ASSIGNMENT, XII, English

THE LAST LESSON (Alphonse Daudet)

1*What tempted Franz to stay away from school?

2*What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?

3*What was unusual about M Hamel’s dress on his last day in the school?

4*What had been put up on the bulletin- board?

“What a thunderclap these words were to me!” What were the words that shocked
and surprised the narrator?

5 *Who were sitting on the back benches during M Hamel’s last lesson? Why?
6*Why does M Hamel reproach himself and parents for his students unsatisfactory
progress in
Studies?

7*What did M Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask them to
do and why?

8* What words did M Hamel write on the blackboard before dismissing the last class?
What did they mean?

9Explain:“When people are enslaved ,as long as they hold fast to their language it is as
if they had the key to their prison?”

10 *What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it cause in the school?

11*What is the theme of ‘The Last Lesson’?

12*Justify the title ’The Last Lesson’.

13*Franz thinks,”Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?’What
does this tell us about the attitude of the Frenchmen?
14.If this had been M. Hamel’s first lesson, how do you think the school experience of the
students might have been impacted?
15At 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
 16.In what way can the story be seen as a comment on schooling in general? Does
Franz’ description of school life resonate with your own experience? Do you think the
story might also provide advice on what good education entails?

Substantiate your argument with relevant instances from the text.

17.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.