wore this dress except on inspection and prize days.

Question. Why was Franz afraid when he was going to school that day ?
Answer :  Franz was late for school that day. He feared the teacher would scold him. Also, the teacher was to ask questions on participles. Naturally, he was afraid.

Question. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day ? 
Answer : It was all quiet. There were no noises. It was as quiet as Sunday morning. Mr Hamel said it would be his last lesson. Everybody looked sad. The village people had come to thank Mr Hamel for his forty years of faithful service.

Question. What did Mr Hamel tell the students about the French language ? What did he ask them to do and why ? 
Answer : He told them that French was the most beautiful language in the world. He said that it was the clearest and the most logical language. He wanted his people to keep it alive and never forget it.

Question. What information did Mr Hamel give to the children in his class ?
Answer : Mr Hamel told the children that it would be his last lesson to his class. Orders had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. He said that the new master was coming the next day.

Question. How did Franz feel when Mr Hamel said that it was his last lesson at school ?
Or
How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson ?
Answer : Franz was shocked. He cursed the Prussian rulers. He cursed himself also. He cursed himself for not learning his lessons. He used to call his books a nuisance. But now he was sorry that he would never see Mr Hamel again.

Question. Who did Mr Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz ? 
Or
How were the parents and M. Hamel responsible for the children’s neglect of the French language ? 
Answer : Mr Hamel blamed the parents of the boys like Franz. He said that they didn’t care about their studies. They were anxious to put their children to some work and thus have a little more money. Mr Hamel blamed himself also. He said, ‘‘Have I not often sent you to water my flowers instead of learning your lessons ?’’

Question. What thought came to Franz’s mind while going to school in the morning ? Why ?
Or
Why did Franz not want to go to school that day ? 
Answer : Franz was late for school. He feared the teacher would scold him. Also, the teacher was to ask questions on participles. But Franz did not know a word about participles. So he thought of running away and spending the day out of doors.

Question. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day ? 
Answer : The teacher had said that he would ask questions on participles. So Franz was expected to be prepared with the rules for the use of participles. But poor Franz didn’t know a word of them.

Question. How did Mr Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town ? 
Answer : Mr Hamel was too choked with emotion to say anything. He just stood up from his chair, took a piece of chalk, and wrote on the blackboard in large words : ‘‘Long Live France !’’ Thus he said farewell to his students and the people of the town.

Question. What sights did Franz see on his way to school ?
Answer : First of all, he saw Prussian soldiers drilling in an open field. Then he passed by the town hall. A crowd stood in front of the bulletin board. Franz wondered what the matter could be on the news.

Question. What was Franz’s regret when he came to know that Mr Hamel was leaving the school for ever ?
Answer : Franz was now full of regret. He was sorry for not learning his lessons. He used to go and look for birds’ eggs. He thought his books a nuisance and too heavy to carry. But now he saw them as his old friends that he couldn’t give up.

Question. Why did Mr Hamel write ‘Vive La France’ on the blackboard ? 
Answer : ‘Vive La France’ means ‘Long Live France’. Hamel wrote these words on the blackboard because he was too emotional at that time to be able to say anything more.

Question. ‘What a thunderclap these words were to me !’ What were those words and what was their effect on Franz ? 
Answer : Mr Hamel announced in the class that it would be his last lesson. Orders had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. He said that the new teacher was coming the next day. These words came like a thunderclap to Franz.

Question. What dread did little Franz have when he started for school in the morning ?
Answer : Franz was late for school that morning. He feared the teacher would scold him. Also, the teacher was to ask questions on participles. But Franz did not know a word about participles. Naturally, he was in great fear.

Question. How was the scene in the school in the morning of the last lesson different from that on other days ?
Or
What did Franz wonder about that day ? 
Answer : There were usually lots of noises when the school began. For example, there was the opening and closing of desks. The sounds of teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table could be heard. But that day it was all very quiet. It was as quiet as Sunday morning.

Question. What was the mood in the classroom when Mr Hamel gave his last French lesson ?
Answer : There was a mood of sadness in the classroom. There was complete silence everywhere. Even the old people of the village had come to attend the last lesson. Everyone in the class listened attentively to whatever Mr Hamel said.

Question. What things tempted Franz to keep away from school ?
Answer : It was a warm and bright day. Birds were chirping in the trees. Some Prussian soldiers were drilling in an open field. For Franz, it was far more tempting than going to school.

Question. What did Franz see through the window when he reached his school ?
Answer : Franz saw that his classmates were already in their places. His teacher, Mr Hamel, was walking up and down in the classroom. He was holding his terrible iron ruler under his arm.

Question. What happened when the church clock struck twelve ?
Answer : There were sounds of the midday prayer (Angelus). At the same moment, the sound of trumpets by Prussian soldiers was heard. They were returning from their drill. Mr Hamel stood up to say something. But something choked him and he could say nothing. He took a big piece of chalk and wrote in big letters, “Long Live France !”

Question. What was it that had brought the old men of the village to school ?
Answer : The old men of the village had come to know that Mr Hamel was leaving the school for ever. They had come to thank him for his forty years of faithful service. They had also come to show their respect for the country that was theirs no more.

Question. Who occupied the back banches in the classroom on the day of the last lesson ? Why ? 
Answer : It was the village people who occupied the back benches in the classroom. They had come to attend the last French lesson that Mr Hamel was going to give to his class. It was also a mark of their respect for him.

Question. What had the narrator counted on to enter the school unnoticed ? 
Answer : Usually, the school began with a lot of commotion. The opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in loud unison and the teacher’s ruler rapping on the table produced deafening noises. The narrator had counted on the commotion to enter the school unnoticed.

Question. Why did Franz think of running away and spending the day out of doors ?
Answer : Franz was late for school. He feared the teacher would scold him. Also, the teacher was to ask questions on participles. Franz didn’t know a word of them. So he thought of running away and spending the day out of doors.

Question. What had been put up on the bulletin board ?
Answer : It was an order from Berlin. It said that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teachers were coming the next day.

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 tells us about the Frenchmen’s love for their own country and their own language. This love is in their blood and can’t be finished as long as they are alive. One can enslave their body but not their spirit. You can’t make a bird sing in another bird’s voice. Similarly, you can’t make a Frenchman love another nation’s language over and above his own language.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS :

Question. What did Mr Hamel do while the children were busy with their writing assignment ?
Answer : Mr Hamel sat motionless in his chair. He gazed first at one thing and then another. It was as if he wanted to fix in his mind how everything looked in that little classroom. For forty years, he had been there in the same place. He had always his garden outside the window and his class in front of him. Only the desks and benches had worn smooth. The walnut trees in the garden had grown taller. The hopvine he had planted himself twined about the windows to the roof. It must have broken his heart to think that he had to leave it all. In the room above, his sister was packing their trunks. They had to leave the place the next day.

Question. Everybody during the last lesson is filled with regret. Comment. 
Answer : A shocking order has come from Berlin. According to this order, only German is to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine, the two French-speaking districts. So Mr Hamel, the French teacher of Franz’s school, is going to leave the school for ever. The elders of the village come to school to thank Mr Hamel for his forty years of faithful service. They sit on the last benches with the students. Mr Hamel declares that it is his last lesson in French. He tells the students about the beauty of the French language. He calls it the clearest and the most logical of all languages. He asks his people to keep it alive and never forget it. Then Mr Hamel opens a book of French grammar and reads out his last lesson. Everyone in the class listens to him with rapt attention and learning French seems to them to be very easy. They had never been serious in learning French in their life. So they can neither speak nor write their own language properly. And now, there will be no teaching of French in their district. This is the reason why everybody is filled with regret during the last lesson.

Question. What particular things did Franz notice when he took his seat in the classroom ?
Answer : The first thing Franz noticed was his teacher’s very fine dress. He was wearing a beautiful green coat and a frilled shirt. He had a little black silk cap. It was all embroidered. Mr Hamel never wore it except on inspection and prize days. The whole school seemed very strange. But the thing that surprised Franz most was at the back of the room. The village people were sitting there on the back benches. They were as quiet as the children in the class. They included old Hauser, the former mayor, the former postmaster, and many others. Everybody looked sad. Hauser had brought with him an old primer. He was holding it open on his knees. His great spectacles were lying across the pages.

Question. Franz’s attitude towards school as well as towards Mr Hamel changes when he comes to know about the take-over of his village by Prussians. Do you agree ? Discuss with reference to ‘The Last Lesson’. 
Answer : Franz did not like his school. He often absented himself from school. He would like to spend his days out of doors. He usually got late for school. He would not care about learning his lessons. He was not good at studies. His French teacher, Mr Hamel, used to scold him. Franz did not like his teacher at all. But one day when Franz reaches his school, he finds many grownup people sitting among the students. He comes to know that it is the last lesson that Mr Hamel is going to teach them. The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace. This comes as a big shock to Franz. He is now full of regret. He feels sorry for not learning his lessons. School which appeared to him very boring earlier, now becomes a very important place for him. He feels he will miss the school from next day. Mr Hamel who appeared to him cranky, now becomes a good teacher for him. He suddenly develops love for his books.
Thus the news that the Prussians have taken over his village, changes Franz’s attitude towards his school and Mr Hamel completely.

Question. What did Mr Hamel ask Franz to recite and what was the result ?
Answer : Mr Hamel asked Franz to recite the rule for participles. But Franz got mixed up on the first words. He kept standing and holding on to his desk. His heart was beating fast. He did not dare to look up. Mr Hamel did not scold him. He only said that it was a bad habit to say, ‘‘I’ll learn tomorrow.” He said that it was the trouble with all the people of that district. Mr Hamel blamed Franz’s parents also. He said that they were anxious to put him to some work and thus have a little more money. And then he said, “I have been to blame also. Have I not often sent you to water my flowers instead of learning your lessons ? And when I wanted to go fishing, did I not just give you a holiday ?”

Question. How was Mr Hamel a different teacher while giving his last lesson ?
Answer : While giving his last lesson, Mr Hamel was different both in his dress and behaviour. That day, he was wearing a dress that he wore only on the days of inspection and prize-giving. He was in a beautiful green coat and a frilled shirt. He had a little black silk cap that was all embroidered. Usually, Mr Hamel had an iron rod in his hand. But today he had it under his arm. Usually, he was very strict, but now he was quite soft in his tone and words. While giving his lessons, Mr Hamel always looked full of energy, but that energy was all gone now. He knew that French would no longer be taught there and his students would forget all that he had taught them so far. Naturally, he was different while giving his last lesson.

Question. What changes did the narrator find in his school when the orders from Berlin came ?
Answer : The narrator found the whole atmosphere of the school changed. The school usually began with a great bustle. Lots of noises and sounds coming from inside the school could be heard in the street. For example, the opening and closing of desks could be heard. During the school hours, children could be heard repeating their lessons loudly in unison. The rapping of the teacher’s rod on the table could also be heard. But now it was all quiet. It looked like a quiet Sunday morning. And then the narrator found that everything inside the class had also changed. The teacher, Mr Hamel, didn’t have his iron rod in his hand, which he always had with him. Now it was under his arm. It was a symbol of his authority having been put under check. And he was not in his usual dress also. It was the dress that he wore on the days of inspection only. And the biggest shock that came to the narrator was when Mr Hamel told about the orders from Berlin. Now there was going to be no teaching of French in the school. Orders had come to teach the students only German. So it was Mr Hamel’s last day at school. A new teacher was to take his place. The whole atmosphere of the school had thus changed from gaiety to gloom.

Question. Our language is a 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. 
Or
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 : We all love our native land, our culture and our native language. But often we take all these for granted and feel the pain of losing them only when we have actually lost them. And this happens in the case of those who lived in the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine. The natives living here never cared to learn their own language. But when these two districts are captured by the Prussians, the teaching of French in the schools of these two districts is disallowed. The French teacher of Franz’s school has to leave the school for ever. The elders of the village come to school to thank Mr. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service. They sit on the last benches with the students. Mr. Hamel declares that it is his last lesson in French. He tells the students about the beauty of the French language. He calls it the clearest and the most logical of all languages. He asks his people to keep it alive and never forget it. Then Mr. Hamel opens a book of French grammar and reads out his last lesson. Everyone in the class listens to him with rapt attention. Learning French now seems to them to be very easy. They had never been serious in learning French in their life. So they can neither speak nor write their own language properly. And now, when there will be no teaching of French in their district, they are all full of regret.

Question. Describe the effect on the life at school, produced by the passing of Alsace and Lorraine into Prussian hands.
Answer : The whole atmosphere in the school was now changed. The school usually began with a great bustle. Lots of noises and sounds coming from the school could be heard in the street. For example, the opening and closing of desks could be heard. Children repeated their lessons loudly in unison. The rapping of the teacher’s rod on the table could also be heard. But now it was all quiet. It looked like a quiet Sunday morning. The teacher, Mr Hamel, didn’t have his iron rod in his hand. Now it was under his arm. And he was not in his usual dress. It was the dress that he wore on the days of inspection only. Today he was wearing it because it was his last day at that school. Now there was going to be no teaching of French there. The country had passed into Prussian hands and orders had come that only German would be taught in the school. Everybody was crestfallen at this unfortunate change.

Question. What did the French teacher tell his students in his last French lesson ? What impact did it have on them ? Why ? 
Answer : In his last French lesson, the teacher told his students about the beauty of the French language. He said that it was the most beautiful language in the world. He called it the clearest and the most logical of all languages. He said that when the people are enslaved, they can be said to have the key to their prison as long as they hold fast to their language. Then he opened a book of French grammar and read out his last lesson. After his lesson in grammar, the teacher gave a lesson in writing. Everyone set to work in writing. Now it was all very quiet. Once some beetles flew in, but nobody paid any attention to them. Today, there were no usual noises in the classroom. Even the old people of the village had come to thank the teacher for his services. And the teacher’s last lesson had a deep impact on them. The students listened to him with rapt attention and learning French seemed to them to be so easy.

Question. Reproduce in your own words what Franz did or thought on his way to school.
Answer : Franz was late for school. He feared that his teacher, Mr Hamel, would scold him. Moreover, the teacher had said he would ask questions on participles. But Franz did not know a word about them. So he thought of running away and spending the day out of doors. It was a warm and bright day. He saw the Prussian soldiers drilling in the open field. It was a tempting sight. However, he hurried off to school. When he passed by the town hall, he saw a crowd in front of the bulletin board. For the last two years, all their bad news had come from there. Franz wondered what the matter could be, but he did not stop there. The village blacksmith was reading the bulletin. He called after Franz, saying, “Don’t go so fast, boy. You’ll get to your school in plenty of time !’’ Franz thought the blacksmith was making fun of him. He continued going fast. When he reached his school, he was all out of breath.

Question. Reproduce in your own words the things that took place after the church clock had struck twelve.
Answer : When the church clock struck twelve, there were sounds of Angelus (midday Roman Catholic prayer). At the same moment, the trumpets of the Prussian soldiers were heard. They were returning from their drill. Mr Hamel stood up from his chair. He was looking very pale and tall. He began to say, “My friends, I...I....” But something choked him. He could not go on. He turned to the blackboard and took a piece of chalk. Then using all his might, he wrote as large as he could, “Long Live France !” What a great patriot Mr Hamel was !

Question. What were Mr Hamel’s opening words to the class and what effect did these words have on Franz ?
Answer : Mr Hamel said in a very gentle tone, “My children, this is the last lesson I shall give you. The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master comes tomorrow. This is your last French lesson. I want you to be very attentive.’’ These words were to Franz like a thunderclap. It was going to be his last lesson and he hardly knew how to write. He was full of regret for not learning his lessons. His books had always seemed to him a nuisance. He thought them too heavy to carry. But now he saw them as old friends that he could not give up. It was a big shock to him that Mr Hamel was going away and he would never see him again. He forgot all about his ruler and his cranky nature. He was to him now a very lovable and respectable person.

Question. How different from usual was the atmosphere at the school on the day of the last lesson ?
Or
How did the order from Berlin change the situation in the school ?
Answer : The whole atmosphere in the school was now changed. The school usually began with a great bustle. Lots of noises and sounds coming from the school could be heard in the street.
For example, the opening and closing of desks could be heard. Children repeated their lessons loudly in unison. The rapping of the teacher’s rod on the table could also be heard. But now it was all quiet. It looked like a quiet Sunday morning. The teacher, Mr Hamel, didn’t have his iron rod in his hand. Now it was under his arm. And he was not in his usual dress. Today, it was the dress that he wore on the days of inspection only. Today, he was wearing it because it was his last day at that school. Now on, there was going to be no teaching of French there. The country had passed into Prussian hands and orders had come from Berlin that only German would be taught in the school. Everybody was crestfallen at this unfortunate change.

EXTRA QUESTIONS :

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

Question. The people in this story suddenly realise how precious their language is to them. What shows you this ? Why does this happen ?
Answer : Everyone in the class listens carefully to whatever Mr Hamel says. Everyone is sad at his leaving the school. All this happens because Mr Hamel makes them realise 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. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day ?
Answer : He was expected to be prepared with the rules for the use of participles.

Question. How did Franz’s feelings about Mr Hamel and school change ?
Answer : Franz was now very sad for Mr Hamel. He forgot all about his rod and his cranky nature. Now he no longer hated school. He looked upon books as his friends.

Question. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day ?
Answer : He noticed that it was all very still with no trace of the usual commotion. It was as quiet as Sunday morning.

Question. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons ?” What could this mean ?
Answer : It means that the Germans can enslave the French but they can’t take away their love of the French language. It is in their blood and cannot be finished as long as they are alive.

Question. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day ? 
Answer : There was complete silence everywhere. Everyone looked sad and serious. Old people of the village had come to thank Mr Hamel for his faithful service of forty years.

PASSAGES FOR COMPREHENSION :

I started for school very late that morning and was in great dread of a scolding, especially because M. Hamel had said that he would question us on participles, and I did not know the first word about them. For a moment I thought of running away and spending the day out of doors. It was so warm, so bright ! The birds were chirping at the edge of the woods; and in the open field back of the sawmill, the Prussian soldiers were drilling. It was all much more tempting than the rule for participles, but I had the strength to resist, and hurried off to school.

Question. Why was the narrator full of fear ?
Answer : He was in great fear because he was late for school. Also, the teacher was to ask questions on participles and the narrator did not know a word about participles.

Question. From which chapter have these lines been taken ?
Answer : These lines have been taken from the chapter, ‘The Last Lesson’.

Question. Where were Prussian soldiers drilling ?
Answer : They were drilling in the open field back of the sawmill.

Question. Who is the writer of these lines ?
Answer : The name of the writer is Alphonse Daudet.

Question. Who was M. Hamel ?
Answer : He was a teacher of the French language in a district of France.

Usually when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard out in the street, the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, very loud, with our hands over our ears to understand better, and the teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table. But now it was all so still ! I had counted on the commotion to get to my desk without being seen; but, of course, that day everything had to be as quiet as Sunday morning. Through the window I saw my classmates, already in their places, and M. Hamel walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm. I had to open the door and go in before everybody. You can imagine how I blushed and how frightened I was. But nothing happened. M. Hamel saw me and said very kindly, ‘‘Go to your place quickly, little Franz. We were beginning without you.’’

Question. Who is ‘I’ referred to in these lines ?
Answer : The ‘I’ referred to in these lines is a little student named Franz.

Question. Who was walking up and down with his terrible iron ruler under his arm ?
Answer : He was the French teacher named Mr. Hamel.

Question. Name the chapter and its author.
Answer : The name of the chapter is ‘The Last Lesson’ and the name of its author is Alphonse Daudet.

Question. Find from the passage words which mean the same as :
(a) noise
(b) confusion.
Answer : (a) bustle = noise
(b) commotion = confusion.

Question. What was the scene when the school began ?
Answer : Usually there was a great bustle when the school began. But it was all very still on the day referred to in the lesson.

While I was wondering about it all, M. Hamel mounted his chair, and in the same grave and gentle tone which he had used to me, said, ‘‘My children, this is the last lesson I shall give you. The order has come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new master comes tomorrow. This is your last French lesson. I want you to be very attentive.’’

Question. How did the teacher speak to the students ?
Answer : He spoke in a grave and gentle tone.

Question. Name the chapter from which the above lines have been taken.
Answer : The name of the chapter is ‘The Last Lesson’.

Question. What did the teacher want the students to do ?
Answer : He wanted them to be very attentive as it was his last lesson.

Question. Name the author of the chapter.
Answer : The name of the author is Alphonse Daudet.

Question. When was the new master coming ?
Answer : He was coming the next day.

My last French lesson ! Why, I hardly knew how to write ! I should never learn any more ! I must stop there, then ! Oh, how sorry I was for not learning my lessons, for seeking birds’ eggs, or going sliding on the Saar ! My books, that had seemed such a nuisance a while ago, so heavy to carry, my grammar and my history of the saints, were old friends now that I couldn’t give up. And M. Hamel, too; the idea that he was going away, that I should never see him again, made me forget all about his ruler and how cranky he was.

Question. Who has written these lines ?
Answer : These lines have been written by Alphonse Daudet.

Question. What was the narrator sorry for ?
Answer : He was sorry for not learning his lessons.

Question. From which chapter have these lines been taken ?
Answer : These lines have been taken from the chapter, ‘The Last Lesson’.

Question. What made the narrator forget all about M. Hamel’s ruler ?
Answer : Mr. Hamel was leaving the school for good. The narrator was so sad that he forgot all about Mr. Hamel’s ruler.

Question. Did the narrator know how to write French well ?
Answer : No, he didn’t know.

Poor man ! It was in honour of this last lesson that he had put on his fine Sunday clothes, and now I understood why the old men of the village were sitting there in the back of the room. It was because they were sorry, too, that they had not gone to school more. It was their way of thanking our master for his forty years of faithful service and of showing their respect for the country that was theirs no more.

Question. Why was the man in fine Sunday clothes ?
Answer : Because he wanted to pay honour to his last lesson.

Question. Name the chapter from which the above lines have been taken ?
Answer : The name of the chapter is ‘The Last Lesson’.

Question. Why was ‘their country theirs no more’ ?
Answer : Because it had fallen into the hands of the enemy.

Question. Name the author of the chapter.
Answer :The author is Alphonse Daudet.

Question. What were the old men of the village sorry about ?
Answer : That they had not gone to school more often.

Then, from one thing to another, M. Hamel went on to talk of the French language, saying that it was the most beautiful language in the world — the clearest, the most logical; that we must guard it among us 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. Then he opened a grammar and read us our lesson. I was amazed to see how well I understood it. All he said seemed so easy, so easy ! I think, too, that I had never listened so carefully, and that he had never explained everything with so much patience. It seemed almost as if the poor man wanted to give us all he knew before going away, and to put it all into our heads at one stroke.

Question. Who is ‘I’ in these lines ?
Answer : The ‘I’ in these lines is a little student named Franz.

Question. When do the enslaved people have the key to their prison ?
Answer : It is when they hold fast to their language.

Question. Name the chapter and its author.
Answer : The name of the lesson is ‘The Last Lesson’. The name of its author is Alphonse Daudet.

Question. Find words from the passage which mean the same as :
(a) become slaves
(b) surprised.
Answer : (a) enslaved = become slaves
(b) amazed = surprised.

Question. What was the most beautiful language in the world ?
Answer : According to Mr. Hamel, the most beautiful language in the world was the French language.

Very Short Answer :

Question. Why was Franz afraid of being scolded? 
Answer : Franz was afraid of being scolded because his teacher. M. Hamel was to question the students on participles. Franz was not prepared and he had started for school very late that morning. 

Question. What did Franz find much more tempting than the rule of participles? What did Franz do?
Answer : It was a warm and bright day. The birds were chirping at the edge of woods. The Prussians soldiers were drilling in the open field at the back of sawmill. He could spend life out of doors. He resisted the temptation and hurried off to school.

Question. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day? 
Answer : Franz was expected to be prepared with participles for school that day. Franz’s teacher, M. Hamel said that he would question the class on participles. But Franz did not prepare them. 

Question. How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and school change? 
Answer : Franz hated his cranky teacher and his ruler. He avoided his school to enjoy sliding etc. But when he knew about the order from Berlin, he regretted his altitude. He started loving his school, books, mother tongue and teacher, M. Hamel.

Question. What had been put up on the bulletin board? 
Answer : An order from Berlin had been put on the bulletin board. It said that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The teaching of French had to be stopped. 

Short Answer :

Question. Answer the following questions:-
(1) Why had M. Hamel put on his special clothes that morning?
(2) Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?”
What could this mean?
Answer : (1) M. Hamel had put on his special clothes because he considered this day as a special day. He was going away forever from the school where he had taught for forty years. He was leaving his present and former students behind, whom he had taught so devotedly.
(2) Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” This mean could that no power on earth can deprive a people of their tongue. People learn their tongue from their mothers as pigeons learn cooing from theirs. 

Question. Answer the following questions:-
(1) Why had the village people occupied the back benches in the classroom?
(2) Why had Franz not been able to learn much at school?
Answer : (1) They had come to know about the new order from Berlin. They came and sat down on the back benches. It was their way of thanking their teacher for his long and devoted service to the society. They also wanted to show that they were sorry that they had not gone to school more.
(2) Franz could not learn much because he thought that he had plenty of time do so. Moreover, his parents wanted him to work in order to earn some money rather than go to school. Franz himself also avoided school and liked to enjoy himself

Question. What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave the last French lesson?
Answer : There was complete silence in the class. Everyone was full of regret and remorse. Children as well the village elderly were gloomy and repentant for not giving importance to their mother tongue. The order from Berlin had caused a sea change in the attitude of the people of Alsace and the Lorraine to their language.

Question. Why was M. Hamel kind to Franz even though he was late for school? 
Answer : It was the last lesson of M. Hamel in the school as the new German teacher was arriving the following day. M. Hamel was sad and sentimental as he was to leave the school after forty years of service as a teacher in French. He was very emotional, kind and understanding. So, he did not scold Franz even though he was late. 

Question. What had Franz counted on to enter class unnoticed? 
Answer : Franz was late for school that day. But he was quite confident to enter the class unnoticed because usually there was a lot of confusion and noise at the beginning of the school. Every day there was a sound of opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison and teacher’s great ruler rapping on the table. So Franz thought that she word take advantage of the situation and enter the class unnoticed. 

Long Answer :

Question. The people of Alsace and Lorraine did not understand the importance of learning their language French. Emphasizing the importance and need for learning one’s native language, discuss what values are revealed when one sets upon learning one’s native language.
Answer : One of the major effects of Westernization is that people have started losing interest in learning their native language. One’s native language is the repository of one’s culture, identity and way of living. As long as one speaks and communicates in one’s language, one can be proud of oneself. Many Indians who live abroad make it compulsory for their family to speak in their native language at home so as to have a sense of belongingness to their country. In fact, the native language binds us with our roots. Every language has its own speciality and the people who speak that language imbibe that speciality. Above all, native language inculcates a sense of pride. A person who doesn’t know his native language is like a slave who has no freedom

Question. How did M. Hamel react when Franz failed to recite the rules for the participles?
Answer : Franz’s name was called to recite the rules for the participles. But he got mixed up on the first word. He was standing there, holding on to his desk, his heart beating and not daring to look up. But M. Hamel instead of scolding, he told Franz that he must feel bad enough. He said that every day we think that we have plenty of time and we will learn it tomorrow. And now you see where we have come out by putting off learning till tomorrow. Now those fellows out there will have the right to say to you, “How is it; you pretend to be Frenchmen, an yet you can neither speak nor write your own language?” Then M. Hamel told Franz that only he was not to be blamed. His parents were not anxious enough to have him learn. They preferred to put Franz to work on a farm or at the mill, so as to have a little more money. M. Hamel blamed himself for it also. He said that quite often he had been sending Franz to water his flowers instead of learning his lessons. And when he wanted to go for fishing, he would just give him a holiday.

Question. Write a paragraph of about 100 words arguing for or against having to study three languages at school?
Answer : For teaching Three languages Normally two languages can be taught to a student at school. One, his mother tongue or the regional language. The second, the national language. For example, Tamilian child has to be taught Tamil, his mother tongue, as well as Hindi, which is the national language. But the situation our country finds itself in, demands that English which is now a language used internationally, must also be taught. We cannot ignore the study of a language which is fast taking the place of a world language. Of course, the burden of learning three languages will be too heavy for a child. But the burden can be lightened by a proper grading of the courses

Question. How was the last lesson different from earlier lessons? 
Answer : The last lesson was different from earlier lesson in many ways. It revealed the love and respect of the teacher and students for their mother tongue. M. Hamel spoke very kindly and taught very patiently. He did not scold anybody that day. It seemed as if he wanted to give all that he knew before going away. He was in his best attire and his iron ruler was no more in use. This lesson was attended by villagers to show their love and respect for their mother tongue and M. Hamel. The students listened very carefully and everybody was absolutely quiet. Franz was sorry for not learning his lesson. The last lesson was an emotional time which stirred patriotic feelings and awakened the villagers to the importance of their mother tongue.

Question. The ban on teaching French strengthened the resolve of the French to learn their language. Give evidence from the text to prove/disapprove the above statement.
Answer : The Last Lesson clearly brings out the resolve of the French to hold fast to their language. The order from Berlin imposing German Language on them made them more determined to respect and learn their language. This was evident in the last lesson of M. Hamel. All the back benches were occupied by villagers that day, including old Hauser, former mayor, former postmaster, etc. Students in the class were quiet and were eager to make the best of the last opportunity to learn their mother tongue. Hamel taught the last lesson with immense patience and told his students to safeguard their language. Lie reminded them that they would be able to liberate themselves only if they would keep their language with them. Even the students realised the importance their language and listened to their teacher very carefully. They could not be distracted by beetles or the cooing of the pigeons that day.

Please click on below link to download CBSE Class 12 English The Last Lesson Worksheet Set D