THE LAST LESSON

YEH PADHO AUR PURA CHAPTER ON TIPS:

Important Notes

• Franz is afraid of going to school as he has not learnt participles.

• He wants to enjoy beauty of nature. The bright sunshine, the birds chirruping in the
woods, Prussian soldiers drilling but resisted.

• Bulletin board: all bad news, lost battles, the drafts, and orders of the commanding
officers: wondered what it could be now

• The changes he noticed in the school.

– Instead of noisy classrooms everything was as quiet as Sunday morning

– The teacher does not scold him and told him very kindly to go to his seat

– The teacher dressed in his Sunday best.

– Villagers occupying the last benches- To pay tribute to M. Hamel for his 40 yrs of
sincere service and to express their solidarity with France.

• M. Hamel making the announcement that that would be the last French lesson; realizes
that, that was what was put up on the bulletin board.

• Franz realizes that he does not know his own mother tongue

• Regretted why he had not taken his lessons seriously.

• Also realizes the reason why teacher was dressed in his Sunday best and villagers sitting
at the back.

• M. Hamel realizes that all three, the children, the parents and he himself are to be blamed
for losing respect and regard for the mother tongue.

• Always keep the mother tongue close to your heart as it is the key to the prison of slavery.

• Atmosphere in class: teacher teaching sincerely and patiently, students and others
studying with utmost sincerity.

• Franz wonders sarcastically if Prussians could force pigeons to coo in German.

• M. Hamel overcome with emotions could not speak and wrote on the black board “Long
Live France”.

APNI KAKSHA 1
Multiple Choice Questions based on an extract.
"I started for school very late that morning and was in great dread of a scalding, especially
because M. Hamel had said that he would question us on participles, and I did not know the
first word about them. For a moment I thought of running away and spending the day out
of doors. It was so warm, so bright! The birds were chirping at the edge of the woods and
in the open field back of the sawmill, the Prussian soldiers were drilling. It was all much
more tempting than the rule for participles, but I had the strength to resist and hurried off
to school

1. Name the chapter?

a) The Tiger King.
b) The Third Level
c) Journey to the End of the Earth.
d) The Last Lesson.
Ans d) The Last Lesson

2. What temptations did the speaker have?

a) Chirping of birds and Sawmill
b) Sawmill and Prussian Soldiers drilling
c) Chirping of birds and Prussian soldiers drilling
d) Both a & b
Ans c) Chirping of birds and Prussian soldiers drilling

3. Explain 'I had the strength to resist.

a) The narrator had the patience to fight with the Prussians
b) The narrator had the courage to learn his mother tongue
c) The narrator had the courage to overcome his temptations
d) Both a and b
Ans c) The narrator had the courage to overcome his temptations

4. What does the word 'Dread' mean?.

a) Fear
b) Apprehensiveness.
c) Awe
d) All of these
Ans d) All of these

APNI KAKSHA 2
 Extract 2
"When I passed the town hall there was a crowd in front of the bulletin board. For the last
two years, all our bad news had come from there the lost battles, the draft, the orders of
the commanding officer and I thought to myself, without stopping, "What can be the
matter now?

1. Why was there a huge crowd in front of the bulletin board?

a) Due to bad news.

b) Due to order from Berlin.

c) Due to introduction of new language.

d) All of these

Ans d) All of these

2. What was the bulletin board famous for?

a) Good News

b) Bad News

c) Neither good nor bad

d) Either good or bad

Ans b) Bad News

3. Who is the author The Last Lesson.

a) Selma Lagerlof

b) Stephen Spender

c) Alphonse Daudet

d) John Updike

Ans c) Alphonse Daudet

4. What does the word 'Draft" mean here?

a) Compulsory Military Service

b) Drawing

c) Designs of Alsace and Lorraine

d) Both a and b

Ans a) Compulsory Military Service

APNI KAKSHA 3
 Extract 3
"Then, as I hurried by as fast as I could go, the blacksmith, Wachter, who was there, with
his apprentice, reading the bulletin, called after me, "Don't go so fast, bub, you'll get to
your school in plenty of time!" I thought he was making fun of me and reached M.
Hamel's little garden all out of breath. 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"

1. What does 'Out of breath' mean?

a) Breathless.
b) Gasping.
c) Short-winded
d) All of these
Ans d) All of these

2. What is the meaning of apprentice?

a) Learner
b) Prentice
c) Novice
d) All of these
Ans d) All of these

3. What was the motive of the blacksmith Wachter?

a) To ridicule Franz
b) To boost the morale of Franz
c) To dominate little Franz
d) To make him realize the importance of his mother tongue
Ans a) To ridicule Franz

4. What does the phrasal verb ‘Call after’ imply?

a) Call someone by his name
b) Call someone by his gender
c) Call someone by his surname
d) None of these
Ans a) Call someone by his name

APNI KAKSHA 4
 Stand Alone MCQs
1. ‘Viva la France’ became emotional evidence of M. Hamel’s?
a) Sadness and patriotism
b) Finality and depression
c) Nostalgia and emotional outburst
d) Love for the school and teaching as a profession
Ans a) Sadness and patriotism

2. Which district came under the Prussian rule?

a) Alsace and Berlin
b) Berlin and Lorraine
c) Alsace and Lorraine
d) The southern districts of France
Ans c) Alsace and Lorraine

3. M. Hamel emerges as a when he teaches his last lesson

a) Meek person
b) True patriot
c) Repentant man
d) Defeated the man
Ans b) True patriot

4. Why does the author urge the reader to respect his language?
a) It is what makes you respect your countrymen
b) It is the key to freedom
c) You can express yourself
d) It is unique and reflects literature and art
Ans b) It is the key to freedom

5. Why does Hamel blame the parents?

a) They preferred children to work in farms
b) They were not strict
c) Tthey did not come to M. Hamel’s class
d) Tthey did not love the French language
Ans a) They preferred children to work in farms

APNI KAKSHA 5
6. What does the marching of soldiers under the windows represent?
a) The departure of Hamel
b) Dawn of Prussia in France
c) Freedom for Franz
d) Sorrow of the villagers
Ans b) Dawn of Prussia in France

7. What does the last lesson taught by Hamel symbolize?

a) No more teaching of French
b) Domination of Prussia
c) Learning of German
d) Loss of language and loss of freedom
Ans d) Loss of language and loss of freedom

8. What order had come from Berlin?

a) To close the school
b) Teach German in schools of Alsace and Lorraine
c) To open a new school in Alsace and Lorraine
d) That Hamel would have to leave Answer Answer:
Ans b) Teach German in schools of Alsace and Lorraine

9. What was unusual about M. Hamel’s dress?

a) Wore clean clothes
b) Wore a brand-new outfit
c) Wore clothes he wore on prize days
d) Wore traditional French clothes
Ans c) Wore clothes he wore on prize days

10. Who asked Franz not to hurry to school?

a) Old Hauser
b) former Mayor
c) former Postmaster
d) blacksmith Watcher
Ans d) blacksmith Watcher

APNI KAKSHA 6
11. “The Last Lesson” story was written in which year?
a) 1869 – 1870
b) 1870-1871
c) 1872-1873
d) 1870-1872
Ans b) 1870-1871

12. Why did Mr. M. Hamel call the French language the most beautiful?
a) Because it was the clearest and logical
b) Because it was his native language
c) Because people were from France
d) None of these
Ans a) Because it was the clearest and logical

13. Who occupied the back benches in the class?

a) Weak students

b) Teachers

c) Monitors of the class

d) Village elders

Ans d) Village elders

14. What were the things being taken for granted by the people of Alsace?
a) Teachers of the school
b) Time and school
c) People around
d) Money and power
Ans b) Time and school

15. Alphonse Daudet was from which country?

a) India
b) France
c) England
d) New Zealand
Ans b) France

APNI KAKSHA 7
Think as you read
Q1. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
Ans That day Franz was expected to be prepared with participles because M. Hamel had said
that he would question them on participles. Franz did not know anything about
participles
Q2. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
Ans Usually, when school began, there was a great bustle, which could be heard out in the
street. But it was all very still that day. Everything was as quiet as Sunday morning. There
was no opening or closing of desks. His classmates were already in their places. The
teacher’s great ruler instead of rapping on the table, was under M. Hamel’s arm.
Q3. What had been put up on the bulletin-board?
Ans For the last two years all the bad news had come from the bulletin-board. An order had
come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. The
Germans had put up this notice on the bulletin-board.
Q4. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
Ans M. Hamel had put on his best dress—his beautiful green coat, his frilled shirt and the little
black silk cap, all embroidered. The whole school seemed so strange and solemn. On the
back benches that were always empty, the elderly village people were sitting quietly like
the kids.
Q5. How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and school change?

Ans Franz came to know that it was the last lesson in French that M. Hamel would give them.
From the next day they will be taught only German. Then he felt sorry for not learning his
lessons properly. His books, which seemed a nuisance and a burden earlier were now old
friends. His feelings about M. Hamel also changed. He forgot all about his ruler and how
cranky he was.

Understanding the Text

Q1. The people? in this story suddenly realise how1 precious their language is to them.
What shows you this? Why does this happen?
Ans M. Hamel told the students and villagers that henceforth only German would be taught in
the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Those who called themselves Frenchmen would
neither be able to speak nor write it. He praised French as the most beautiful, the clearest
and most logical language in the world. He said that for the enslaved people, their
language was the key to their prison. Then the people realised how precious their
language was to them. This shows people’s love for their own culture, traditions and
country. Pride in one’s language reflects pride in the motherland.

APNI KAKSHA 8
Q2. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeonsT’ What could
this mean? (There could he more than one answer.)

Ans. This comment of Franz shows a Frenchman’s typical reaction to the imposition of learning
German, the language of the conquerors. Being deprived of the learning of mother tongue
would mean cutting off all bonds with the motherland. Teaching the pigeons.

Short Question Answers

Q1. The people? in this story suddenly realise how1 precious their language is to them.
What shows you this? Why does this happen?
Ans M. Hamel told the students and villagers that henceforth only German would be taught in
the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. Those who called themselves Frenchmen would
neither be able to speak nor write it. He praised French as the most beautiful, the clearest
and most logical language in the world. He said that for the enslaved people, their
language was the key to their prison. Then the people realised how precious their
language was to them. This shows people’s love for their own culture, traditions and
country. Pride in one’s language reflects pride in the motherland
Q.2 Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeonsT’ What could
this mean?(There could he more than one answer.)
Ans This comment of Franz shows a Frenchman’s typical reaction to the imposition of
learning German, the language of the conquerors. Being deprived of the learning of
mother tongue would mean cutting off all bonds with the motherland. Teaching the
pigeons to sing in German indicates how far the Germans would go in their attempts of
linguistic chauvinism..

Important Long Question Answers

Q1. The ban on teaching French strengthened the resolve of the French to learn their
language. Give evidence from the text to prove/disapprove the above statement.

Ans. The Last Lesson’ clearly brings out the resolve of the French to hold fast to their language.
The order from Berlin imposing German language on them made them more determined
to respect and learn their language. This was evident in the last lesson of M. Hamel. All
the back benches were occupied by villagers that day, including old Hauser, former
mayor, former postmaster, etc. Students in the class were quiet and were eager to make
the best of the last opportunity to learn their mother tongue. Hammel taught the last
lesson with immense patience and told his students to safeguard their language. lie
reminded them that they would be able to liberate themselves only if they would keep
their language with them. Even the students realised the importance of their language
and listened to their teacher very carefully. They could not be distracted by beetles or the
cooing of the pigeons that day.

APNI KAKSHA 9
Q2. How was the last lesson different from earlier lessons?

Ans. The last lesson was different from earlier lessons in many ways. It revealed the love and
respect of the teacher and students for their mother tongue. M. Hamel spoke very kindly
and taught very patiently. He did not scold anybody that day. It seemed as if he wanted to
give all that he knew before going away. He was in his best attire and his ‘iron ruler’ was
no more in use. This lesson was attended by villagers to show their love and respect for
their mother tongue and M. Hamel. The students listened very carefully and everybody
was absolutely quiet. Franz was sorry for not learning his lesson. The last lesson was an
emotional time which stirred patriotic feelings and awakened the villagers to the
importance of their mother tongue

Q3. Justify the title ‘The Last Lesson’

Ans. The title The Last Lesson’ is significant and conveys the central theme of the story. The
title highlights the fact that sometimes even the most precious things in our lives are
taken for granted by us. The people of Alsace never gave much thought or importance to
their mother tongue. They did not insist that their children should give it wholehearted
attention. They did not encourage regular attendance of their children in French classes.
They thought there was plenty of time to learn it. They preferred their children to work
and earn rather than learn. They received a severe jolt when orders came from Berlin to
ban French and make German compulsory. This brutal order from Prussians made them
realise the importance of their mother tongue. So they came in full force to attend M.
Hamel’s last lesson. In fact, the story shows the awakening of the turn to the importance
of their mother tongue. This was displayed by them by attending the last person of the
French. Thus, the title The Last Lesson’ reveals the theme of the story and is fully
justified.
Q4. Write a character sketch of little Franz.

Ans. Franz was a typical schoolboy. He was carefree and hated to go to school. He was afraid of
his French Teacher M. Hamel’s ‘iron ruler’. He was more interested in spending his time
outside the school. Many times, he missed the school and went in search of ‘bird’s eggs’ or
watching the Prussian soldiers drilling at the sawmill. He did not realise the importance
of learning his mother tongue till the time his country passed into Prussian hands and
teaching French was banned. This came as a thunderbolt to him when he came to school
and found it to be his last French lesson. At this point, he lamented the loss of his
language. His entire perspective towards the language and the teacher changed. He was
surprised to learn and understand everything on the last day and did not find M. Hamel
strict during the lesson. He was not able to understand the severity of war and wondered
whether “the Pigeons would be made to coo in German”.

APNI KAKSHA 10
Q5. The day of the last lesson was full of regret and sadness. Describe the events of the
day in the classroom in light of the above remark.

Or

“Order from Berlin aroused a particular zeal in the school.” Comment.

Ans. The order from Berlin brought a sense of shock and surprise in the class. As per the order,
this was the last French class. Alsace and Lorraine had been captured by the Prussians. So
only German was to be taught in the schools. This made all the distinguished village
elders feel guilty of ignoring theft mother tongue. So, they all came to the class to
showcase their love and respect for their mother tongue and French teacher M. Hamel.
The entire school was filled with an air of remorse and regret. There was complete
silence. The teacher, M. Hamel, was in his best dress and was full of emotions. Even the
students in the class, including little Franz, felt remorse for their indifference to their
mother tongue. There was an atmosphere of stillness and quietness in the class.

Q6. Give a character sketch of M. Hamel.

Ans. M. Hamel was a teacher at a school in a village in the French districts of Alsace and
Lorraine. He used to teach the French language. He had been teaching his mother tongue
for the last forty years. He loved his profession from the core of his heart and had a deep
sense of respect for the mother tongue. He had always been very particular and strict in
imparting the knowledge of the language to his pupils. The news, that French would no
more be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine and that this was going to be his last
lesson, completely shattered a calm and composed man like M. Hamel. He tried his level
best to remain calm and composed but broke down at the end. He felt tormented at the
fact that people had become indifferent to learning French and appealed to them to keep
their language alive. Hamel was a patriot in the real sense. He regarded the mother
tongue to be a means of holding one’s identity and self-respect. He blamed not only the
parents and children but himself also for neglecting French. His concern and love for his
country are evident when, at the end of his last lesson, he writes on the blackboard ‘Viva
La France!’ in bold letters.

Previous Year Question Answers

Q Answer each of the following questions in about 30-40 words:
1. What tempted Franz to stay away from school? (Delhi 2014; Medtffot)
Ans The General had his own selfish interest in sparing the American soldier. He knew Dr.
Sadao was indispensable to him and did not want him to be arrested. He did not trust
other surgeons. In his capacity as a General he should have had the American soldier
arrested but he refrained from it in his personal self-interest.

APNI KAKSHA 11
2. 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. This was a
special ceremonial attire which he usually wore on days of inspection and prize
distribution.
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)
Ans 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..
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)
Ans 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..

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

Ans 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.

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)

APNI KAKSHA 12
Ans 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.

7. 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 of
M Hamel’s great love for his country and his deep sense of patriotism.
8. What made M Hamel cry towards the end of his last lesson? (Compartment 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
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..
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)
Ans 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.
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)

APNI KAKSHA 13
 or
What was the mood in the classroom when M Hamel gave his last French lesson?
(Delhi 2009)
Ans 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..
11. How did M Hamel say farewell to his students 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 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..
12. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for the school that day? (Delhi 2011)
Ans 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..
13. What had been put up on the bulletin-board? (Delhi 2011)
Ans: 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.

14. Who did M Hamel blame for the neqlect of leaminq on the part of boys like Franz?
(Delhi 2011)

Ans 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

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)

Ans 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.

16. Mention two thingsLabout M Hamel that surprised Franz on his last day at school.
(Foreign 2009)

Ans 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,

APNI KAKSHA 14
 frilled shirt and little black silk cap with embroidery, which he wore only on inspection or
prize days.

17. How was the scene in the school in the morning of the last lesson different from
that on other days? (Delhi 2008)

Ans 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)

1. What changes did the narrator find in the school when the order from Berlin came?
(Ail India 2008)

Ans 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.

APNI KAKSHA 15