1) A crisis brings out our true capacity for compassion and kindness.

Support the
above statement using M. Hamel from 'The Last Lesson' as an example. State any
one detail from the text
Ans: he crisis of losing France to the Prussians brings out M
Hamel's compassion.
♦ He stops being strict and talks to all the students in his
class in a gentle and understanding manner. ♦ He does not
use the ruler in class to beat the students, but tries to impart
as much knowledge as he can in the last French lesson.
♦ He admits his own fault in why many students never learnt
the language and feels apologetic for the choices he made as
a teacher. ♦ He does not berate Franz when Franz is unable
to recite in French. Instead, he understands why Franz is
behind due to his family's limitations and being given chores
by M Hamel.
♦ M. Hamel delivers the last lesson with patience that
generates a lot of interest. He speaks about everything that
he loves about the French language.
♦ M. Hamel chokes up by the end of the lesson and is unable
to speak. He fixes his eyes on everyone in the class feeling
extremely sentimental and with a kind gaze.
Question.1. What tempted Franz to stay away from school? (Delhi 2014;
Medtffot)
Answer. Franz feared a scolding at school as he had not prepared hte
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 watching the drill of Prussian soldiers also tempted Franz to
stay away from school.

Question.2. What was unusual about M Hamel’s dress on his last day in
the school?
(Compartment 2014)
Answer. 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. This was a special ceremonial attire which he
usually wore on days of inspection and prize distribution.

Question.3. Why is the order from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz?

(Compartment 2014)
or
“What a thunderclap these words were to me!” What were the words
that shocked
and surprised the narrator? : (Delhi 2013)
Answer. M Hamel told his students that it was their last French lesson, as an
order had come from Berlin that henceforth only German was to be taught
in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. This announcement seemed to be a
thunderclap to Franz. He was left in surprise and shock to learn that a new
master was going to arrive the next day and they would learn German
instead of their mother tongue.

Question.4. Who were sitting on the back benches during M Hamel’s

last lesson? Why? (Compartment 2014)
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? (Allindia
2014)
Answer. Some of the elderly people from the village were sitting on .the
back benches during M Hamel’s last lesson. The villagers had come there to
attend his last lesson as it was their way of paying respect to the master,
who had given forty years of faithful service to the school.

Question.5. Why does M Hamel reproach himself for his students,

unsatisfactory progress in
Studies? (Compartment 2014)
Answer. M Hamel had been rather irregular as a teacher. He took leave
whenever he wanted to. Besides, he had often sent the students to water his
plants, and whenever he wanted to go fishing, he just gave them a holiday.
So, he reproaches himself for his students’ unsatisfactory progress in
studies.

Question.6. 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)
Answer. In his last lesson, M Hamel told the students that the French
language was the most beautiful language in the world—the clearest and
the most logical. He asked them to guard it amongst themselves and never
forget it, because when a people were enslaved, as long as they held fast to
their language, it was as if they had the key to their prison.

Question.7. What words did M Hamel write on the blackboard before

dismissing the last class?
What did they mean? (Compartment 2014)
Answer. 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 of M Hamel’s great love for his country
and his deep sense of patriotism.

Question.8. What made M Hamel cry towards the end of his last lesson?
(Compartment 2014)
Answer. 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 it 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.

Question.9. 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?
(All India 2011)
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)
Answer. The French teacher M Hamel announced that he would be teaching
his last French lesson that day because the orders had come from Berlin to
teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. On hearing this, all
the students as well as Franz felt very sorry that they would not be learning
their mother tongue in future. Franz regretted not having learnt his lessons.
Earlier his books seemed a nuisance to him, but at that moment they
became very dear to him.

Question.10.What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it
cause in the school?
(AU India 2013)
or
What changes did the order from Berlin cause in the school? (Delhi
2012)
or
What was the mood in the classroom when M Hamel gave his last
French lesson?
(Delhi 2009)
Answer. The order from Berlin stated that only German will be taught in the
schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The order effected many changes, as an
unusual silence prevailed in the school, compared to the hustle and bustle
earlier. M Hamel became soft in speaking to the students, while the people
realised the importance of their language. The villagers even attended the
school to show respect to M Hamel.

Question.11. How did M Hamel say farewell to his students and the
people of the town?
(All India 2012)
Answer. 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 speak, but
overwhelming emotion choked his voice. He then wrote as large as he could
on the blackboard ‘Vive La France’; then he dismissed the class with a
gesture with his hand.

Question.12. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for the

school that day? (Delhi 2011)
Answer. Franz was expected to be prepared with participles that day. His
teacher M Hamel, was to question him on the topic. Franz had not learnt his
lessons and feared to be scolded by him.

Question.13. What had been put up on the bulletin-board? (Delhi 2011)

Answer. Since the last two years the bulletin-board had news of lost battles,
the draft and the orders of the commanding officer. On that day a notice
had been put up stating that orders from Berlin were to teach only German
in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

Question.14. Who did M Hamel blame for the neqlect of leaminq on

the part of boys like Franz?
(Delhi 2011)
Answer. M Hamel blamed himself for the neglect of learning on the part of
boys like Franz. He himself was not quite regular and took leave whenever
he needed it, which reflected on the behaviour and studies of the students.
He also blamed their parents for not taking mterest in their education.

Question.15. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even
the pigeons?” What does
this tell us about the attitude of the Frenchmen? (All India 2011)
Answer. This shows that the Frenchmen were full of hatred and desperation
against the Germans. Besides, they feared German atrocities. They thought
that they would be forced to read German and no one will be spared.

Question.16. Mention two thingsLabout M Hamel that surprised Franz

on his last day at school.
(Foreign 2009)
Answer. M Hamel didn’t scold Franz for being late; instead he told him very
kindly to go to his place. Also, that day he was dressed in his best clothes;
he was in his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and little black silk cap with
embroidery, which he wore only on inspection or prize days.

Question.17. How was the scene in the school in the morning of the last
lesson different from that
on other days? (Delhi 2008)
Answer. Usually, there used to be great hustle and bustle when the school
began. The din of opening and closing of the desks, lessons being repeated
in unison and the rapping of the teacher’s ruler on the table, could be heard
out in the street. But that day, it was all very quiet and still as on a Sunday
morning.

Long Answer Type Question (6 Marks, 120-150 words)

Question.1. What changes did the narrator find in the school when the
order from Berlin came?
(Ail India 2008)
Answer. The order from Berlin prohibited teaching of French in the schools
of Alsace and Lorraine. Instead, German was to be taught in the schools.
Franz was late for school that day. He noticed that the hustle and bustle was
missing. There was no opening and closing of desks, no repetition of lessons
or rapping of the teacher’s ruler on the table could be heard. It was all very
quiet and still.
Franz was further surprised because, instead of meeting an angry teacher,
he was welcomed by a kind and polite teacher, who was dressed in his best
clothes, a beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and an embroidered silk cap,
which he wore only on inspection and prize days. The back benches were
occupied by the village people who never came to school, as they were
more concerned about their livelihood. He was further astounded to know
that , M Hamel was going to teach his last lesson that day.

Question 1) What had been put on the bulletin board?

Answer) The Bulletin board was the board of bad news. It always had
news of lost battles, drafts and orders from the commanding officer.
The latest information on the bulletin board was from a German ruler
who ordered to ban the teaching of French in Alsace and Lorraine. He
ordered that German should replace French.

Question 2) Why was Franz surprised by the school’s atmosphere on

that day?

Answer) Franz was surprised by the unusual atmosphere of school on

that day because on usual days the school began with a great bustle,
there were noises of opening and closing of desks, the noise of lessons
being repeated in unison and teachers’ rulers striking against the table
hard. But that day, everything was still and quiet as a Sunday
morning. All his classmates were already in their place and M. Hamel
pacing up and down with the ruler under his arm. At first, Franz was
scared to enter the class but M. Hamel was unexpectedly kind and he
was dressed formally. The whole school wore a strange and serious
look and the backbenches which were generally empty were occupied
by the village people.

Question 3) Why were the backbenches occupied by the villagers that

day?

Answer) The villagers occupied the backbenches that day as a mark of

respect for the teacher and their mother tongue. It was their way of
expressing their guilt of not attending school as regularly as they
should have. It was their only opportunity to thank their master for a
service of forty years and to show their respect to their country.
Question 4) How does M Hamel arouse patriotic feelings in the people
of Alsace?

Answer) M Hamel aroused patriotic feelings in the people of Alsace by

making them conscious. He advised them to guard their identity and
told them that France was the most beautiful language in the whole
world. In the end, he wrote the words ‘Vive La France’.

Question 5) Is the story ‘The last lesson’ all about linguistic

chauvinism? If yes, comment.

Answer) Yes, the story ‘The last lesson’ is all about linguistic
chauvinism as in this story the Prussians are dominating the people of
Alsace. They are also imposing their own language on the people of
France which leads to loss of identity. Their own pride suppresses
humanity to an extent that they are not able to respect and accept
others’ language. This story highlights linguistic chauvinism in their
language which also leads to political disturbances and wars all
around the world.
Q. No. 1) On his way to school, Franz says that he had the strength to
resist and chose to hurry off to school.
The underlined phrase suggests that Franz was
a. hesitant.
b. threatened.
c. tempted.
d. repentant.
Ans. Option (c)
Q. No. 2) Franz saw a huge crowd assembled in front of the bulletin
board but did not stop. How would you evaluate his reaction?
a. Franz was too little to care about the news of lost battles.
b. Nobody in Franz’s family was in the army, so it did not matter.
c. Bad news had become very normal, so he went about his task.
d. It was too crowded for Franz to find out what news was up on the
board.
Ans. Option (c)
Q. No. 3) There was usually great bustle and noise when school began,
but it was all very quiet. Which of the following describes Franz’s
emotions most accurately?
a. shock and awe
b. disappointment and anxiety
c. confusion and distress
d. curiosity and uncertainty
Ans. Option (b)
Q. No. 4) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that
follow:
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." What a thunderclap these words were to me! Oh,
the wretches; that was what they had put up at the town hall!
i. Who are 'the wretches' Franz refers to in this extract?
a. the French
b. the Prussians
c. the village people
d. the school children
Ans. Option (b)
ii. Why does M. Hamel tell everyone to be 'very attentive'?
a. He wants to quiz them on the last lesson later in the day.
b. He wants to inform them of his wish to retire as a teacher.
c. He wants to tell them about the new language they will soon learn.
d. He wants to teach them as much of their language as possible in that
class.
Ans. Option (d)
iii. What does the order from Berlin signify?
a. the blending of two different cultures.
b. the imposition of one culture over another
c. the peaceful coexistence of multiple cultures
d. the universal recognition of one culture as superior
Ans. Option (b)
iv. This line from the extract depicts Franz's __________. What a
thunderclap these words were to me!
a. confusion about the new language
b. astonishment at a wasted opportunity
c. disappointment in M. Hamel's teaching
d. anger towards the people of the village
Ans. Option (b)
v. Select the option that uses 'mounted' as used in the extract.
a. Salima mounted the bicycle and rode downhill.
b. Peter mounted the platform to a rousing welcome.
c. Satyajeet bit his nails as the tension mounted in the game.
d. Kimpi mounted a protest by refusing to talk to her sister all day.
Ans. Option (b)
Q. No. 5) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that
follow:
Poor man! It was in honor 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.
i. Why does the narrator refer to M. Hamel as ‘Poor man!’?
a. He empathizes with M. Hamel as he had to leave the village.
b. He believes that M. Hamel’s “fine Sunday clothes” clearly reflected
that he was not rich.
c. He feels sorry for M. Hamel as it was his last French lesson.
d. He thinks that M. Hamel’s patriotism and sense of duty resulted in
his poverty.
Ans. Option (c)
ii. Which of the following idioms might describe the villagers’ act of
attending the last lesson most accurately?
a. ‘Too good to miss’
b. ‘Too little, too late'
c. ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’
d. ‘Too cool for school’
Ans. Option (b)
iii. Choose the option that might raise a question about M. Hamel’s
“faithful service”.
a. When Franz came late, M. Hamel told him that he was about to begin
class without him.
b. Franz mentioned how cranky M. Hamel was and his “great ruler
rapping on the table”.
c. M. Hamel often sent students to water his flowers and gave them a
holiday when he wanted to go fishing.
d. M. Hamel permitted villagers put their children “to work on a farm
or at the mills” for some extra money.
Ans. Option (c)
iv. Choose the option that most appropriately fills in the blanks, for the
following description of the given extract.
The villagers and their children sat in class, forging with their old
master a (i) _____ togetherness. At that moment, the classroom stood
(ii) _____. It was France itself, and the last French lesson a desperate
hope to (iii) ______ to the remnants of what they had known and taken
for granted. Their own (iv) _______.
a. (i) graceful; (ii) still; (iii) hang on; (iv) country
b. (i) bygone; (ii) up; (iii) keep on; (iv) education
c. (i) beautiful; (ii) mesmerized; (iii) carry on; (iv) unity
d. (i) forgotten; (ii) transformed; (iii) hold on; (iv) identity
Ans. Option (d)
Q. No. 6) “I never saw him look so tall”. Which of the following best
captures M. Hamel on the last day of school?
a. cranky, miserable, dedicated, resigned
b. patient, dignified, emotional, courageous
c. calm, nostalgic, disappointed, patriotic
d. proud, reproachful, persistent, heroic
Ans. Option (b)
Q. No. 7) Look at the table below. Column A provides instances from
the story ‘The Last Lesson’. Column B provides titles of some famous
English language poems. Choose the option that correctly matches
items of Column A with Column B.
Column A Column B
1. M. Hamel distributed new copies that looked i. 'Remorse is memory
like little French flags and ended the class with an awake' (Emily
emphatic "Vive La France!". Dickinson)
2. Hauser sat at the end of the class, thumping his ii. 'A House Called
primer, desperately trying to learn with the Tomorrow' (Alberto
children, even as he cried. Rios)
3. M. Hamel shared how Alsace always put off
iii. 'For Whom the Bell
learning, and how its people always thought they
Tolls' (John Donne)
had plenty of time.
4. Classes ended when the church clock struck
iv. 'Do Not Go Gentle
twelve. And then the Angelus. Simultaneously,
into that Good Night'
Prussian trumpets sounded under the school
(Dylan Thomas)
windows.
a. 1 – (i); 2 – (ii); 3 – (iii); 4 – (iv)
b. 1 – (ii); 2 – (iii); 3 – (iv); 4 – (i)
c. 1 – (iii); 2 – (iv); 3 – (i); 4 – (ii)
d. 1 – (iv); 2 – (i); 3 – (ii); 4 – (iii)
Ans. Option (d)
Q. No. 8) Concluding his last lesson by writing ‘Vive la France!’ on the
blackboard shows that M. Hamel
a. was overwhelmed with emotions.
b. wanted to distract all attending class that day.
c. was keen on not leaving the country.
d. wanted to teach French participles through it.
Ans. Option (a)
Q. No. 9) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that
follow:
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.
i. List any two sensory details present in this extract.
Ans. Sensory details present in the extract are:
 The sounds of the opening and closing of desks

 The loud lessons repeated in unison

 The teacher's ruler rapping on the table.

ii. Why does the protagonist feel anxious about entering the classroom
on this particular day?
a. The classmates have started the lesson
b. The teacher is in a bad mood
c. The classroom is too quiet
d. The protagonist is running late
Ans. Option (a) [The protagonist sees through the window that the other
students are already in their places, and this makes him feel anxious as he is
trying to avoid being seen and is worried about being scolded by the
teacher and embarrassed in front of his classmates. The fact that the other
students have already started the lesson adds to his anxiety.]
iii. Complete the sentence appropriately.
The phrase "as quiet as Sunday morning" suggests that _____.
Ans. The school was unusually quiet and still, as if it were a day of
rest/holiday/school off, rather than a bustling school day.
iv. Pick evidence from the extract that helps one infer that this was not
the protagonist’s first time being late to school.
Ans. The protagonist seems to have a plan for how to sneak into class
without being noticed, suggesting that they may have been in similar
situations before. [The protagonist states: "I had counted on the commotion
to get to my desk without being seen," which implies that they have been
late before and have developed a strategy for avoiding punishment.]
v. What does the term 'terrible iron ruler' indicate about M. Hamel?
Ans. The strictness and severity of M. Hamel's discipline.
vi. Which of the following headlines best suggests the central idea of
the extract?
a. The Fears of a Latecomer
b. The Importance of Punctuality
c. The Rigidity of the School System
d. The Anxiety of a Young Student
Ans. Option (b) [The extract revolves around the theme of punctuality and
the consequences of being late. The protagonist is anxious and embarrassed
about being late to school, highlighting the importance of being on time.
The other options, such as A) The Fears of a Latecomer, C) The Rigidity of
the School System, and D) The Anxiety of a Young Student, touch upon
some of the themes in the extract but do not fully capture the central idea.]
Q. No. 10) Read the extract given below and answer the questions that
follow:
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 book
and read us our lesson. I was amazed to see how well I understood it.
All he said seemed so easy, so easy!
i. Which of the following can be attributed to M. Hamel’s declaration
about the French language?
a. subject expertise
b. nostalgic pride
c. factual accuracy
d. patriotic magnification
Ans. Option (d)
ii. Read the quotes given below. Choose the option that might best
describe M. Hamel’s viewpoint.
a. Option (i)
b. Option (ii)
c. Option (iii)
d. Option (iv)
Ans. Option (b)
iii. “I was amazed to see how well I understood it.” Select the option
that does NOT explain why Franz found the grammar lesson “easy”.
a. Franz was paying careful attention in class this time.
b. M. Hamel was being extremely patient and calm in his teaching.
c. Franz was inspired and had found a new meaning and purpose to
learning.
d. Franz realized that French was the clearest and most logical
language.
Ans. Option (d)
iv. Franz was able to understand the grammar lesson easily because he
was
a. receptive.
b. appreciative.
c. introspective.
d. competitive.
Ans. Option (a)
Q. No. 11) How and why was M. Hamel dressed differently that day?
Ans. M. Hamel was dressed differently on the day of his final lesson because
he was wearing his best clothes. He wanted to show his respect for the
importance of the occasion and his love for his country, despite the fact that
it had been occupied by the Germans. As Franz notes in the story, "M.
Hamel had on his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt, and the little black
silk cap, all embroidered, that he never wore except on inspection and prize
days." M. Hamel's attire reflects his sense of duty and his commitment to
teaching, even in the face of difficult circumstances. By dressing up for his
final lesson, he shows his students that he takes their education seriously
and that he is proud of the work that they have done together.
Q. No. 12) Comment on the significance of the villagers sitting at the
back in M. Hamel’s classroom.
Ans.
 As a sign of repentance for not attending school often.

 They wanted to thank M. Hamel for his 40 years of dedicated

service.
 As a mark of respect for the country which was no longer theirs.

Q. No. 13) Who did M. Hamel blame when Franz was unable to answer
a question on French participles?
Ans. M. Hamel blames:
 People of Alsace for postponing learning.

 Parents who preferred to send their children to work in fields and

mills instead of sending them to school.

 Himself for not fulfilling his duty as a teacher sincerely - by

sending the children to water the plants in the garden & declaring
a holiday whenever he wanted to go fishing.
Q. No. 14) “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.
Ans.
 M. Hamel said it to Franz when he felt embarrassed at not being

able to answer.
 He consoles Franz by saying everyone in Alsace is to be blamed

for not learning their mother tongue

 parents, teachers, and children all are to be blamed
  Alsace puts off learning for tomorrow
Q. No. 15) “You realize the true value of a thing only on losing it.”
Comment on this statement in the light of the story, The Last Lesson.
Ans.
 Prussians put a ban on the French language.

 People realized the importance of holding onto their mother

tongue.
OR

 M Hamel was considered strict and the classes/work given by him

were not taken seriously.
 After he was ordered to leave the country, villagers realized the

importance of his contribution to society.

Q. No. 16) If this had been M. Hamel’s first lesson, how do you think
the school experience of the students might have been impacted?
Ans. If "The Last Lesson" had been M. Hamel's first lesson, it's possible that
the school experience of the students would have been very different. M.
Hamel's passionate and dedicated teaching style may have inspired the
students to take their studies more seriously and to appreciate the value of
education.
Q. No. 17) Little Franz is the narrator of the story. The name ‘Franz’
means ‘from France’. In what way does the story being told as a first-
person narrative of Franz impact your reading and understanding of
the story? Provide at least one piece of evidence from the text to
support your opinion.
Ans. The fact that "The Last Lesson" is told from the perspective of the
young protagonist Franz has a significant impact on the reader's experience
of the story. Through his eyes, we are able to see the events of the story
unfold in a more immediate and personal way, and we are able to
empathize with his feelings of regret and nostalgia at the end of the lesson.
One of the ways in which Franz's perspective impacts our understanding of
the story is that it allows us to see the effects of the French language ban on
a child who is just beginning to develop his love for learning. We see how
the ban has disrupted Franz's education and how it has affected his
relationship with his teacher, M. Hamel. This creates a sense of empathy in
the reader, as we understand the significance of the loss that Franz and his
classmates are experiencing.

For example, in the story, Franz describes the moment when he realizes that
it is his last French lesson with M. Hamel: "It was at that moment that I
realized how much I had to regret, for it was the last French lesson I was
ever to have" (from "The Last Lesson" by Alphonse Daudet). This quote
shows how Franz's personal experience of the events of the story shapes his
perspective and emotions, and it allows the reader to feel a similar sense of
regret and loss.

Q. No. 18) At the end of his last lesson, M. Hamel decides to leave a
little note for each of his students for them to find the next day at their
desks. Based on your reading of the story, what might his note to Franz
read?
You may begin like this:
Dear Franz,
I know you have always preferred to run in the open fields …
Ans. Dear Franz,
I know you have always preferred to run in the open fields, but I hope that
today's lesson has shown you the value of exploring new ideas and
perspectives. Remember to keep your curiosity alive and to seek out
knowledge wherever you can find it. The world is full of wonders, and I have
no doubt that you will continue to discover new joys and insights wherever
your path may lead.

With warmest regards,

M. Hamel

Q. No. 19) Though tempted by the bright day, Franz stated that he had
“the strength to resist, and hurried off to school.” As the story
progresses, the reader realizes that Franz, M. Hamel, and the villagers
would perhaps need “the strength to resist” much larger forces.
Discuss how the story provides strategies for resistance and protection
of one’s identity and community through its events and characters.
Provide relevant textual details to support your argument.
Ans. "The Last Lesson" provides several strategies for resistance and
protection of one's identity and community through its events and
characters. These strategies include valuing one's cultural heritage, standing
up for what one believes in, and cherishing the relationships that connect us
to our community.
Firstly, the story emphasizes the importance of valuing one's cultural
heritage. M. Hamel's dedication to teaching French to his students, despite
the ban on the language, demonstrates the power of preserving one's
language and culture. He encourages his students to appreciate the beauty
and history of the French language, and in doing so, he helps them to
connect with their cultural heritage. This is reflected in the passage where M.
Hamel declares, "It is our language, our soul."

Secondly, the story emphasizes the importance of standing up for what one
believes in, even in the face of adversity. M. Hamel's decision to hold his last
French lesson, despite the looming threat of German occupation,
demonstrates his courage and conviction. He refuses to let external forces
dictate his actions and instead chooses to act on his own beliefs and values.
This is reflected in the passage where M. Hamel declares, "We must always
keep learning."

Finally, the story emphasizes the importance of cherishing the relationships

that connect us to our community. Franz's love and respect for his teacher,
M. Hamel, is a testament to the deep connections that can form between
individuals in a community. When M. Hamel gives his final speech to the
students, he emphasizes the importance of these connections, saying, "We
must love our country, and cherish it always."
Q. No. 20) Franz from The Last Lesson and the peddler from The
Rattrap demonstrate the importance of learning from our mistakes to
evolve into better people. Imagine that Shubhangi, your friend, feels as
if she has made a mistake by not taking her academics seriously. Write
an essay to Shubhangi in 120–150 words discussing instances from the
two texts to give her an insight into the human tendency to make
mistakes and learn from them.
You may begin like this:
Shubhangi, all of us have made mistakes at one point or another in our
lives. After all, to err is human...........
Ans.
Mistakes are common - all of us, whether old or young, may make
numerous mistakes. For example, little Franz is careless, indisciplined, and
unpunctual while the vagabond, who is much older than Franz, remains
greedy and chooses to engage in petty thievery.

If not corrected in time, our mistakes bring our growth to a standstill. As in

the case of Franz, since he does not take Mr. Hamel’s classes seriously, he is
unable to learn French despite being present in the classroom. The man with
the rattrap, on the other hand, is not satisfied by people’s kindness to him.
Instead, he steals from compassionate people like the old crofter who
shared his meal with him and gave him a place to rest, without any remorse.
He also greedily pretends to be the master blacksmith’s long-lost
acquaintance, hoping for money from the blacksmith.

However, when they are confronted with their respective situations, they
realize their mistakes. Franz attends the last lesson only to realize that he
had lost the only opportunity to learn his mother tongue while the
vagabond who pretended to be Captain Von Stahle was taken aback by the
goodness of Edla.

Upon this realization, Franz is filled with remorse and tries his best to recite
the lesson. He is unable to do so and feels guilty, so he listens to the
remaining part of the lesson with rapt attention. Similarly, inspired by Edla’s
kindness to him, the rattrap man returns the stolen money.

Both of these characters thus realize their mistakes and take initiative to fix
them. They make the choice to evolve into better people by learning from
their mistakes, something that makes a difference in their lives.
1. What tempted Franz to stay away from school?
Answer: Instead of going to school little Franz wishes to run outside and pass the day,
for it was a warm and bright day, and the birds chirped happily. He was tempted to
watch the Prussian soldiers’ drill. All this things appeared rather tempting considering
he did not know his participles and feared the French teacher M. Hamel’s scolding on
that day.
2. What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave his last French
lesson?
Answer: When M.Hamel was gives his last French ; lesson, the mood of classroom was
solemn and sombre. When he announced that this was their last French lesson
everyone present in the classroom suddenly developed patriotic feelings for their
mother tongue and genuinely regretted ignoring their mother tongue.

3. What was unusual about M. Hamel’s dress and behaviour on the day of his last
French lesson?
Answer: On the day of his last French lesson M. Hamel was unexpectantly kind. He had
put on his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and an embroidered black silk cap that he
normally wore only on inspection and prize days. In his last lesson he explains
everything with unusual patience as if he wants to teach them everything he has ever
learned in their last French class.
4. What had been put up on the bulletin board?
Answer: Notice had been put up on the bulletin board informing the people about the
order from Berlin which declared that only German was to be taught in the schools of
Alsace and Lorraine. They had also been informed that the new German teacher was
coming on the following day.
5. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What
does this tell us about the attitude of the Frenchmen?
Answer: During his last French class Franz hears the pigeons cooing and wonders if the
Prussians would make them sing in German too. His thought reveals the Frenchmen’s
fear of complete domination by the Germans whereby they would try to enslave even
their minds.
6. What words did M. Hamel write on the black¬board before dismissing the last
class?
Answer: prior dismissing the last French class, M. Hamel turned to the blackboard,
took a piece of chalk and wrote as large as he could -“Vive la France!” These words
meant “Long Live France”. He then made a gesture with his hand that the class was
dismissed
7. Why had the bulletin-board become a centre of attention during the last two
years?
Answer: The bulletin-board had become a centre of attention because for the last two
years all the bad news had come from there. It was the source of all bad news-the lost
battles, the draft and the orders of the commanding officers.
8. Who did M.Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like
Franz?
Answer: Mr. Hamel blamed various people for different reasons for neglect of learning
on the part of boys like Franz. First he blamed the parents for not being anxious to
have their children learn and rather engaging them into household work. He blamed
the boys themselves for preferring to work on mills and farms. He also blamed himself
for sending boys on errands for his convenience.
9. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in the school?
Answer: The shocking order from Berlin that only German would be taught in the
schools of Alsace and Lorraine saddened and hurt the pride of the French people. So as
a gesture to express their solidarity for their language the village elders also attended
school for the last French lesson. The usual hustle and bustle was missing from school
and it was unusually quiet. M. Hamel was also dressed in his formal suit which he wore
only on special occasions.
10. “This is your last French lesson.” How did Franz react to this declaration of
M.Hamel?
Answer: When M.Hamel announced that this was their last French lesson a grim
realization dawned on Franz still had a lot to learn. He felt sorry for whiling away his
time and skipping his lessons. Now he did not want to part with his books, which he
had earlier considered a nuisance. He was very saddened to thought that of M.Hamel
was leaving.
11. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for the school that day?
Answer: Franz had started very late for school that morning. He feared facing his
class-teacher, M. Hamel. Because he was expected to be prepared with his grammar
lesson on participles and he did not know even the first word about them. So he feared
a scolding.
12. “What a thunder clap these words were to me!” Which were the words that
shocked and surprised little Franz?
Answer: Franz was shocked and surprised When M.Hamel mounted on the chair and
announced that he was there to teach his last French lesson that day. He felt very
guilty for deliberately ignoring to learn his mother tongue and he suddenly developed
a strange fascination for his language and his school.
13. How did M.Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town?
Answer: To bid farewell to his students and the people of the town M.Hamel wore his
formal suit on the day he gave his last French lesson. He assumed the role of a mentor
and advised the villagers to safeguard their language, which was the most beautiful
and logical language in the world. Being rimmed up with emotions, he wrote “Vive La
France” which mean Tong live France’ in order to inculcate a feeling of patriotism
within everyone.
14. What did M. Hamel tell the people in the class about French language? What
did he ask them to do and why?
Answer: M. Hamel told the people in his class that French was the most beautiful, the
clearest and the most logical language in the world. He advised them to guard it
among themselves j and never to forget it because it would prove to be the key to their
prison when they were I enslaved.
15. What were Franz’s regrets after M. Hamel’s announcement of his last lesson?
Answer: When M. Hamel announced that it was their last French lesson, Franz realised
he had so much more to learn. He felt sorry for whiling away his time and skipping his
lessons. He was also deeply pained at the thought of M. Hamel leaving the school.
16. “What announcement did M. Hamel make? What was the impact of this on
Franz?
Answer: When M.Hamel declared that it was their last French lesson a grim realisation
dawned on Franz that he had so much more yet to learn. He felt sorry for whiling away
his time and skipping his lessons. Now he did not want to part with his books, which he
had earlier consi¬dered a nuisance. He was also deeply pained at the thought that
M.Hamel was leaving.
17. What was tempting Franz to keep away from school That morning’?
Answer: Franz was very late for school ‘that morning’. M. Hamel was about to question
the students on participation and Franz knew nothing and feared a scolding. The bright
weather, woods, fields and chirping of birds tempted him to spend the day outdoors.
18. What change was there in Franz’ attitude towards M. Hamel?
Answer: Franz’s attitude towards M. Hamel underwent a complete change on the day
of the last French lesson. He developed a strange fascination for his school and the
French language. When M. Hamel read out a grammar lesson to the class, Franz was
amazed at how well he understood it. All M. Hamel said seemed so easy to Franz and
he genuinely regretted ignoring M. Hamel’s classes and lessons.
19. “What a thunderclap these words were to me!” – Which were the words that
shocked and surprised Franz?
Answer: When M.Hamel mounted on the chair and announced that he was there to
teach his last French lesson that day, Franz was shocked and surprised. He felt very
guilty for deliberately ignoring to learn his native language and he suddenly developed
a strange fascination for his language and his school.
20. What changes came over little Franz after he heard M.Hamel’s
announcement?
Answer: When M.Hamel declared that this was to be their last French class a grim
realization dawned on Franz that he could hardly write his language and now he was
being deprived of the opportunity to learn it. He felt very guilty of neglecting his
classes and escaping school. The thought of losing his teacher, M. Hamel, also pained
him
21. “What a thunderclap these words were to me !” What were the words that
shocked and surprised the narrator?
Answer: When M.Hamel mounted on the chair and announced that he was there to
teach his last French lesson that day, Franz was shocked and surprised. He felt very
guilty for deliberately ignoring to learn his native language and he suddenly developed
a strange fascination for his language and his school.
22. What had the narrator counted on to enter the school, unnoticed?
Answer: The Franz had counted on the hustle and bustle that was usual when the
school began in order to enter there unnoticed. He had thought he could depend on
the commotion to get to his desk without anybody noticing that he was late for the
class.
23. What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it cause in the school?
Answer: The shocking order from Berlin that only German would be taught in the
schools of Alsace and Lorraine saddened and hurt the pride of the French people. So as
a gesture to express their solidarity for their language the village elders also attended
school for the last French lesson. The usual hustle and bustle was missing from school
and it was unusually quiet. M. Hamel was also dressed in his formal suit which he wore
only on special occasions.
24. When Franz reached his school, what unusual situation did he observe?
Answer: The usual hustle and bustle of the morning hours could not be seen on the
day of the last lesson. It was all very still and quiet as it used to be on a Sunday
morning. The din of opening and closing of desks and the rapping of the teacher’s
ruler on the table could not be heard. The students had already taken their places and
even the village elders had gathered there.
25. What did Franz see when he passed the town hall?
Answer: When Franz passed the town hall he saw there was a crowd in front of the
bulletin board. For the last two years all the bad news of lost battles, the draft etc. had
come from there and Franz thought to himself what the matter was then and what bad
news awaited them.
26. How did Franz react to the declaration that it was their last French lesson?
Answer: When M.Hamel declared that it was their last French lesson a grim realisation
dawned on Franz that he had so much more yet to learn. He felt sorry for whiling away
his time and skipping his lessons. Now he did not want to part with his books, which he
had earlier considered a nuisance. He was also deeply pained at the though that
M.Hamel was leaving.
27. After sitting down at his desk what unusual things did Franz observe about M.
Hamel?
Answer: Franz realised that M. Hamel was not his usual cranky self and said nothing to
him even though he was late for the class. Moreover their teacher was wearing his
beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt and the little black silk cap, all embroidered, that
he wore only on special days in school.

28. Why did Franz think of running away from the school that morning?
Answer: Franz was tempted to run away and spend the day outside instead of
attending school as it was a warm and bright day and he wanted to watch the Prussian
soldiers’ drill. Moreover he had not done his lesson on participles from which his
teacher, M. Hamel was going to question and feared a scolding from his teacher.
29. What did M. Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask
them to do and why?
Answer: M. Hamel told the people in his class that French was the most beautiful, the
clearest and the most logical language in the world. He advised them to guard it
among themselves j and never to forget it because it would prove to be the key to their
prison when they were I enslaved.
30. Why did M. Hamel not scold Franz when the latter fumbled with the rule for
the participle?
Answer: Since it was M. Hamel’s last class in Alsace, he did not scold Franz when the
latter fumbled with the rule for the participle. He told Franz that he would not scold
him as he knew that Franz was already feeling terrible enough and reproaching himself
a great deal.