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The Last Lesson 16-17
The Last Lesson 16-17
M.Hamel advocates that French is the most beautiful, the most logical and clearest
language in world
M Hamel becomes emotional, could not speak and wrote on the black board Vive La
France which mean Long Live France.
Q6. Franz thinks, Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons? What could this
mean?
Ans. By the reference of making pigeons sing in German, the author wants to make it very clear
that, speaking of French was as natural to Franz as cooing to pigeons. Powerful Germans can
enslave people of Alsace and Lorraine and impose German language on French speaking people
but they cant have any authority over the natural feelings of people. Thus, the entire irrationality
and immorality of the order was brought into question. Nature, feelings and emotions cant be
governed by some superficial laws of willful people.
Q7. What message does the writer want to convey to the readers through The Last Lesson?
Ans. Alphonse Daudet had a definite message to convey to his reader. Through M Hamel, he
wants to express pride in ones language. Greatness of French language is highlighted. The
lesson arouses patriotic feelings. It makes the readers aware that they must safeguard their
language and culture because it has the power to unite and urges them to fight enslavement..
They must keep the (language and culture) alive at all cost.
Q8. Justify the title The Last Lesson.
Ans. The title is self revealing. It was certainly the last lesson that M Hamel was delivering in
French. From next day, German was to be imposed on French speaking people of Alsace and
Lorraine. M Hamel was leaving the school with heavy heart. Even the village elders had come to
listen to their last lesson in French.
Q9. What was more tempting to Franz than going to school and why?
Value points
Had not learnt rules of participles, weather was pleasant, warm and bright. Chirruping of birds
tempted him to enjoy the day, the soldiers drilling in the field were also outdoors.
Q10. What was Franzs greatest fear as he moved towards school?
Value points
Franz was scared of being scolded because he was very late for school and had not learnt rules of
participles. He did not know even the first word about them. Thus he dreaded the teachers
indignation.
Q11. What was the bad news put up on the bulletin board?
Value points
All the bad newsthe lost battles, the drafts and the orders of the commanding officer were
displayed on the notice board for the last two years. That day, the order that only German
language would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine was displayed on the notice
board which made the crowd gather there to read the news.
Q12. What change did Franz observe in the school on that day?
Value points
No noisy atmosphere, no bustle of opening and closing of the desk, no lesson repeated loudly,
that day was as quiet as Sunday morning. Students were in their places. M. Hamel spoke to Franz
in a kind tone even though he was late and he wore his Sunday clothes which he used to wear on
Inspection and Prize day. The most unusual observation was that the back benches which
remained vacant were occupied by the village people.
Q13. Why were village elders seated on back benches on that day?
Value points
Villagers occupied back benches as a tribute to the teacher who had put in forty years of sincere
service. They also expressed their regret for not learning their mother tongue when they had the
chance to learn French and expressed their patriotism and solidarity with France.
Q14. Why did M.Hamel ask his students and elderly to guard French language?
Value points
He said that French is the most beautiful language in the world- the clearest and the most
logical. He appealed them to guard it so that they can be united and fight back for their liberty.
Q15. How did M.Hamel bid farewell to his beloved students and the villagers?
Value points
To arouse patriotic feelings in his students and village elders for their mother tongue. Urged them
to safeguard it among themselves, gathered his strength and wrote on the blackboard as large as
he could Vive La France and dismissed the school.
Q16. What happened when the church clock struck 12?
Value Points
The moment the church clock struck 12 the Prussian army came to take over and M Hamel stood
up very pale and appeared tall to little Franz ( because the gravity of the situation and the respect
he inspired). He wanted to tell something but his voice choked. He gathered his strength and
wrote on the black board as large as he couldVive La France and dismissed the school.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1 Draw a Pen portrait of M.Hamel on the basis of your study of the story, The Last Lesson..
Value points
Dedicated, disciplinarian, hard task masterkept his terrible ruler under his armtransformed
after Berlins order, shockedmore soft and gentle towards his studentsnot scolded any
studentemotional and completely disturbedvillagers assembled to pay tribute to his sincere
service for forty years in the same schoolloved France deeplyconsidered French as the most
beautiful language of the world--- safeguard it and never forget it.
VALUE BASED QUESTION
Q1 Franzs feelings about M.Hamel and school changed gradually by the end of the text, though
he had a great disliking for both in the beginning of the story. It is said that first impression is the
last impression. Is it true in context of, The Last Lesson?
Write a small paragraph of about 100 words penning down your views on A person can be best
judged in his first appearance only.
Value points.
A well known dictum states that appearance are deceptive Infact, it is true that one can not be
judged in just one meeting. Actually, one or more meetings are not enough to judge a persons
personality. Every person reacts differently on different situation at different times. So it is not a
matter of single appearance to form a judgment about a person.
Now-adays every person appears to be gentle and social. No matter what their background is
ones clothes, gestures habits etc. do not define ones personality. Sometimes a life remains short
to know a person. Hence, it is not a matter of first or last impression but issue of time, needed to
know one in ones right colors.
QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE
Q1Why did M.Hamel not punish Franz even though he was late?
Q2. Why was Franz unwilling to go to school?
Q3. What announcement did M.Hamel make and what was its impact?
Q4. What do you think was written on the bulletin board?
Q5. Why did not M.Hamel get angry with Franz for being late?
Q6. What changes came over little Franz after he heard M.Hamels announcement?
Q8. Do you think that the story touches upon the brutalities of war? Explain
Q9. How does Hamel arouse patriotism in people of Alsace?
Q10. What message does the writer want to convey to the readers through the Last Lesson?