The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet

The Last Lesson
by Alphonse Daudet

 The Last Lesson' by Alphonse Daudet is set in the days of the Prussian France war in which France was defeated by Prussia led by Bismarck. The french districts of Alsace and Loraine went into Prussian hands. The new Prussian rulers ordered to stop the teaching of French in the schools of these two districts. The French teachers were asked to leave.

The lesson describes the last day of M. Hamel who had been transferred and could no longer remain in the school. Till now, he taught the students with sincerity and devotion. One of his students, Franz came to school thinking that he would be punished for not preparing the rules of Participles. But when he came to the class, he found M. Hamel dressed in Sunday clothes and all the old people of the village sitting there. It was due to the order on the bulletin board – board.

Overall we can say that the story highlights the pains that are inflected on the people of a territory by its conquerors by taking away their right to study, speak and learn their own mother tongue.

Q. What tempted Franz to stay away from school? (Delhi 2014)

Ans. The day was warm and bright. The birds were chirping on the edge of the trees. Some Prussian soldiers were also drilling in the open fields back of the sawmill. He saw a huge crowd in front of the bulletin board.All these sights tempted Franz to stay away from school.

Q. What was unusual about M Hamel's dress on his last day in the school? (Compartment 2014) 

Ans. M Hamel had put on his ceremonial clothes on his last day in the school. He was wearing a beautiful green coat, a frilled shirt, and a little black embroidered silk cap. He never wore these clothes except on days of inspection and prize distribution.

Q. What words of Mr. Hamel were a thunderclap to Franz? (Compartment 2014) 

                            or

"What a thunderclap these words were to me!" What were teh words that shocked and surprised the narrator? (Delhi 2013)

Ans. Mr. Hamel told the class that it would be his last lesson. He said that orders had come from Berlin that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Loraine. He said the new teacher was coming the next day. These words came like a thunderclap to Franz.

Q. What surprised Franz when he reached the school?

Ans. There were many things that surprised Franz when he reached school. Firstly, the calmness and silence at the school surprised him. Then it was also strange for him that he was not rebuked by the teacher. But the one thing that surprised him the most was the village people who were sitting quietly on the backbenches. They included old Hauser, the former mayor, the former postmaster and many others. Everybody looked sad. Old Hauser had brought an old primer. He was holding it open on his knees.

Q. Who were sitting on the back benches during M Hamel's last lesson? Why? (Compartment 2016)
                            Or
Why had the villagers come to school on the day of the last lesson? (Foreign 2008)
                            Or
Why were the elders of the village sitting in the classroom? (All India 2014)
Ans. Some elderly people from the village were sitting on the backbenches during M Hamel's last lesson. They had come there to thank M Hamel for his forty years of faithful service. They had also come to pay respect for the country that was theirs no more.

Q. What dread did little Franz have when he started for school in the morning?

Ans. Franz was late for school that morning. He feared the teacher would scold him as the teacher was to ask questions on participles but Franz did not know a word about them. Naturally, he was in great fear.

Q. Why does M Hamel reproach himself for his students, unsatisfactory progress in studies? (Compartment 2014)

Ans. M Hamel was a regular and dedicated teacher. He was a strict man of discipline. But he reproached himself for his students’ unsatisfactory progress in studies. He did so because he used to send the students to water his plants. He also gave them a holiday whenever he wanted to s fishing.

Q. What shows M Hamel's love for the French language? (Foreign 2014)
                        Or
What did M Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask them to do and why? (Delhi 2013)

Ans. M Hamel told the students that the French language was the most beautiful language in the world. He said that it was the clearest and the most logical of all languages. He asked them to guard it amongest themselves and never forget it.

Q. What words did M Hamel write on the blackboard before dismissing the last class? What did they mean? (Compartment 2014)
Ans. Before dismissing the last class, M Hamel turned to the blackboard, and wrote the phrase ‘Vive La France' as large as he could. These words meant 'Long live France’ and spoke M Hamel's great love for his country and his deep sense of patriotism.

Q. What made M Hamel cry towards the end of his last lesson? (Comportment 2014)

Ans. M Hamel had taught French at the school for the last forty years. He was emotionally attached to the school and everything in and about it. He was really heartbroken to leave all. Besides, his own predicament reminded him that his country would soon lose its independence. All this made him cry towards the end of his last lesson.

Q How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson? (Delhi 2013)
                   Or
What announcement did M Hamel make? What was the impact of this on Franz?
                  Or
“This is your last French lesson." How did Franz react to this declaration of M Hamel? (Delhi 2010)
                   Or
What changes came over little Franz after he heard M Hamel's announcement? (All India 2010)
                  Or
What did the French teacher tell his students in his last French lesson? What impact did it have on them? (All India 2009)
Ans. Hamel told his tudents that it would be his last French lesson. An order had come from Berlin that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teacher would be coming the next day. On hearing this news everybody became sad.

Q. What was the order from Berlin? What changes did it cause in the school that day? (All India 2013)

                 Or

What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day? (Dlehi 2012)

                Or

What was the mood of the classroom when M hamel gave his last French lesson? (Delhi 2009)

Ans. The order from Berlin cause many changes in the school that day. It was all quiet. There were no noises. The whole school seemed strange and solemn. M. Hamel had put on his finest clothes. The village people were sitting on the backbenches. The order had upset all the students and their teachers.

Q. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day? (Delhi 2011)

Ans. Franze was expected to be prepared a lesson on participles. But he did not know even the first word about them. So, he was in great dread of scolding from M. Hamel on that day.

Q. What had been put up on the bulletin board? (Delhi 2011)

Ans. All the official orders and bad news were put on the bulletin board. Now, the order of teaching only German language instead of french in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine was put on the bulletin board. There was a huge crowd in front of the bulletin board.

Q. What happened when the church clock struck twelve?

                  Or

How did M hamel say farewell to his student and the people of the town? (All India 2012)

Ans. At the end of his last lesson, M Hamel stood up to say farewell to his students and the people of the town. He tried to say something but emotions choked him. He then took a piece of chalk and wrote on the blackbord in beg letters ‘Viva-la- France!’.

Q. What thought came to Franz's mind when he was going to school in the morning? Why?

Ans. Franz was late for school. He feared the teacher would scold him as the teacher was to 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.

Q. What sights did Franz see on his way to school?

Ans. First of all, Franz saw Prussians soldiers drilling in an open field. It was a tempting sight. Then he saw a big crowd in front of the bulletin – board when he passed by the town hall. He wondered what the matter could be in the news.

Q. What did Franz see when he passed by the town hall?

Ans. When he passed by the town hall, he 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 off to school.

Q Where was the blacksmith? What did he say to Franz?

Ans. The blacksmith was standing among the people in front of the bulletin board at the town hall. Franz was going to school as fast as he could as he was late for school. When he saw Franz going fast he told him not to go so fast. He also said that he would get to school in plenty of time.

Q. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?

Ans. The teacher had said that he would ask the students questions on participles. So Franz was expected to be prepared with rules of participles. But poor Franz did not know a word about them.

Q. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?

Ans. Usually, when the school began, there were lots of noises. There was the opening and dosing of desks. The sounds of the teacher's great ruler rapping on the table and the repeating of lessons loudly could be heard. But that day it was all very calm and quiet.

Q. What did Franz see through the window when he reached his school?

Ans. When Franz reached his school, he saw through the window that his classmates were already in their places. He saw that his teacher Mr. Hamel was walking up and down in the classroom. He had his terrible iron ruler under his arm.

Q. How did Mr. Hamel react when Franz reached school late?

Ans. Franz had thought that M. Hamel would scold him for being late for school. But he did not get angry with Franz. Rather he said very kindly, "Go to your place, little Franz. We were beginning without you."

Q. How was Mr. Hamel dressed on his last day in school?

Ans. Mr. Hamel was dressed in his best clothes. He had put on his beautiful green coat and a frilled shirt. He was also wearing a little black silk cap. He never wore this dress except on inspection and prize days. But he was wearing this dress in honour of his last French lesson that day.

Q. What had been put up on the bulletin – board?

Ans. There was an order from Berlin on the bulletin-board. It said that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The new teacher was coming the next day.

Q. What was Franz's regret when he came to know that M. Hamel, his teacher was leaving school forever?

Ans - Franz was very much disappointed. He was sorry for not learning his lessons. He used to search the bird's eggs. His books were a burden for him. He cursed himself for not learning his lesson. He was not ready to give them up.

Q. How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and school change?

Ans. M. Hamel said that it would be his last French lesson taught in the school. It made Franz quite sentimental. He was now very sad for M. Hamel. He forgot all about his rules and his cranky nature. He developed a strange respect and attraction for his language and for his teacher.

Q. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?

Ans. Franz noticed that everything was still and silent on that day. The environment was like Sunday morning. Usually, when the school began, there was a great bustle. It could be heard out in the street. M. Hamel was in his fine Sunday clothes. Moreover, the villagers were sitting on the backbenches.