The Last Lesson
by Alphonse Daudet
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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. What things tempted Franz to keep away from school? Ans. The day was warm and bright. Birds were chirping at the edge of the woods. Some Prussian soldiers were drilling in an open field back of the sawmill. For Franz, it was all much more tempting than going to school.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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."
11. 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.
12. What surprised Franz most when he took his seat in the class?
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 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.
13. What words of Mr. Hamel were a thunderclap to Franz?Ans. Mr. Hamel told the class in a grave and gentle tone that it would be his last lesson to his class. 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.
14. 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.
15. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
Ans. The order from Berlin cause many changes in the school that day. It was all quiet. There were no noise. 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.
16. What was Franz's regret when he came to know that M. Hamel, his teacher was leaving school forever?
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17. What happened when the church clock struck twelve?
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18. What things tempted Franz to keep away from school?
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19. How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and school change?
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20 What did M. Hamel say about the French language?
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21. What struck as a thunderclap to Franz?
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22. What was it that had brought the old men to school?
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23. What was Franz expected to be prepared for school that day?
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24 What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
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25. What had been put up on the bulletin board?
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26. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
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